This Week in Religious Education

What is happening for children, youth, and families at OUUC

This Sunday, December 2nd, will be Family Chapel

This Sunday will be a Family Chapel, so please come straight back to the classroom wing instead of beginning in the sanctuary. Family Chapel is intended for families to participate together, but no child will be turned away if their adults are unable to attend with them.

9:15

Spirit Play class for preschool-5th grade, with a story about the UUSC and refugee aid

11:00

Family Chapel on the theme of Hope, with candle lighting for many seasonal holidays, making candles to take home, and service projects to spread Hope in the world
Middle School Group, learning about Judaism

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Just what the heck is "Chalica"?

Some UU's celebrate a holiday called "Chalica" that starts on the first Monday in December and goes for 7 days, each day celebrating and acting upon one of the 7 Principles.

Now, I personally have mixed feelings about Chalica, primarily about the name. I'm much in sympathy here with Sermon in Stones. However, I love the idea of a UU home practice, and if you are interested in doing this with your family here are some resources:

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Still Calling on Talents!

Saturday December 8th, 6:30 Cookie Social, 7pm Yule Play and Holiday Follies

If you have a talent to share, please let me know!

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A simpler holiday

I recently read this good blog post from "Becoming Minimalist" that asked "Is It Time for Us To Rethink How We Give Gifts?"

For me, the answer is Yes! This holiday season should not be a stressful consumption-driven overly-commercialized gallop to the end of the calendar year!

If you are interested in alternatives, I recommend: Unplug the Christmas Machine (a bit dated at this point, but the classic on this subject)

Becoming Minimalist also posted a Helpful Guide of Links

Sunday and Every Day: Taking It Home

Last Sunday the children had a "Service Sunday" with three service projects, one of which was for the Guest At Your Table program of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Guest at Your Table is an annual fundraiser for the UUSC and their partner organizations, and features little boxes that you can take home, place on your family table, and drop coins or bills into this month as a practice of generosity and virtual hospitality.

This year's theme is particularly timely: Justice Across Borders. With the caravan of Central American migrants reaching our border this week, immigration justice is again in the news. How do we talk about immigration justice with our children? Some resources here:

As a family, you may want to explore this topic, or reflect upon what you hear and see in the news. Relate these current events to your values: what would the UU 7 Principles guide us to do for immigrants? Or, how does this story of turning families away at the border relate to the Christian Nativity story?

Talk about it, and support the Guest at Your Table program if you'd like to as well. You can bring a box home, and return it along with your donation to OUUC by the end of this calendar year, and it will support the immigration justice efforts of UUSC and all their grassroots partners.

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Come See Our Play! December 8th, 7pm

This year's Yule Play is a youth-creation: the script was written by youth, based on The Grinch by Dr. Seuss, it is directed by youth, and has a multigenerational cast. Please come support all their hard work and see this fun little play!

Cookie Exchange at 6:30, the play and Holiday Follies at 7pm.

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Youth Calendar

The Youth Groups have been busy! Here's their upcoming calendar:

Middle School Youth Group:

12/2 meeting at OUUC at 11:00 for regular workshop

12/7 7pm field trip to Temple Beth Hatfiloh

12/9 9:15am field trip to First Church of Christ, Scientist

12/16 meeting at OUUC at 11:00 for regular workshop

12/23 field trip to Catholic Mass, still TBD

High School Youth Group:

12/9 12:30 Soul Matters Meeting (and making matchboxes)

12/16 between services matchbox fundraiser

1/12/19 12:30 Soul Matters meeting

1/26-1/27/2019 "End of the World" themed overnight lock-in (parent chaperone volunteers needed)

Looking Ahead, Sunday December 9, 2018

9:15

Spirit Play for preschool to 5th grade, with the story of Hanukkah

Middle School group gathers for Field Trip

11:00

Spirit Play for preK, with the story of Hanukkah

Labyrinth Learning for 1st-5th grade, learning about Hanukkah

(No Middle School group meeting - on a field trip)

12:00

All are invited to join us for 2nd Sunday Lunch!

12:30

High School Soul Matters Meeting

Not registered yet for this year's RE programs? It only takes a couple minutes!

If you have not already done so, please take some time this week to complete the registration form for the new program year.

Children's Registration

Youth Registration

Change in Sabbath Day

Please note that I have rearranged the rhythm of my week to better fit my children's school schedule, and I will now be working Saturday-Thursday, and taking Friday as a sabbath day. As part of the spiritual discipline of pausing and truly taking a day apart, I will not respond to emails or other forms of communication on Fridays.

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Yours in Faith,

Sara Lewis, credentialed religious educator, master level

Director of Lifespan Religious Education

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10am-2pm

Available by appointment: Saturday through Thursday

Change of Sabbath:

Sabbath Day (when I will not check email or respond to calls): Friday

olydre@gmail.com or dre@ouuc.org

360-786-6383 x. 102

This Week in Religious Education

What is happening for children, youth, and families at OUUC