RE Newsletter

The Religious Education Committee brainstormed a mission statement for ourselves a few months ago. It reads: Our mission is to provide a safe environment for active learning of UU principles & sources of our tradition and the development of spiritual identity & growth and a connection to the greater community for our families.

The Eliot volunteers on this committee are very committed to offering a quality program for your children, as well as a family-oriented perspective for our congregation. We have big plans for next year. Instead of working as a large group, we are forming a variety of sub-groups to pay attention to different areas of the program. These sub-groups will concentrate on: Curriculum, Family Ministry, Teacher Support, Special Events, and Worship. The Youth program will also be steered by a separate group (YAC) that has representation on the committee. We plan to do some in-depth investigation in each of these areas in order to improve our overall program.

This is an exciting development. There is lots of room for creativity here. How can you help? I'm so glad you asked! We need teachers to do the actual work of engaging with the children and curriculum, giving us feedback on what works with children and what different curriculum options we could consider. The first reason the Religious Education program is here is to provide a supportive and stimulating atmosphere for your children. The most important place to help is to teach.

Otherwise, if you are interested in further investigation in any of the sub-group areas mentioned above, please let us know. We're very excited about the possibilities and hope you will be as well. Great things are happening in Eliot Religious Education!

Trees
(With apologies to Joyce Kilmer
and thanks to Jim Hunstein)

I think that I shall never see,
A child lovely as in RE.

A child whole hungry soul is there
Awaits your sweet words, “Yes, I care.”

A child who shows up on Sunday
And lifts her dreamy eyes your way.

A child from infant up through teens,
And all the ages in between.

A child that all year round may wear,
A smile that only teachers share.

Within whose heart a warmth dost glow
That lights him up from head to toe.

A child I think we can all agree
Deserves the best from you and me.

My friends it’s time to take your turn
And all our thanks you surely earn.

Poems are read by fools like me
But only you can teach RE.

We need teachers at all grade levels for the 2003-2004 year, for each hour and each semester. At 9:15 we have 26 more slots to fill and at 10:45, we have 41 openings left! As UUs most of us affirm that each person is important and thus it follows that each child is important; truly a gift. We need our religious community here at Eliot to accept the call for teachers. It can be an opportunity for spiritual growth, to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, and to touch a child’s life. Members of the Religious Education Committee will be actively recruiting for teachers through May 11, Mother’s Day.

You may sign up in Adams Hall between services or after the 10:45 service through May 11. If you haven’t been at the services to sign up, or if you have questions about teaching, you may contact Joan Casey at 314-821-0911 or by email at . Please don’t wait any longer to sign up. Thank you!

It’s starting to get a bit warm outside - and when that happens, our thoughts turn immediately to Eliot Chapel Summer Camp. Summer Camp is for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade next fall. Camp will run August 4 - 8 (Monday through Friday) and lasts from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon each morning.

Our focus this summer is the Old Testament. We will look at stories, sing songs, enjoy yummy treats, play games - in other words have lots of fun!

Forms have been mailed to registered families and will also be handed out beginning on Mothers’ Day, May 11 during the service. We need lots of help to make Summer Camp happen, so please volunteer on the form to help out, too. Youth, 6th grade and up, often make wonderful camp staff too, so be sure to invite your older children to help out as well. It’s a fun program for everyone involved.

We would like families who plan on attending services this summer to register their children. (There will be a place to mark down days you expect to miss due to vacations.) We will offer childcare for children under the age of four in the in the Nursery room during the adult service at 10:00 am. Also beginning at 10:00 am will be a multi-age (4 & up) class in Children’s Chapel. Older children can help with the multi-age class or attend services with their parents. The curriculum we are using for this class is called "Dr. Seuss Saved My Life".

We will have a multigenerational service on June 15 for Father's Day, so will not have the RE class that morning, but will still have the nursery open for younger children.

There will be no fee for Summer RE. Summer RE registration forms have been mailed to registered families, or you may pick one up in Joan’s office. Please fill one out if you plan on attending this summer and return to Joan Casey as soon as possible. Thank you!

The play group will meet in the Eliot Chapel nursery on Friday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m., and at the playground in Kirkwood park on Friday, May 16, at 9:30 a.m. For further information about the play group, please contact Wendy Cutshaw .

Father’s Day is right around the corner and once again, we would like to hear from everyone - young & old alike - who would like to write an essay, share a memory, sing a song, read a poem or in some other way honor your father. Please submit any ideas to Joan Casey (314-821-0911 or ) no later than May 25. Our Father’s Day service will be on June 15 at 9:30 a.m. It will be an intergenerational service. If you are too shy or won’t be available to read your submission, we can find someone who will.

Join a discussion on May 4 at 6:30 p.m. about answering the hard questions from your kids (ages 0-18 years) about religion, yours and others’. This session will focus on discussing sexuality with your child from a UU perspective. Please call Tracey Howe-Koch for meeting place and directions.

The International Council of Unitarian Universalists (ICUU) is sponsoring an International Youth Conference this August in Ilyefalva, Romania. {Latest news: the application deadline has been extended to May 15.} Any youth with questions about the conference, should feel free to write Lori Ragona at lragona@attbi.com.

..that we will be having our Eliot Chapel Annual Picnic & Softball Game on June 1 beginning at noon in Kirkwood Park by the water tower and ball field? There will be music, family games & softball, with hot dogs & soft drinks for sale. Please bring fruit, chips and a lawn chair. Be ready for fun!

Children K-5 in sanctuary first 15 minutes both services
No Children's Chapel/RE Classes as usual
6:30 p.m. Raising a UU Child group meets (see article)

Mother’s Day Intergenerational Service
Nursery open as usual
Preschool child care in Room 107
Children K & up in the service with parents

Classes & Children’s Chapel as usual
Last Children’s Chapel of year led by Rev. Bonnie Vegiard
Prelude by Blake Lawrence

Animal Blessing
Intergenerational Service
Nursery open as usual
Preschool child care in Room 107
Children K & up in the service with parents

Children K-5 in sanctuary first 15 minutes both services
No Children's Chapel/RE Classes as usual
9:15 a.m. Bridging ceremony for seniors
10:45 a.m. GATE recognition
12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. RE Committee meeting
12:00 noon Annual Picnic & Softball Game (see Did You Know? article)

This newsletter is a product of the Eliot Chapel Religious Education Department. Please direct any articles, comments, or questions to Joan Casey (Religious Education Facilitator) at 314-821-0911. An article must be submitted no later than the 20th of each month to ensure it appears in the next issue.

RE Newsletter

REjuvenation!

Religious Education News - May 2003