2020-01-11

This Week in Religious Education: January 9-17, 2020

Sunday, January 12, 2020 (click link for class newsletter)
10th-12th Grade: Important Youth Group Meeting
Youth Group meets 10:00am-12:15pm. Begin in the worship service at 10:00am then head up to youth group with Cyndi and Daniel Tillman. Youth will begin discussing a theme for the March 8th worship service they are leading. Following the worship service, Rev. Kimberley and Tracy will join youth group to continue the discussion until 12:15pm. It is VERY IMPORTANT that youth attend this Sunday so we can gauge youth participation in leading worship March 8th and confirm this service on the worship schedule.  If youth will not be able to attend youth group this Sunday but would like to participate in the March 8th youth-led worship service, they should let Cyndi and Daniel know that in the GroupMe chat asap.

8th-9th Grade: Coming of Age Class Meets 
Begin in the sanctuary at 10:00am then youth will go to class. Christine Haran is continuing the discussion about faith as a guide for the spiritual journey. This Sunday, they will learn about the 6 Sources of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Erin Foster is the assistant. Class meets in room 11. Coming of Age youth and mentors are in touch via e-mail. Please schedule two discussions in January. Remember to hold March 27-29 for the Murray Grove, NJ credo writing retreat and Sunday, May 17 for Coming of Age Sunday. 

6th-7th Grade: Islam Unit Begins
Begin in the sanctuary then youth will go to class with Mohammed Loutfy and Nicole Turygin to begin the unit on Islam. Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Class meets in room 41. If you would like to help plan a visit to a Mosque or Muslim Community Center, please contact Tracy. 

4th-5th Grade: Children's Worship
Begin in the sanctuary at 10:00am then children will go to Children's Worship in the Fellowship Hall. We have the first of two programs celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Amy Nathan is joining Tracy Breneman to share her new book, "A Ride To Remember." This is the story of Sharon Langley, the first African American child to ride the carousel at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore when it was desegregated in 1963. The carousel is now on the National Mall in Washington, DC. We will hear the story, hear Amy's experience writing the story and meeting Sharon, and begin discussing what children can do to foster change that makes our communities more welcoming and fair places. Read more about the story on Amy's website and the publisher's website

2nd-5th Grade: Children's Worship
Begin in the sanctuary at 10:00am then children will go to Children's Worship in the Fellowship Hall. We have the first of two programs celebrating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Amy Nathan is joining Tracy Breneman to share her new book, "A Ride To Remember." This is the story of Sharon Langley, the first African American child to ride the carousel at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore when it was desegregated in 1963. The carousel is now on the National Mall in Washington, DC. We will hear the story, hear Amy's experience writing the story and meeting Sharon, and begin discussing what children can do to foster change that makes our communities more welcoming and fair places. Read more about the story on Amy's website and the publisher's website

PreK, K-1st Grade: K-1st Our Whole Lives
Begin in the sanctuary at 10:00am then children will go to class. David Bowen is leading session 4, Families. In this session, we celebrate family life in all its diversity and validate each child's family configuration. Children gain awareness and appreciation for their own families as well as families different from their own. Class meets in room 33. *Please do not send children to class with toys. There is a lot of energy in this group and it helps the teachers to minimize distractions.

A fundamental goal of the OWL program is to forge a strong partnership between CUUC and home, and a strong bond between parent and child. After each class and in this newsletter, children will receive the HomeLinks discussion page and corresponding OWL Parent Guide session so you can continue the conversation at home. 
Session 1, Our Wonderful Bodies Part 1 Homelinks and Parent GuideSession 2, Our Wonderful Bodies Part 2 Homelinks and Parent GuideSession 3, Healthy Bodies, Safe Bodies Homelinks and Parent Guide


While K-1st grade children have eight Our Whole Lives classes, PreK children are invited into childcare or may enjoy the children's area in the sanctuary. They may also join us in Children's Worship in the Fellowship Hall.

Childcare: Special Child Dedication
Diane Keller and Hans Elsevier welcome children into childcare, room 32, during Sunday morning worship. Parents are welcome to bring comfort items from home. Please let Diane know if your child has allergies or specific needs. We are celebrating Ellie's child dedication during the worship service. A child dedication is a beautiful ceremony that honors the child and family while affirming our connection in community and shared covenant. 

Images & Activities Order of Service
When we have whole congregation worship and everyone stays in the sanctuary for the full hour, a special order of service is available with images and activities. If you were not at CUUC last Sunday, you can click here for the puzzles.

Metro NY Social Youth CON
The UU congregation in Summit, NJ is hosting a social CON 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. 

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


Beloved Conversations Family Pilot
A few years ago, this congregation participated in Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race and EthnicityWe are excited to let you know that the Fahs Collaborative has been working on a Beloved Conversations Family (BCF).  The initial version is for families of color and multiracial families. They anticipate another version will be written for white families at some point in the future.


Our congregation has the opportunity to pilot the curriculum and we are excited to do so. Participants in this pilot will be UUs who identify as People of Color, Indigenous people or as white people in multiracial families. We hope to offer this in the late spring and will be extending the invitation to families at the other Westchester UU congregations. The pilot includes an opening retreat and five 90 minute sessions. Please contact Tracy Breneman to express interest or for additional information. 

Sunday Morning Greeters
We would love to have families greet Sunday morning before worship. What would be more welcoming to our children and youth than to have CUUC children and youth offer a warm welcome as they arrive!  Your family would be in place 9:45-10:15am. Contact Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com) to sign up for a Sunday. 


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). 


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. The first planning meeting is tomorrow, January 11th, 4:00-5:30pm at South Presbyterian in Dobbs Ferry. Click here for the flyer which has more information.


Teen Essay Contest
Lifting Up Westchester is holding their 3rd annual Annual Student Essay ContestThis 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. 


In The Coming Weeks
  • Friday, January 17 - Faith Friday programming. Join us for pizza at 6:15. Programs meet 7:00-8:30pm: Rev. Kimberley's class, Adult Journey Group, Youth Group, and Children's Journey Group. The January theme is Authority. On The Journey packets are available on our website, click hereRSVP by noon on Thursday, January 16th by e-mailing cuucevents@gmail.com. 
  • Sunday, January 19 - All begin in worship at 10:00am then leave for Dr. Martin Luther King RE activities led by the Racial Justice Team. Jim Cobb is leading the multiage children's group. Adine Usher and Rhonda Morgan are leading the youth program. 
  • Sunday, January 26 - All begin in worship at 10:00am then leave for RE classes and youth group. Following worship and RE, join us for a community chili lunch. 
  • Adult Journey Groups also 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. 
I look forward to seeing you!in fellowship, Tracy

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