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REjuvenation!
Religious Education News - January 2007
REjuvenation! ArchivesA Note from Reverend Bonnie
Mitzvoth
At the end of January our "pillar" on our Jewish Heritage will come to a close. Next year, we plan to spend the entire pillar on our Christian Heritage. However, this year our children have heard about the Torah, Moses, Jewish Holidays, Jerusalem, and a cornerstone of Jewish spirituality-mitzvoth, or doing good deeds.
Of course, all religious traditions have acts of charity and kindness as a central piece of living a religious life. It's difficult to imagine, therefore, how these values have become almost counter-cultural. Churches and schools and good, ethical parents, try to teach these values, but the bulk of our culture teaches aggressive getting ahead and taking care of number 1.
The reality is that no amount of teaching anything will be successful. Kids learn by seeing and doing. We know our families are trying hard to give their kids every chance for doing good deeds. And it takes every chance we can give them, and every example we can set for them, to really know that they have incorporated these spiritual values into their beings.
Thank you for your support of "Guest at Your Table" for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Thank you for the offerings your children give for ARK, and organization supporting St. Louis children with AIDS. Thank you for your Giving Tree gifts. Thank you for volunteering to teach and support the various Religious Education committees and projects.
And what's coming up? Plan on January 28 for "Bring Your Change to Church" day! We will celebrate this Mitzvah in the Family Worship Service that day. We celebrate all your generosity to all the causes that are dear to you, and especially appreciate your support of Eliot Chapel. What a terrific group of people. Happy 2007!
Faithfully,
Reverend Bonnie
January RE Calendar
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 7, Sunday | 9:30 am Nursery - 5th grade RE classes only 11:00 am Nursery - Senior High classes Both services Children K-5th grade begin in service for first 15 minutes, then attend class as usual 11:00 am GATE adult partners in class |
| January 15, Monday | 7:00 - 9:00 pm Teacher Orientation in Adams Hall
|
| January 28, Sunday |
Family Worship 9:00 am Chalice Choir warm up in Children's Chapel 9:30 am Classes as usual for Nursery-Intermediate 11:00 am Classes as usual for Nursery, Intermediate, 6th grade, Junior High & Senior High 9:35 am & 11:05 am Family Worship in Adams Hall for Pre-K - 5th grade (See article) |
| February 3, Saturday |
9:30 - 11:30 am Dynamic Dads Retreat 5:30 pm GATE Spaghetti Dinner 7:00 pm Kids Coffeehouse |
Looking Ahead
Dynamic Dads: Spiritual Retreat for 3 - 6 year olds
On Saturday, February 3 from 9:30 - 11:30 am, the Family Support and Outreach Committee will again sponsor a winter spiritual retreat for some of our youngest members. This year we will celebrate fathers and fatherhood with "Dynamic Dads!"
We would love for you to join us as we explore the joys and challenges of fatherhood. Children will be separated from their parents for a portion of the morning. This year in particular, we encourage the participation of the fathers of preschoolers in our congregation. Please make plans to join us for the fun!
Registration forms are now available online and through Joan Casey.
Kids Coffeehouse
The annual Youth Coffeehouse is scheduled on February 3 at 7:00 pm, now called the Kids Coffeehouse and sponsored by the Special Events Committee. We are looking for kids who like to perform - perhaps by playing an instrument, or singing, or dancing, or doing magic, or any other amazing act. Sign up sheets will be posted on the RE bulletin board and outside the Senior Youth classroom, or you can contact Joan Casey. Please include your name, phone number, and the act you'd like to do when signing up. Here's looking at you, kids!
Holiday Giving Tree
All 150 gift tags were plucked off the giving tree this year. Your gifts went to: Friends of Kids with Cancer, Nurses for Newborns, Kids in Need, and Make-A-Wish.
Thanks for helping out!
