Childcare (room 32, yellow hallway)
Diane K and Hans E welcome children into childcare every Sunday morning at 9:45am. Parents are welcome to bring comfort items from home. Please let Diane know if your child has allergies or specific needs.
10:00am: We all start in the worship service at 10:00am then children, youth and volunteers leave for Religious Exploration classes and Youth Group. Following Youth Group, youth have a worship planning discussion with Rev. Kimberley and Tracy. Children 3rd grade and younger must be picked up in their classroom.
PreK Children are welcome in the sanctuary for worship where they can enjoy the children's area with quiet activities or in childcare (room 32, yellow hallway).
K-1st grade Our Whole Lives (room 33, yellow hallway)
K-1st grade children resume OWL classes this Sunday. David B is leading a lesson on families and feelings, which invites children to learn about many different family grouping and arrive at a definition of "family." Janet W is assisting.
2nd-3rd grade Passport to Spirituality (room 43, green hallway)
The children have a special guest this Sunday! Susheela R will talk about growing up in the Hindu faith, sharing aspects of Hinduism that are most meaningful for her. Aaron N is assisting.
4th-5th grade Bibleodeon (room 21, blue hallway)
Children will learn about women in the Bible as well as the patriarchal nature of biblical Israel. The creative experience invites the class to look back over earlier sessions and make artistic additions to the wall art. Suzanne C and Christine M are leading.
6th-7th grade World Religions (room 41, green hallway)
The class continues learning about Islam this week with Mohammed L and Nicole T. This is their third class and the group is learning more deeply about Islam as a religion.
8th-9th grade Coming of Age (room 11, red hallway)
The class continues exploring UU theology. Christine H will lead discussion about good and bad, sin and choice, and the 10 Commandments. They will also explore images and paths to God. Kate C is assisting.
10th-12th grade Youth Group (room 14, red hallway)
Youth group meets with Daniel and Cyndi T to continue planning for the March 8th youth-led worship service. After worship, youth will meet with Rev. Kimberley and Tracy to discuss how worship planning is progressing.
Connecting in Community
Congregational Survey
These are the final days to participate in the congregational survey! The Committee on Ministry is evaluating how we support our spiritual development and asks you to help by answering a survey. It should take 10-15 minutes and responses are confidential. You can take the survey online here. The survey is open until Monday, February 3rd. Contact Tom Wacht with questions (tjwachtesq@aol.com).
Serving Indigenous and Families of Color
I would like to be in conversation with Indigenous and Families of Color (you or someone in your family is Indigenous or a Person of Color) who attend CUUC. I am wondering if our RE ministry is meeting your needs and would be grateful for a conversation around what that means for you, what it means for you and your family to feel supported and served in this community. Please feel welcome to speak with me any Sunday after worship or to reach out via e-mail (CUUCWPTracy@gmail.com) or by phone/text (914-434-7539). Thank you, Tracy
Connect With Our Children & Youth
There are openings coming up for you to get to know our children and youth by serving as an assistant in a Religious Education class. No preparation required! Just spend an hour with our amazing children and youth while you fulfill our Safe Congregation practice of having two adults with our young people at all times. Click here to view available dates - then volunteer!
Backpack Donations
The Hunger & Homelessness Social Justice Team is sponsoring a backpack drive to support the Brighter Futures After School Mentoring Program. Throughout the month of January, you can sponsor a backpack or purchase items to fill backpacks. Click here for the flyer with more information. Contact Amy Swiss with questions (amyswiss@aol.com).
Sunday Morning Greeters
We would love to have families greet Sunday morning before worship. Children and youth are an important part of our community and it would be wonderful to include them in greeting members and guests! Your family would be in place 9:45-10:15am. Contact Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com) to sign up for a Sunday.
Especially for Youth
UU Common Read
Our UU Common Read book this year is An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States and An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People. Written by Indigenous scholar and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, this book challenges readers to learn US history through a narrative that centers the story, the experiences, and the perspectives of Indigenous peoples. We invite our youth to participate in upcoming discussions of the book at CUUC! Copies are available at coffee hour. Contact Jeff Tomlinson (jefftomlinson8@gmail.com).
Metro NY Social Youth CON
The UU congregation in Summit, NJ is hosting a social CON for 9th-12th graders Friday, January 31-Sunday, February 2. The theme is CONspiracy. Social CONS are youth events that provide a safe space for UU youth to have a weekend of worship, workshops and fun! Jane Cowan from the Rockland UU will serve as our adult sponsor for the weekend. Click here for more information and to register.
