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REjuvenation!
Religious Education News - January 2004
REjuvenation! ArchivesA Note from Rev. Bonnie
RE Family PotluckMark your calendars for Friday, Feb. 6 for an RE Family Potluck at Eliot Chapel, 5:45 pm.
Our Religious Education Committee (the Family Support group and the Curriculum group) would like to invite all interested in families and Religious Education. Here's what we're trying to do:
- have time for families to mingle and get to know each other, mixing 9:15 and 10:45 families
- have some purely social time for children (games will be led by adults for the kids)
- give some resources to parents for talking with their children about topics that come up in RE
We'll eat about 6:00, and by 6:45 the kids will go off for some fun with other Eliot kids. No RE agenda, just fun for them. Meanwhile, parents will have about an hour to find out more about their children's RE classes and to talk about our children's worship theme for this year, Bible stories. Rev. Bonnie will have some resources on the Bible that can help parents talk to their children about what a Unitarian Universalist understanding of the Bible may be. We expect to be finished around 8:00 pm.
We've heard from parents who are pleased that we are talking about Bible stories in Children's Chapel and Family Worship services. We've also heard from parents who are not pleased, and don't want the Bible presented to their children as "true stories." Our goal is to familiarize the children with Bible stories, while giving them the understanding that the stories are not literally true, but may have some teachings that can still apply to our lives. However, we can get this message across to the children much easier if their parents are having similar conversations with them at home. Some parents feel they don't know enough about the Bible to follow up on this Religious Education theme. Our discussion at the potluck will give good information, as well as time for questions and concerns.
In addition, we'll have good summary information about your child's RE class for next semester, so you can also know something about what they're learning in their classes. This will help you talk to them about their entire Eliot experience. We think potlucks such as this can help families to feel more connected to each other and to the RE program here.
This Feb. 6 dinner will be our first try at meeting some of these goals. If it goes well, we'll do more next year (the themes will be different next year). We hope you and your family come, meet new people, and learn something that will aid your family's spiritual journey together.
Here's the logistics: Family Name:
| A-G | bring entrees | H-M | bring salads/veggies | |
| N-R | bring desserts | S-U | bring appetizers | |
| V-Z | bring soda/juice |
See you there!
Rev. Bonnie
January RE Calendar
| Jan 4, Sunday |
No Children's Chapel RE Classes as usual 10:45 a.m. GATE adult partners in class | ||||
| Jan 5, Monday | 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Teacher Orientation 2nd - 6th grade | ||||
| Jan 6, Tuesday | 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Teacher Orientation Nursery - 1st grade | ||||
| Jan 11, Sunday |
| ||||
| Jan 18, Sunday | Last day of 1st semester Abilities Awareness K - 5th grade
| ||||
| Jan 25, Sunday | 2nd semester begins
|
Christmas Pageant & Holiday Party
The RE Department wants to thank all of the performers and helpers who made the Christmas Pageants and Holiday Party such a splendid success. This was our first year to have a Pageant at both services.
- The Christmas Pageant Crew
- Director: LK Wilhelms
- Music Director: Judy Lindquist
- Director's Assistants: Jim Davis & Julie Procter
- Sound: Mark Unangst
- Role leaders:
- Speaking parts: Mary Bumpus & David Maguire
- Angels: Mike Antoine (9:15) & Camille Fried (10:45)
- Flock: Jeff & Jane Pack
- Shepherds: Brian Ward
- Multitudes: Marci Knabe (9:15) & Holly Ingraham (10:45)
- The Holiday Party Helpers
- Craft preparation & planning: Anne Meneely, Lisa Beck, & Mary Unangst
- Party staffing: Lisa Beck, Susie Bradley, Dave Day, Debbie Fechter, Donna Fox, Sally Groenier, Paula Jarausch, Sue Pritchett, & Gina Rubright
If we forgot to include anyone who helped with either the Pageant or the Party, please let us know! We don't want to leave anyone out.
