2023-04-14

Religious Exploration: April 16, 2023

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Religious Exploration & Faith Development
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains
April 16, 2023

2022-2023 RE Theme: Unitarian Universalist Identity
Overview of the Year & Upcoming Schedule

View past newsletters at bit.ly/CUUCRENews
Tonight! Friday, April 14th

4th-5th, 6th-7th grades
& Parents/Caregivers

Our Whole Lives
 
Last Friday Session
4th-5th and 6th-7th Grade
In this last class, the youth will discuss consent, peer pressure, and relationships. Then, enjoy a celebration! Denice T and Irene C lead the 4th-5th class. David B, Carolyn H, and Janet W lead the 6th-7th class. 
Click here for class dates and topics as well as materials for parents and children to discuss before and after class. (The 4th-5th grade Toolbox of Faith class and 6th-7th grade Riddle and Mystery class meet Sunday morning.)

Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators 
This Friday, parents and caregivers will talk about social media and integrity in a changing world, pornography, and consent. John C is leading the discussion. 
Parents and caregivers may participate in this class even if you do not have a young person attending an OWL classes. Click here for topics, questions to reflect on after class, and resources.
Spotlight

Calling Young Musicians

The May 7th and 21st worship services will feature music from members of our congregation. 

We would love to hear our young people play! If you have something you'd like to share, please let Adam know by April 23rd for the May 7th service, or by May 7th for the May 21st service. Contact Adam at adamkentpianist@gmail.com.

Food CollectionWorship

Individual Serving Items for our Meal Bags for HOPE, Sat Apr 22, 1:30pm, Fellowship Hall & Kitchen
We are collecting individual serving items, such as milk and juice boxes, water, fruit cups, and soft granola bars.

Our RE families and youth will use them to assemble bag lunches and breakfasts for the clients of HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle. Look for collection box in the lobby. Frozen items such as French toast, waffles, and frozen sausages (no pork), can be brought in the morning of Sat Apr 22, or as coordinated with Christine Haran (christineharan@yahoo.com).


Young Voices in Worship

We invite young people to read the chalice lighting and extinguishing words during worship. These dates are open: April 30 and May 14. To volunteer, contact Tracy, cuucwptracy@gmail.com

Calling New Families

Sun Apr 30 Coffee Hour Service
We are delighted to welcome nearly fifteen new families! RE is hosting coffee hour Sunday, April 30th and we invite our new families to serve as a way to continue meeting community members.

The RE Council will provide the snacks. If you are new or newish to the congregation and would like to participate, contact Tracy at cuucwptracy@gmail.com. If you have been around a while, be sure to introduce yourself as you fill your coffee cup and pick up a treat! 
Sunday, April 16th
Childcare

Sundays, 9:45am-11:45am, Room 32, Yellow Hallway
Diane, Hans, and Willow welcome young children in childcare. We offer a safe, loving environment where our youngest build community and play outside when weather permits. 


Religious Exploration
1st-7th Grade Classes
8th-12th Grade Attending Worship
1st-3rd Grade, Our Whole Lives
Room 33, Yellow Hallway 
Laura S and Irene C are leading Session 5, How Babies Begin, and Session 6, Pregnancy and Birth. These sessions review how babies begin, the scientific and biological components of reproduction, and different ways babies are born. Homeinks for home discussion are below. The Parent Guide for Grades K-1, found online here, is the companion resource for this class. After each class, teachers send home a Homelinks sheet with information and suggestions for conversations to have at home. These are the Homelinks for past classes:  Children in 3rd grade and younger must be picked up in their classrooms. Please do so right after worship so RE leaders can go to other activities.

4th-5th Grade Class, Toolbox of Faith
Room 41, Green Hallway
Laura G and Nicholas A are leading session  5, Reflection (Mirror). The mirror symbolizes reflection. There are opportunities to explore physical reflection and to consider the tool of reflection in our faith. Discussion may include when, where, and how we take the time to listen inside ourselves for a still, small voice. Some think of that small voice as our conscience; others experience it as the voice of God/Divine/Spirit of Life.

6th-7th Grade Class, Riddle & Mystery
Room 13, Red Hallway
Gail and Gus are leading session 14, Life as Mystery. Big Question: Can we ever solve life's mystery? This is another question which may prompt a quick "no." The session invites youth to revisit a few Big Questions and to consider the big questions most important in their own lives.

Worship
at CUUC and Online

“What Evil Is” ~ Rev. Meredith Garmon
What does science have to say about what evil is and where it comes from? What do our spirits do with that information?

If your young person is in the sanctuary quiet activity area, please sit in the chairs nearby to help them learn to navigate worship space.

Visit our website for the Sunday order of service. We continue to wear masks for Sunday morning worship and RE in the building. Revisit past services anytime at youtube.com/TheLiberalPulpit and subscribe!

Click here to join the live-stream of our Sunday Worship or phone in (audio only): 646-876-9923 · Webinar: 761 321 991 · Passcode: 468468. Everyone live-streaming the service is invited to stay online afterward to socialize on Zoom. Log in to bit.ly/CUUC-CoffeeHour or phone: 929-436-2866. Meeting: 336 956 2210, Passcode: 468468.

TNBGNC Parent Group

Sun Apr 16, 11:30am, Room 41, Green Hallway
Tony Arrien meets with parents this Sunday to share his journey and offer information from the amazing presentations he leads. 