Regional Senior High CON
Conpassion will be a day long conference (con) event planned by youth with the support of adults. At heart a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community. It is an immersive UU community experience where youth find love and acceptance. Our con theme and focus will be love and compassion. It will incorporate community building, fun, worship, spirituality, and youth leadership. The UU Congregation of Rockland is hosting this one-day CON for 9th-12th grade youth, Saturday, February 15th, 9:00am-8:30pm. Youth Deans are Tracy K and Luke J. Cap is 35 youth so register soon. Youth registration, click here. Adult registration, click here.
Teen Benefit Concert & Dinner
Rivertown Teens invites youth from various religious denominations to work together to host a benefit performance and dinner to support a cause of their choosing. This is a great way to meet youth from other faith traditions and contribute to an important social need. Click here for the flyer which has more information. The CUUC contact is Joe Gonzalez (flegon@netzero.net).
Teen Essay Contest
Lifting Up Westchester is holding their 3rd annual Annual Student Essay Contest. This year’ theme is Why Hope Is Important, particularly at times of personal hardship and diversity. What is hope? Beyond basic necessities of food and shelter, do we need hope to thrive? How do you restore hope in someone who has lost it? The deadline to enter is January 31st. Click here for more information.
Summer 2020 UU Camps & Activities
River Rising - Fantastic Youth Leadership Building Opportunity (rising 9th-12th graders)
July 5-11 at the UU Church of North Hills near Pittsburgh, PA
July 27-August 2 at Main Line UU Church near Philadelphia, PA
Registration is OPEN for the UUA's Central East Region 2020 River Rising Youth Immersion Experiences! Through covenant, collaborative leadership, skill building, games, silent reflection, personal challenges, spiritual practices and many magical moments both planned and not, we grew stronger, resilient and capable of facing the future. Read more here and register here. Deadline for scholarships is June 1st.
Camping in the Grove (rising 4th-7th graders)
August 2-6, Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor, NJ Registration is OPEN!
Five days of fabulous camp fun with a healthy dose of UU religious education and history. The 2020 camp theme is "Hand in Hand," which was the name of the ship John Murray arrived on 250 years ago bringing Universalist religion to North America from Europe. Camping in the Grove is for children and youth entering 4th through 7th grade in the upcoming fall. Additional information and to register, click here.
Adventures Head (rising 8th-10th graders)
Mid-July, Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor, NJ
This program will offer exciting service opportunities and outdoor adventures to youth who have aged out of Camping in the Grove and to all youth of adventurous spirit. We will be learning firsthand how we put our values to work in the world! More information coming soon on the Murray Grove website.
RE In the Coming Weeks
- Sunday, February 9th - All begin in worship at 10:00am then most leave for RE classes and youth group. The Coming of Age class will remain in the worship service then have a sermon and worship planning discussion with Rev. Kimberley following worship.
- Monday, February 10th, 7:30pm - The RE Council is meeting for a mid-year check in of RE programming.
- Sunday, February 16th - All begin in worship at 10:00am then leave for RE classes and youth group. Some of the children's classes will have Children's Worship with Tracy and Amy Swiss to learn about the Brighter Futures After School Mentoring Program and fill backpacks with donations the Hunger & Homeless team collected.
- Friday, February 21st - Faith Friday programming: Youth Group, Adult RE Class, Adult Journey Group, Children's Journey Group. Dinner at 6:15pm. Programs 7:00-8:30pm. RSVP by e-mailing cuucevents@gmail.com and let us know which group you are attending.
- Adult Journey Groups meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday and Friday, the 3rd Thursday and Friday, the 4th Sunday and Wednesday, and the 4th Thursday. Click here for more information and the February On the Journey packet. The theme this month is God.
RE Newsletters
Many Sundays when classes and youth group meet, each class and group receives their own individualized weekly newsletter. If you would like to receive one or more RE newsletters in your e-mail, sign up here.
Winter Weather Reminder
CUUC does not cancel the Sunday worship service for inclement weather. Weather might, however, affect RE if leaders cannot make it in. If we are canceling RE classes and youth group, Tracy will send an e-mail to all RE families and volunteers by 7:30am Sunday morning. If you do not hear from Tracy, RE is continuing as planned. As always, use your own best judgement about whether to venture out or not. If not all teachers can make it in, classes will combine. Leaders of other CUUC meetings and events will communicate with their members if their activities are affected.
I look forward to seeing you!
in fellowship, Tracy