Guest At Your Table
Guest at Your Table boxes are due on January 7 at our first service of the New Year. Proceeds will go to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
I Once Was LOST
…but would like to be found! We have a boxful of very nice things just wondering what happened to their rightful owners. Please take a look through it even if you're sure you're haven't lost anything lately. Anything left in the box after January 31 will be given away. Thanks!
Teacher Orientation
Spring teachers should be sure to mark their calendars for Teacher Orientation on January 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The Teacher Support Committee is busy planning the evening. We look forward to seeing all of our spring teachers there.
Family Worship
Please join us in Adams Hall on January 28 for another Family Worship. It will mark the end of our first semester. These services are for all families, especially those with children Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade. Smaller children are welcome to attend with their parents, and older students may come as they desire, although classes 6th grade and up will meet as usual. Nursery and Intermediates will also meet as usual.
Family Circle Suppers
Do you want to better get to know other UU families? Family Circle Suppers are an organized way to have dinner with a small group of other families from Eliot Chapel. Several times a year your group will have dinner together one time in each person's home. The host family provides the main course, the beverages, and will welcome the other families' children. The other families will bring a side dish or dessert and their children.
It's not too late to join the fun. Just pick up a flier outside of 's office, fill it out and return it to Joan. Family Circle Suppers are sponsored by the Family Support and Outreach Committee. We hope you can join us!
Spotlight On: Teacher Support Committee
Teachers are the backbone of our Religious Education program. People who sign up to teach are doing one of the most important ministries of our church. The Teacher Support Committee is responsible for recruiting our teachers, training them, providing support during the semester, and of course thanking them for their dedication to our children.
If you would like to learn more about this committee, or join us, please contact Susan Pritchett, the chair of the Teacher Support Committee.
Many Thanks To All Our Pageant/Party Helpers
Once again, we had an awe inspiring Christmas Pageant that was enjoyed by young and old alike, as well as a festive Holiday Party. There are many people to thank for these events:
Pageant: Viv and Mike Antoine for directing the whole pageant and for training next year's directors, Jeff and Jane Pack; Nancy Collis for music direction; Jan Chamberlin for sound; Kate Fitzgerald for prelude/interlude. Also thanks to our Cast Leaders: Mary Dingus and Brian Ward, John Chappell, Ellen Cowell, Tracey Howe-Koch, Ed Kastner, Lisa Kastner, Kurt Leemann, Kevin Long, Holly McKinney, Michelle Moller, Denise Mussman, Douglas Riggs, Dianne Wagner, and LK Wilhelms.
Party: Amy Kruger for her overall planning of the activities, and her husband Tom for filling in for her on the morning of the party; Stacy Bereza-Bowen, Angie Bowland, Catherine Burgess, Trish Champion, Angela Cook, Debbie Fechter, Laura Gray, Julie Leemann, Teresa Reeves, Sandra Rhodes, Rachel and Michael Spann, Meagan Tucker, Mary Wald, and Cat Wood.
Spring Teachers Needed
As we go to press, we still need TWO more teachers at 11:00:
Music News
Free Concert
On January 28 at 1:00 pm, Friends of Music will present the Seraphim String Quartet in "Beethoven Unplugged," a musical dramatization. This concert is appropriate for children of all ages and it's FREE!
Chalice Choir
After winter break, Chalice Choir will begin rehearsing between services again on January 14.
Youth News
Mishael Eastabrook, our Youth Director, will be in Israel for most of January. She will return January 23. During her absence, questions or concerns about Junior and Senior Youth issues may be directed to or Reverend Bonnie Vegiard.
In the meantime, Senior Youth are busy planning for the Spring Con with their advisors: Barbara Bleisch, Dave Day, and Mary Hoehne.
UU Parenting group
Join our UU Parenting group on Yahoo anytime. Just go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uuparenting to get started.
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 on the wall leading into Adams Hall. 
For More News...For January birthdays and other news, pick up a copy of REjuvenation! the next time you're at Eliot. Religious Education Department
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 |