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A Note from Reverend Bonnie

Wondering Questions

There is a church curriculum used in many Christian churches called "Godly Play." It is based on Montessori principles, and emphasizes arts and stories. There is also a Unitarian Universalist version of this curriculum, but it counts on teachers who are pretty thoroughly familiar with these principles. We don't think we can take that approach here, but it is fun to get ideas from reading different approaches to religious education.

One of my favorite parts of "Godly Play" is the "wondering questions." At the end of the central story, the teacher asks a series of questions that begin with "I wonder…" These are not questions about the events of the story or the children's comprehension. They are purely "wondering" questions that go in any direction that one has curiosity about. The children are also encouraged to ask wondering questions.

I think this is a nice approach to children's spirituality. Ask wondering questions. Listen to their wondering questions. Don't provide answers. Ask about their ideas of the answers. After a while you might offer your opinion, but as just one of a possible range of opinions.

Wondering questions can come up at any time of year. But it might be a nice summer exercise to try to ask some "wondering questions" every day. Children are active, experiencing their bodies, going to new places, seeing the outdoors, using their minds in different ways. It might be a great time just to wonder ... and for us to remember what it is to wonder, to receive life as a gift, to feel the energy that flows from the stars through the flowers or vegetables or trees, and back through our children into our own hearts. Take time to wonder.

Have a great summer!
Rev. Bonnie

Summer RE Calendar

Summer RE

Parents - Please don't forget to register your children for Summer RE classes if you plan on attending summer services. Children entering 1st grade in the fall and older will attend a multi age class with the focus on Heroes and Heroines. The nursery will be open as usual and there will be a preschool age class for children 3 years old and up (must be potty trained). Parents will be needed to help assist in classrooms.

Summer Camp 2006

We hope you can join us at Eliot Chapel Summer Camp this August 7 - 11 from 9:00 to noon each day. We'll be learning about Buddha and his teachings this summer. Our volunteers are busy planning for all the fun, so we really hope that we see you there. Registration forms need to be in by June 25.

June 11: Milestones Sunday

As we move into summer, come help us celebrate the Milestones of the past 12 months! We will honor many transitions - those who have learned to read, new siblings, new jobs, retirements, new grandchildren. We will honor those graduating from our 6th grade GATE program at 9:30, and those graduating from high school at 11:00. If you've had a particularly big milestone in your life this year, let us know!

June 4 and June 11 Time Change

To try out the probable new fall service times, services and RE classes will be held at 9:30 and 11:00 am on June 4 and June 11. All other activities that revolve around the services on those dates will change to accommodate the new times.

Circle Suppers for Families

Do you want to better get to know other UU Families? Circle Suppers are an organized way to have dinner with a small group of other families from Eliot Chapel. Six times a year your group will have dinner together one time in each person's home. The host family will provide the main course, the beverages, and will welcome the other family's children. The other five families will bring a side dish or dessert and their children.

We'd love to have you join us. Just pick up a flier, fill it out and return it. Family Circle Suppers are sponsored by the Family Support and Outreach Committee.

UU Faithworks

UU Faithworks is a great resource for religious educators, ministers and lay people interested in their faith. You can access all kinds of information on this website: http://www.uua.org/re/faithworks/index.html

Thank You Spring Teachers

Many thanks to all of our devoted teachers this spring:

9:15 Chris Allen, Mike Antoine, Lisa Beck, Angie & Chris Bowland, Catherine Burgess, Aimee Campbell, Laurie Chappell, Angela Cook, Wendy Cutshaw, Susan Duncan, Jamie & Kim Fitzgerald, Janet Gleason, Tammy Hershey, Cordell Jeffries, Julie Jordan, Ed & Lisa Kastner, Robin Kraujalis, Amy Kruger, William Lemon, Eva Merrell, Stacey Morris, Christine Nolan, Jane Pack, Susan Pritchett, Natalie Rekittke, Eve Sedovic, Laura Waldman and Leigh Wozniak.

And 10:45: Christy Berger, Stacy Bereza-Bowen, Scott Christeson, Jennifer DeBusk, Denise DeGhelder, Don Drissell, Betsy Fallstrom, Stafford & Stephanie Gavin, Teresa Gerber, Michael Getty, Cindy Haynes, Katy Henry, Terry Smith Keller, Andrea Kipp, Jeanne Kloeckner, Julie & Kurt Leemann, Leslie Loving, Kate Magrath, Margo McIlroy, Marcia & Tim McIntyre, Marlene Mestres, Lynn Murphy, Denise Mussman, Kala Naraian, Kelly Ogonoski, Renae Quinn, Teresa Reeves, Darren Stoddart, Brian Vetruba, Lisa Ward, Paul Wilhelms and Cat Wood.

Stewardship Projects

As part of our Social Justice Pillar at the end of the year, our 2nd - 5th classes all brainstormed, chose and worked on various service projects to promote the concept of stewardship. Here's what the classes ended up doing:

• 9:15 2nd/3rd grade: Made origami and planted marigolds that were sold on Mother's Day. The proceeds of $51 went to Hurricane Katrina relief.
• 9:15 4th/5th grade: Made dog treats from scratch and donated them to the Humane Society.
• 10:45 2nd grade: Made bookmarks that they sold on Mother's Day. The $40 they made will also go to Hurricane Katrina relief.
• 10:45 3rd grade: Decorated small flower pots and planted herbs in them that they donated to Kirkwood House, a retirement home.
• 10:45 4th and 5th grade: Read to the younger Eliot chapel children.

Way to go everyone!

Notice:

While we want to encourage our children to be active in social action, we ask that anyone selling bracelets, lottery tickets or other items for charity reserve a table in advance of Sunday for that purpose. Please see Joy Gorden to do so.

UU Parenting group

Join our UU Parenting group on Yahoo anytime. Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uuparenting/ to get started.

Teachers Still Needed for Fall

Please contact Joan Casey RIGHT AWAY to fill one of these remaining fall slots:

• Early Service:
  • 1 Nursery (yearlong)
  • 1 Intermediate 2 (3 & 4 year olds)
• Later service:
  • 2nd grade

Have a safe and happy summer!

Playgroup Fun

We'll still have playgroup over the summer, so please plan to join us in the nursery on the second Friday of each month at 9:30 am (June 9, July 14 and August 11). We hope that you and your little ones can make it! See you there.

Have a Milestone in your life to share? Have a Milestone in your life to share? Know of an Eliot student living his or her faith? Please contact Joan Casey so that we can share your family's news in REjuvenation!, our children's RE newsletter, and on our RE bulletin board leading into Adams Hall. For More News... To learn about June birthdays, pick up a paper copy of REjuvenation! the next time you're at Eliot. Religious Education Department Rev. Bonnie Vegiard, Programs Minister Joan Casey, Religious Education Director Susan Maginn, Youth Director 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. Back To Top