2021-02-25

Religious Education: February 26, 2021

*|MC:SUBJECT|*
Religious Education & Faith Development
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains
February 26, 2021
2020-2021 Religious Education (RE) theme: JUSTICE & EQUITY
Supporting our young people in understanding justice issues, articulating their values, and engaging in faith in action with CUUC Social Justice teams. Also, supporting youth in developing healthy self-esteem and relationships. 
Sunday, February 28th
Worship 10:00am  
 
Rev. Meredith Garmon ~ “Ending the Pursuit of Happiness”

Chasing, chasing, chasing isn't how a rich and meaningful life is best constructed.  

Enjoy Time for All Ages activity sheets from recent weeks, click here
 
Click here to join our Sunday Worship Service 
Phone in (audio only): 646-876-9923 · Webinar: 761 321 991 · Passcode: 468468


After worship, join Virtual Coffee Hour 
Meeting: 336 956 2210 · Passcode: 468468
 

K-9th & Adult Classes Meet

All log into Zoom room 8428 then meet in separate breakout rooms.  Room 8428 (password embedded). Meeting ID: 817 388 428 · Passcode: 468468. 

K-4th class meets 11:40am-12:15pm
5th-7th class meets 11:50am-12:50pm
7th-9th class meets 11:50am-12:50pm
Parents & Caregivers class meets 12:00-1:00pm
10th-12th class does not meet

PreK and Older Children: Continue using the asynchronous, online UU Parents of Preschoolers (POP) curriculum, which is updated with new material each month. Click HERE, click on the "Monthly Content" button, and enter password, YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive)​. 

K-4th Grade Class:  The children will hear samples of the new 8 Principles Song using the three tunes they chose. Later, all children and youth will have the opportunity to vote on the choices. Lyra H and Norm H are leading. 

5th-7th & 7th-9th Grade Classes: The two classes are combining to learn about sexual orientation, our feelings of attraction to other people. We affirm all orientations and support youth in making healthy choices as they explore their own authenticity. This combined class begins at 11:50am.  David B, Monica D, and Christine H are leading. 

 
Parents & Caregivers Class: Participants explore their assumptions about and knowledge of sexual orientation and prepare to accompany their child’s process of self-discovery, conveying love and acceptance. Tracy B and Jane P are leading.  Classes are open to all adults, with or without youth participating, and intended to support conversations at home. Classes are open to all adults, with or without youth participating, and intended to support conversations at home. Join us for some or all classes. We offer this material for parents and caregivers with resources, session handouts, and questions to reflect on at home. 
 
Read more here, including the full spring 2021
schedule with topics for each class on pages 3-4.
Connecting in Community
 
New! UU Transgender / Non-Binary Monthly Gatherings for All Ages
 
This is a wonderful community led, multigenerational space. Together, trans and nonbinary UUs are creating a space just for us to gather and build community--and it's a cozy, caring, affirming time that restores and renews.  Already, many trans/nonbinary UUs have been gathering, worshipping together, connecting over important topics and fun games, and enjoying positive, supportive community. 
There's lots of interest and we're still growing, and we want you with us!  Children attend with their parents and there is breakout space for children and youth. This program is completely in line with the UUA’s youth safety guidelines.  Click here for more information.  Register here to join the community!  Meet 4th Tuesdays, 8pm. 
 
New!Peer Pastoral Care Training
for Youth in 7th-9th Grade 

This is a three-part series, March 6, 13, & 27, training youth to support their peers. Pastoral care is an essential part of a religious community and an essential part of caring for each other as human beings. We each can be present to each other as we go through both the hard and joyful parts of life.

Compassion, witness, listening, and empathy are gifts we can all give each other. Youth can sign up for sessions individually. Session 1 is required for both session 2 and 3, but youth do not need to take the full series. Youth do need an adult from their congregation attending with them - contact Tracy to coordinate. Information and registration here.
 
