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REjuvenation!
Religious Education News - April 2004
REjuvenation! ArchivesA Note from Bonnie
The Pillars of our Religious Education
The Religious Education Committee and the Curriculum Planning Team are very excited about our plans for next year. We are going to re-organize the curriculum in order to provide more resources to our families. The general content of what we teach will not change, and we will be using many of the same curricula we use now. The organization we plan to use in known as the "Pillars" model. Essentially, we will be teaching four "Pillars" in the K-5th grade classes. We will begin our first semester with two months of "Unitarian Universalist Identity," then follow with two months of "Jewish and Christian Heritage." The second semester will consist of about two months of "World Religions," and end with two months of "Social Justice."
Because we will be using these "Pillars" and discussing similar content across these grade levels, families will find it easier to follow what is going on in Religious Education. We will be sending home resources on how to further the conversations we're having at church. If you have children in two different grade levels, you'll all be able to discuss these general themes. We also anticipate that there will be a sermon associated with each Pillar, and that we will have Family Potluck discussions to give parents more information about the themes.
We hope this approach will make it easier for families to be involved in Religious Education here at Eliot. We also hope that parents and other Eliot adults will be excited about this change and will want to participate. We'll begin sign-ups for next year's teachers on April 11 (Easter Sunday) in Adams Hall. Sign up early! Avoid the crush!
If you are interested in the continuing conversation regarding curriculum for our Religious Education Program, we also invite you to check out the Curriculum Planning team. Other committees working on various aspects of our Religious Education program are: Teacher Recruitment and Support, Family Outreach and Support, Worship, and Special Events (including Secret Pals, Christmas Pageant, Intergenerational Services, and Summer Camp). Contact Joan Casey or Rev. Bonnie Vegiard for more information about any of these groups or the Religious Education program in general.
Faithfully,
Rev. Bonnie Vegiard
April RE Calendar
| April 4, Sunday |
9:15 Nursery - 5th grade RE classes 10:45 Nursery - Senior High RE classes Children K-5 in sanctuary first 15 minutes No Children's Chapel RE Classes as usual 5:30 p.m. Seder dinner (GATE attends) |
| April 11, Sunday | Intergenerational Easter Service
at 9:15, 10:15 & 11:15 Children K - 5th grade in the service with parents Nursery open as usual Preschool childcare in Room 107 See article. |
| April 14, Wednesday | 4:30 - 8:00 p.m. GATE service project at SSDN |
| April 18, Sunday |
Children's Chapel & RE Classes as usual Children's Chapel focus: Doubting Thomas Led by Reverend Bonnie Vegiard Prelude by Judy Lindquist 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. 5th grade GATE parent meeting 10:45 a.m. GATE adult partners in class |
| April 25, Sunday | Children's Chapel & RE Classes as usual Children's Chapel focus: The Apostles Spread the Word Led by Jeff Matthews Prelude by David Henry |
Easter Services
Easter, April 11, is right around the corner & we have a great morning planned for our children. Please note that there will be three shorter services on Easter morning: at 9:15, 10:15, & 11:15. We hope to avoid the overcrowding that happened last year at the 10:45 service. At all three services, the nursery will be open as usual & preschool aged children will meet in Room 107 for Easter fun, including an Easter egg hunt. Children Kindergarten & up will attend the intergenerational service in the sanctuary with their families, although they will leave for part of the service for their own activities.
We need canned foods for the services. Please drop off your donations in Joan Casey's office no later than April 4. You'll find out why on Easter.
Sign Up Starts April 11
I hope Bonnie's article about our new Pillars approach to religious education has whet your interest in teaching next year - either for the first time or for the fifth time or dare I say fifteenth time?