The image above was designed by TransUUs in Florida and appears on apparel you can buy to support their work, and show your UU values and support of transgender youth. Click here

Congregation Forum
Ministerial Search Committee Candidates

Sun Apr 16, 11:30am, Fellowship Hall & Zoom 3131
Membership Voting, Mon Apr 17 - Sun Apr 30

The CUUC Search Formation Team has offered a slate of 10 candidates for our Ministerial Search Committee: David Bowen, Lane Cobb, Ann Marie Damashek, Ted Dreher, Mary Kingsley, Eileen Macholl, Charlie McNally, Alex Sehdeva, Jeff Tomlinson, and Nicole Turygin. To learn more about each, click here to read the candidates' questionnaire responses. The congregation will have the opportunity to talk with them at our meet the candidates forum on Sun Apr 16. CUUC Members will then have two weeks, from Mon Apr 17 to Sun Apr 30, to vote for 5 candidates. The 5 candidates who receive the most votes, along with 2 additional candidates from the slate suggested by the Team, will be finalized by the Board of Trustees at their Wed May 10 meeting. Click here to read the full update letter from the Search Formation Team.
Upcoming Schedule
Religious Exploration

Fri Apr 14: OWL Classes for 4th-5th & 6th-7th grades, and parents/caregivers
Sun Apr 16: 1st-7th grade classes. After worship: TGNCNB parent group & Congregational Forum 
Fri Apr 21: CUUC Game Night for all ages
Sat Apr 29 (*1:30pm): RE Meals for HOPE
Sun Apr 23: COA chalice dedication in worship; 1st-12th grade RE PlaceKeeping, installing leaf packs; After worship: Spring Choral Concert, Disney classics!
Sat Apr 29: Tag Sale
Sun Apr 30: K-7th grade Chapel; After worship: Odyssey Program with Claire Kuczinski & RE hosts coffeehour
Sun May 7: All RE activity, making a retirement gift for Rev. Meredith; After worship: Canvass brunch

Click here for the schedule updated April 12th
(May 7th schedule changed)
Find descriptions of the classes and activities here

RE Update
May 21 Community Forum 

We are in a time of transition at CUUC, including in Religious Exploration (RE). Please join us Sunday, May 21st after worship for a community forum to expand the conversation about the future of RE with our greater CUUC community. Come listen and share your thoughts and vision for the future. Your participation is important! You can read about our changing context and upcoming plans here, and stay tuned for more soon.

Fun Game Night
for All Ages

Fri Apr 21, 6:00pm Pizza, 7:00pm Games, Fellowship HallCalling CUUCers of all ages - grab your favorite game and join us for an evening of fun! Whether you bring Scrabble, Uno, mah jongg, Connect 4, checkers, or Hungry Hungry Hippos, come to play or just come to enjoy good company. Please help us plan by clicking here to sign up for Game Night. Suggested donation for dinner: $5. Contact Audra Russell (audrar631@gmail.com).

Spring Choral Concert
Music for All Ages

CUUC Spring Choral Concert "Music for All Ages," Sun Apr 23, 12:30pm, Sanctuary and Worship Zoom

After an enhanced coffee hour in Fellowship Hall, join us for a concert with the CUUC Choir featuring music from Disney classics. Musical guest Aram Tchobanian, accompanied by Adam Kent, offers Spirituals, folk song, and works by women composers. Contact: Janet Bear (jsbear1@gmail.com)
Tag Sale 2023

Sat Apr 29, 9:00am-3:00pm at CUUC 
Clean out those closets, basements, attics, and wherever else you store items you no longer use, and sell them at our tag sale. Limited tables available - reserve yours now! Don't need a whole table? Find a friend to share! 

Contact Nora Freeman (norafreeman777@gmail.com) or Alex Sehdeva (alex.sehdeva@gmail.com). We are also collecting donations of small furniture and appliances (small enough to fit in a sedan) for Furniture Sharehouse. Help us promote the event within your social network and communities. Click here for the tag sale flyer for buyers and the tag sale flyer for sellers to print out.
Help enhance our festivities! If you have a photograph of Rev. Garmon to share, please email to Kim Force (kimforce@gmail.com). You can share your favorite memory at bit.ly/RevGarmonMemories. Contacts: Catherine K (catherinekortlandt@gmail.com), Emily E (emily.economou@gmail.com)
CUUC Community

Annual Giving Campaign

Last Sunday we heard from our first "Canvass Minute" speaker, Chris Kortlandt, who shared this message about our 2023 Annual Giving Campaign, Forging Ahead with Excitement and Commitment.

This year more than ever we need everyone's support because financial strength, ability to pay competitive wages, and an involved, active membership are key to attracting quality ministerial candidates. Forms are available in the lobby and on our website at www.cucwp.org/giving. If you can, please increase your pledge at least 6.5-7% to match inflation. Contact: Chris Kortlandt (treasurercuucwp@gmail.com).


Read All About It!

We have a vibrant community with exciting events and opportunities. I pull some announcements from the e-Communitarian to highlight here each week but there is so much more! Check your email for the publication or view it online here

Weekly Newsletters
Stay up to date by receiving the weekly RE newsletter (sign up here; read past Issues here) and weekly CUUC e-Communitarian (sign up here; read past issues here).
Tracy Breneman, Director of Religious Exploration and Faith Development, cuucwptracy@gmail.com
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains  
468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419







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