Click the link below for information about
Pastoral Care training for RE teachers and advisors!
New! Resources for Healing

We offer children, youth, and adults resources for moving through separation, grief, and healing as the pandemic drags on and we are not able to gather freely with family and friends.  View the resources here, which will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Below are Headings for all
Announcements and Resources

Click here for full information

Religious Education 

  • NEW! Pastoral Care Training for RE Volunteers, March 3, 17, and 31 - Register Now
  • 2020-2021 Religious Education and Faith Development: Overview, Schedule & Topics, Zoom Links, RE Newsletter
  • Justice & Equity Resources 
  • Family Resources - NEW! Resources for Healing
  • Sunday Worship Activity Sheets 

Children 

  • Story Time Every Thursday Evening 
  • Combating Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia: Children’s Literature 

Youth 

  • Middle School Winter CON, February 27 
  • NEW! Peer Pastoral Care Training for Youth in 7th-9th Grade, March 6, 13, and 27 - Register Now
  • Regional Youth Game Night, March 20 
  • UU-UNO 2021 Spring Seminar on Climate Justice, April 9-11 
  • Center Lane’s Pride Academy 
  • Center Lane’s Rainbow Squad 

CUUC 

  • CUUC Newsletter
  • Online Sunday Worship, 10:00am 
  • On the Journey, February: Belonging 
  • Beloved Conversations & Racial Justice - CUUC is Participating! 
  • All Ages Easter Spring Fling: Saturday, April 3 

Local Community 

  • NEW! Ramadan Interfaith Virtual Event - March 14, 2pm
  • Donations for Grace Church 
  • White Plains Food Scrap Drop off Program 

Broader Unitarian Universalist Community 

  • NEW! UU All Ages Transgender / Non-Binary Monthly Gatherings, 4th Tuesdays, 8pm 
  • UUA/Central East Region BIPOC Group 
  • UUA/Central East Region All Ages Event, March 19-21 

Black History Month Activities & Resources 

  • UUA Common Read & Resources for Black History Month 
  • The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity, February 9-24 
  • A Vision for Racial Justice in Westchester County, February 23 
  • Books 
  • At-Home Lessons and Discussion Groups (upcoming dates)
  • Black Power & Mapping Segregation in Washington, D.C. 
  • Seizing Freedom Podcasts 
  • Movements for Black Liberation 
  • Patterns of Race-Based Dispossession & Reparations 
  • 30 Days of Love Week 1: Living Our Values in the World / Week 2: Hospitality and Inclusion / Week 3: Educating for Liberation / Week 4: Restoration and Reparations 
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains  
468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419







Minister's Post, Fri Feb 26

Dear Ones, Fellow Unitarian Universalists,

These are our times.

We are one month into the new presidency, and we’re seeing the political landscape take on what might be its enduring shape. There was no great repudiation of the former guy on November 3, nor by January 6 when his supporters stormed the capitol, and not on February 13 when the Senate voted to acquit him of the charges for which he was impeached. The 7 Senators of the former guy’s party who voted for conviction are facing strong backlash from within their party.

Our close-to-evenly, and very divided, politics has no evident end in sight. As the percentage of whites in the electorate declines, the proportion of minority voters ready to vote more conservatively increases. On one side is a coalition of anxious whites and secure minorities; on the other side is a coalition of anxious minorities and secure whites -- and these opposing coalitions appear to be roughly evenly balanced for now and into the foreseeable future.

The former guy is out of the White House. This week, a prominent conservative radio personality died. But the kind of thinking of which they were the mouthpieces is not going away, or even perceptibly diminishing. Thus, the work of compassion and kindness must be ongoing. The work of justice and peace will not take care of itself. Vigilance, my friends. Our world needs our voices, our hearts. Compassion, and vigilance.