Guiding our children's religious & spiritual growth is an ongoing, living process. We are very proud of the Religious Education program here at Eliot, but we need you to make it happen. From Easter on April 11 to May 23, we'll have RE Committee members in Adams Hall ready to sign you up for one of our classes. Or feel free to call me at Eliot Chapel (314-821-0911) to sign up or to ask any questions. We will have semesters with teams of three again. I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone! Joan Casey
Note to Parents
Please note our unattended children policy: All children must be supervised by an adult while at Eliot Chapel when RE classes are in session. Children must be supervised at all times in one of the following manners:
- Participate in a Religious Education class
- Under the direct supervision of their parents
- Under the direct supervision of an adult selected by their parent
Children are not allowed to wander the halls or play on the playground without being supervised in one of the previously mentioned ways. This policy was instituted for the safety of our children and to minimize unnecessary disruptions to our RE program.
Meet the RE Committee
Dave Day
My family and I have been members of Eliot for roughly 5 years. Many of you have met my wife, Jane Larson, in her many involvements at church. Our son Patrick 11, is happy to join us in being active members at Eliot, while our older son, Alex 20, does his communing elsewhere. We began our Unitarian experience at First Church in St. Louis in the late 80's. My simple pleasures include listening to jazz, reading fiction, and playing fantasy baseball. My greatest satisfaction at Eliot has come through religious education. I value the lively minds of our children in the Sunday School classes and especially enjoy the GATE program, for which I am the current coordinator.
Debbie Fechter
I am 43 years old. My husband Bob and I have been married for 18 years. We live in Kirkwood with our two daughters - Frances (8 yrs) and Rachel (6 yrs). Bob's a lifelong Catholic and I became Catholic shortly before our children were born. After many failed attempts to become comfortable and "settle into" the Catholic faith, I went in search of a church that more closely reflected our values. The girls and I have been attending Eliot for a little over 3 years. The girls love RE and I have found teaching in RE a way to nourish my spirit. It truly "REjuvenates" me. Serving on the RE Committee has been exciting especially during a time of change and transition at Eliot.
Tracey Howe-Koch
My husband Matt and I have been members of Eliot for a little more than 3 1/2 years. During that time we have met many new friends and have felt enriched by the both the sermons and RE program. Our children, Meredith & Jonah, especially love all the fun things they have done in their Intermediate class this year and I have really enjoyed teaching the 9.15 5th grade class. In addition, we are involved in the UU Parenting and Family Outreach & Support Groups as well as the gardening club.
Fun & Games
Crack the Code
Try to by decipher the famous quote by Robert Frost below about spring. Each letter represents another letter. In this puzzle, the last word, fksq, is YEAR.
Xt, jmck nz abksznqk mu wtk ebxdkqz wxlsf;
Sul jmck nz uxw wx wtmug zx esq sdsf
Sz wtk nuhkqwsmu tsqckzw; gkka nz tkqk
Sbb zmyabf mu wtk zaqmujmuj xe wtk fksq.
Summer RE
Summer RE will run concurrently with the one adult service at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday, except for 3 intergenerational services (Father's Day, Independence Day, & Labor Day weekend). Children entering Kindergarten & up will attend a multiage class called World Travelers. Each week we will stamp our passports & travel to a new country, helping us build awareness of our similarities with people around the world & the interconnectedness of us all.
The nursery will be open each Sunday, even on the holidays, for preschoolers & younger, breaking into a second room if numbers dictate.
Summer Camp
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 is August 2 - 6 and lasts from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon each morning. Our focus this summer is Islam. Please look over the camp registration form enclosed with this letter.
Answers to Fun & Games
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Raising a UU Child
The next meeting is Sunday, 4/18, at Tracey Howe-Koch's house (659 Chelsea Ct, call 314-835-9275 for directions). The topic will be Incorporating UU rituals at home - finding table graces, bedtime prayers & chalice images for your family. We hope to see you there!
Did You Know...
...that we have about 300 children registered in Religion Education this year? It takes more than 100 people to teach them each year ~ we need you!
For More News...
To find out about our talented children who performed at the Coffeehouse, or which of our kids celebrate birthdays in April, 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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