Note to Parents & Teachers
After reviewing the new sign in/sign out policy, the RE Committee has decided to no longer require that children be signed in each morning. However, parents still need to sign out their children Nursery - 5th grade at the end of class. This revised policy will take effect with the new semester on January 25th.
Teachers will take attendance as usual. Children 1st grade and younger will still need to have family photos available. Instant cameras are located in the nursery, the Intermediate room, and in Joan's office.
Teacher Still Needed
Only one more Intermediate teacher is needed at 10:45. Please don't let down our children! Contact Joan Casey right away at .
Abilities Awareness
This program is for K-5th graders. It is a once a year time for the children to learn about differences. The topic for this year is Hearing & Sight Differences. Our main method of teaching is through experience and interactive learning. At both services on January 18, the children will start together in Children's Chapel. After a Children's Chapel service, they will be broken into smaller groups to try different activities that will help deepen the children's understanding on the topic. In the past, the activities have varied depending on age groups, with some time for self-reflection in the older grades. Our main message is that people, all people, have differences, not disabilities. A further message is one of acceptance - of others by understanding, and of themselves for any differences they may have.
If you have any questions about Abilities Awareness, or experiences that you would like to share, please contact Lisa Dahlgren, the morning's coordinator.
Children's Auction Contribution
Calling all Young Artists for Creative Correspondence...
Our children are invited to make unique, handmade notecards on February 1, 2004 that will be auctioned off at Eliot Chapel's Heart and Hand Auction on February 14, 2004, Valentines Day! Making stations will be set up in Children's Chapel after both services (Approx. 10:15 am - 12:45 pm). We would like all Eliot kids to come by and make a couple of these one of a kind notecards. So parents, please take this opportunity to stay for coffee hour, so that your children can participate.
Eliot Youth Orchestra
Calling all young musicians! Back by popular demand (and because it was so much fun!), the Eliot Youth Orchestra will begin rehearsals in February for a performance of prelude and interlude at the Mar. 14 service. Please mark your calendars for that date. Rehearsal times and folders will be announced shortly.
The Eliot Youth Orchestra is open to all instrumentalists who are seniors in high school and younger. Last year our youngest performer was in fourth grade. We need strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The music is not difficult, and we need students with all levels of ability. Senior Highers - this is an opportunity for leadership. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Stay tuned for more details; if you have any questions, please contact Judy Lindquist.
Madrigal Photos Wanted
I am looking for picures, preferably digital but print is OK, from the Madrigal Dinner featuring the Eliot Senior High Youth. Several of them "wenched" during the performances (and I served wine on Thursday night with very large red hair). I would like pictures to put on the youth website. The pictures will be returned after scanning / uploading. The pictures can be sent to: Lori Allen, 1227 Treetop Village Dr. Ballwin, MO 63021. or via e-mail. My phone is 314-471-9264. Please include a return address so I can mail them back. Thank you!
Raising a UU Child
Our next meeting will be Sunday, January 11th, at 7p.m. at Hilary Babcock's house in Webster (please call 314-918-0623 for directions). Topic: "Bullying: What's a UU to Do?" Everyone's invited.
Did You Know...
...that we collected household items for the St. Pius V Immigrant & Refugee Holiday Program again this year? Thanks to all of you who dropped off donations in Children's Chapel during Pageant weekend. Special thanks goes to Debbie Fechter and her daughters who delivered the items to St. Pius V the Friday before Christmas. There were several boxes & bags filled with things that will be used to make gift baskets for immigrant & refugee families who are settling in the St. Louis area.
If you love ...
...the lyrics to the teacher recruitment carols (eg O, Come Let Us Adore You), then you love the work of Jim Hunstein - thanks Jim!
For More News...
To find out who was in the cast of the pageant, or which of our kids celebrate birthdays in January, or to find out about our new families, be sure to pick up a copy of REjuvenation! when you next visit Eliot.
This newsletter is a product of the Eliot Chapel Religious Education Department. Please direct any articles, comments, or questions to Joan Casey (Religious Education Director) at 314-821-0911 or at . An article must be submitted no later than the 20th of each month to ensure it appearing in the next issue.
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