Covid Watch

In the US, for the week of Feb 15-21 there were fewer new cases than in any 7-day period since Oct 18-24 -- and the number of new cases that week (Feb 15-21) was down to just a little more than a quarter (27%) of the Jan 5-11 seven-day peak. For the next three days since Feb 21, however, the seven-day average of new cases per day has begun to creep upward again. It's a very slight rise, but its continuation for three days now is concerning.

Covid deaths have been on the rise for four days now. We got down below 2,000 (seven-day average of deaths per day) for the week ending Sat Feb 20, but have been back over 2,000/day for the last three days.

Let's do our part to make these increases temporary. A third surge is very possible -- but not inevitable. Be careful!

Yours in the faith we share,
Meredith

Practice of the Week

Slogans work, as advertisers know – so let's put them to a positive use!

Using slogans to guide and remind you of how you want to be brings more peace and more joy into your life. Maybe you could use a little more peace and joy. This winter’s series of “Slogans That Help” has included:This week's slogan: ENJOY HUMILITY.

Humility doesn’t mean low self-esteem, or that you’re a doormat, or second-class. Nor does being humble mean tolerating mistreatment. Speak up and do what you can. Knowing that you are prepared to be assertive makes it easier to relax into the unguardedness of humility. Humility just means that you're stepping out of the rat race of self-glorification. You're not preoccupied with yourself. What a relief!

Humility is like an open hand, empty of the weapons of superiority, scorn, or self-importance. People around you will feel less likely to be criticized, and will be less likely to get defensive or competitive with you. The less you focus on being appreciated, the more appreciation you'll get.

At the end of it all, we're each reduced to dust. Humility helps you be at peace with these facts. To enjoy humility is to enjoy how humility makes your day simpler, keeps you out of conflicts with others, and brings you peace. For Rick Hanson’s tips on how to cultivate – and enjoy – humility, see the post: ENJOY HUMILITY.

See also our SPIRITUAL PRACTICE DIRECTORY

2021-02-24

Music: Sun Feb 21

 

Music for ending the pursuit of happiness calls to mind the popular metaphor of the butterfly, which eludes capture only to settle on the shoulders on those who would respect its freedom. The music of Franz Schubert seems to invert the usual major=happy/minor=sad dichotomy of tonality. In his works---heard in this morning’s Gathering Music and Interlude—episodes in major keys seem to belong to the terrain of unbidden dreams and mirages, while sections in minor keys represent the anguish of wakeful consciousness.

In his first Canción y danza (Song and Dance), Federico Mompou calls to mind the ambiguities of chasing after love as a vehicle for happiness. The composer quotes a popular Catalan folk tune (“La filla del Carmesi”), the refrain of which cautions, “Those who lack love crave it, while those who have it spurn it.”

The works of Debussy performed in the Musical Meditation and Parting Music are both based on the pentatonic (5-note) scale, often associated with Asiatic and other indigenous musics. The scale—which can be recreated by playing the black keys of a piano---contains both major and minor triads, and seems to vacillate between both modes, resisting easy classification and requiring “acceptance” of the ambiguity.

 

What does striving in music sound like? Listen to young CUUC member and my piano student Wesley Miller in Liszt’s “Sonnetto del Petrarca 123” in this morning’s Opening Music, and consider the words of Petrarch’s poetry, read by Rev. Meredith, which inspired the work.

Read on for programming details, and stay tuned for spoken introductions.


Gathering Music: Adam Kent, piano

Sonata in Bb Major, Op. Posth.         

            I. Molto moderato

                                                Franz Schubert


Centering Music:
Canción y danza No. 1

                                    Federico Mompou

 

Opening Music: Wesley Miller, piano

Sonetto del Petrarca 123

                                                Franz Liszt

 

Musical Meditation:
Bruyères (Heather) from Préludes, Book II

                                    Claude Debussy

 

Interlude:
Moment Musical in F Minor, Op. 94, No. 3

                                    Schubert

 

Parting Music:
La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) from Préludes, Book I

                                                Debussy