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REjuvenation!
Religious Education News - March 2007
REjuvenation! ArchivesA Note from Reverend Bonnie
Unlocking Our Future
When we think about our future, the first thing that comes to mind is our children. As we know, they are our future, as Americans and as Unitarians. A huge part of what we do at Eliot Chapel is for the benefit of our children. The Religious Education Program is where a major part of all of our adult time, talent, and treasure goes. I believe our children and youth are well-integrated into our church life, with many opportunities to interact with different adults, and many ways to contribute to church life. My own children feel very comfortable at Eliot. Not that they like every part of everything we do-but they have many ways in which to be present and part of our church community.
As we move into our Canvass theme of "Unlocking Our Future" this year, I'd like to ask you to think about several things. One, consider how many adults participate in our children's lives through Eliot, by teaching, serving on an RE committee, being a GATE partner, volunteering to help at a youth con, participating in a parenting or marriage enrichment group, or many, many others. Secondly, think about how many ways your children can be involved here, by going to RE classes, performing at a coffee house, taking part in a Scouting "Religion in Life" badge, helping with younger children in the program, attending worship, or going to summer camp...
Third, know that a HUGE part of "Unlocking Our Future" comes from your creativity, time, care, talent, and yes, treasure. Our church community can only survive through the generosity of all these areas. When a Canvasser contacts you, please, please respect their time by responding right away, and consider how generous you can make your pledge. Our community needs our kids, our kids need our community. It's all a part of a future that may be just that much more open-minded, open-hearted, and justice-seeking. And Thank You for all you do!
Faithfully,
Reverend Bonnie
March RE Calendar
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 4, 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 10:30 - 11:00 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room |
| March 9, Friday |
9:30 - 11:00 am Playgroup meets in the nursery
|
| March 11, Sunday |
Children K-3rd grade begin morning in Children's Chapel Children 4th-5th grades end morning in Children's Chapel RE Classes as usual 10:30 - 11:00 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room |
| March 18, 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) |
| March 25, Sunday |
RE Classes and Chapel as usual 10:30 - 11:00 am Chalice Choir rehearsal in music room |
Summer Camp 2007
It's time to mark your calendar - Eliot Chapel Summer Camp 2007 is coming! We'll meet the first full week in August, from August 6 - 10. As you know, each summer we alternate world religions with the Jewish or Christian Scriptures. This year's theme is Stories the Hebrew Prophets Told. We will begin passing out registration forms on Easter, April 8. Registrations are due by June 30, so be sure to get your forms in as soon as possible. The fee is only $45 per child.
Summer Camp is a week filled with stories, games, crafts, food, music and fun. If you are a student entering Kindergarten through 5th grade, you are invited to join us as campers. We always love to have older students help as well, so if you're too old to be a camper, you can still join in the fun.
We are very fortunate to have several parents who help out year after year, but we need lots of help to make the camp a success. Adults who are interested in helping should contact immediately. We need people to help with crafts, drama, snacks, childcare (for the young children of our volunteers) and more. If you ask anyone who's helped with camp before, you'll learn that the camp experience is fun for everyone, not just the kids!
We hope to see you there.
Teacher Support Coffees
The Teacher Support Committee is hosting a planning coffee for spring teachers on Sunday, March 4 from 8:45 - 9:15 am and 10:15 - 10:45 am. There will be refreshments (bagels, donuts, coffee, juice) in Room 001 of the lower level, with childcare available next door in Room 002. Members of the Teacher Support Committee will be on hand too.
We hope to see many, if not most, of our spring teachers there. The morning really helps teams stay in touch, problem solve, and plan.
Family Worship
Our final Family Worship of the year will be on March 18 in Adams Hall, running concurrently with the adult services. Families with children Pre-K through 5th grade should attend together. If that is not possible, teachers are available in room 108 on the upper level (for kids Pre-K - 1st grade) and in room 004 on the lower level (for kids 2nd - 5th grade). Children who are dropped off will attend Family Worship with these teachers and can be picked up back in the classrooms after the service.
Kids Coffeehouse
The coffeehouse was a smashing success in February. Many thanks to Bill George and Carol Moreland for helping to organize and set it up and to Jan Chamberlin for taking care of sound. We had a crowd of over 100 people join in the fun!
Con Help Needed!
Aloha Everyone:
The Senior High Youth are hosting the Spring District Youth Conference this year from March 2-4th. To help make this the best Con ever, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Senior Youth need people for the following:
- to provide home hospitality to weary adult drivers on both Friday & Saturday night of the Con
- to cook food, wash dishes after meals, and to help serve the meals
- to help clean up the church Sunday morning from 6am to 8am
- drivers to help pick up a group of youth and their advisors from the Metro Link station in Shrewsbury on that Friday night and then take them back to the Metro Link on Sunday morning (please, only volunteers who have been or who are willing to have a driver's background check)
The Senior Youth would like to borrow the following:
- large coolers for sodas
- electric griddles for pancakes
- trash cans
- cookie sheets
- bread pans
The Senior Youth need the following items donated:
- toothbrushes and toothpaste
- deodorant
- hotel-size shampoo, conditioner, and soap
- any size tube socks
- any decorated paper plates, cups, or napkins you might have leftover from holidays or birthdays (any pattern or holiday is ok)
A thank you to all who have already donated items and an early thank you to all who are willing to help our Senior Youth make this particular event a successful one. Please bring all donations and borrowed items to the Eliot Senior High Youth Room (items can be left outside the door). Please clearly mark all items "Senior High Youth" as well as your name if the items needs to be returned to you.
Finally, if you are willing to volunteer your time at the Con, please sign your name on the sign up sheets outside the Senior High Youth Room or you can contact Mary Hoehne, at 314-821-2529 or at .
UU Bookstore
The Unitarian Universalist Bookstore is a great source for finding books that support our faith and that can help us raise our children with the values we espouse. There are parenting books, such as What Not to Expect: A Meditation on the Spirituality of Parenting by Keith W. Frome or Living Simply with Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide for Moms, Dads, and Kids Who Want to Reclaim the Bliss of Childhood and the Joy of Parenting by Marie Sherlock, as well as kid's books such as I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children by Marian Wright Edelman and A Lamp in Every Corner: Our Unitarian Universalist Storybook by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer.
You can browse the catalogue online at www.uua.org/bookstore. You can also purchase gift certificates for family and friends alike. If you see a book you think we should have in our Children's Library, be sure to pass that information on too!
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
If you've been wondering what topic your child talked about in Sunday school, or whether or not the K-5th graders are starting in the adult service or Children's Chapel, or who's teaching your child's class - there are signs posted around the building that can answer your questions!
- "What Did You Do Today?" signs are posted outside each classroom door (Intermediate - 5th grade)
- Signs that tell where children start out each morning are posted in the front and rear foyers, as well as at the top of each stairwell to the lower level
- Teachers for the day are posted outside each classroom door
- The topic for Children's Chapel and who will be performing the prelude and the service is posted outside of Children's Chapel.
See how easy it is to keep informed?
Playgroup Fun
If you've been craving a little adult conversation in your day, then we're the group for you! Playgroup is on Friday, March 9 at 9:30 in the nursery. All parents with tots are invited. Hope to see you there!
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...
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