"What do families need most right now?There are a lot of answers to that question. So many that it makes your head spin. Stay healthy. Keep active. Check in with family by Skype or Zoom. Wash your hands. Donate. Watch Netflix. In the midst of all this advice, the voice of religion can sound a bit odd. Here’s its answer: “In times of trouble, be extra sure to keep the Sabbath.” In other words,“Be sure to set aside time and a space for worship, rest and connection.”
For the next 5 weeks, we will be creating and building our own Sabbath Space to remind us that we can take a moment to breathe, especially during trying times. The time is now to create this for ourselves. Join us in the video lesson in the RE section as Ms. Trish and Ms. Jeanay show and share their Sabbath Space.
WELCOME
UU Friend
This month has stirred much within our hearts. The time of planning and action have been placed on our laps. In the midst of the energetic shift of awareness, what are you doing to stay in gratitude?
It may feel like a challenge to acknowledge this feeling for yourself with everything that is going on around each of us. Remind yourself that your little people are watching you on how you navigate your feelings and your perception of the world. They have the front row seat of 'live-action' YOU.
Even when you least expect it, your offsprings see you and are learning, consciously every move you make, how you react, your facial expressions and more.
Let's practice together with a healthy treat that you can share with your family.
Be grateful with all five senses. Write on a sheet of paper these sentences below:
Something great I touched today was...
Today, I tasted a delicious....
A memorable sound I heard today was....
The best thing I smelled today....
The most beautiful thing I saw today was....
Share with one another an share a laugh. Laughter speaks light into our hearts. Find joy in the rhythm of your heartbeat.
Say Hello to Our Art Box Recepients!
This week, we delivered 5 art boxes to some of our RE kids. The survey is closed for this go-around, but in mid-July, it will reopen again for midsummer arts & crafts the family can do together!
This video was created by Sherry Benton, wife of our Board President, Steve Benton.
Friend please take a moment to view our year 2019-2020 at UUSP!!
You will see a collection of photos of the events we hosted, social justice engagement, RE celebrations and more! Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube page to stay connected!
Religious Education Virtual Classes K-12th
Ms. Jeanay & Ms. Trish Sabbath Space Family Worship Week One
The family chalice gives you a great opportunity for your family to explain to their children what this project is all about. The chalice represents our UU faith and, in a nutshell, bringing our UU faith into our homes is what this is all about. Instead of going to church, we are building and bringing church into our homes! It’s also a reminder that church isn’t just a place we go to but a place and community we carry wherever we go. The altar table or sacred corner can be explained as holding and helping us remember what is important, nourishing and sacred in our lives.
This first week we start with the basics, the core building blocks of any UU home altar:
● A family chalice
● An altar table or space
● A sounding instrument to signal the movement from regular time into sacred time
Over the coming weeks we will fill the table/space with physical reminders of those important things. Keeping these important things in front of us is especially important during this time of sickness, separation and uncertainty. It’s a reminder that even though we may be cut off from the people and activities we love, we remain spiritually connected to them all the time.
The sound instrument is a great opportunity for you to explain to your children that bells, chimes or ringing bowls help us create and move into sacred space. The sound signals “special time” and a movement from “normal time” into “sacred time.” After creating your altar space and then having family worship, you are invited to continue your “family Sabbath” with the activities we’ve recommended.
Family Worship Sabbath Space Week One
Activities:There are many ways to restore our spirits as a family. Home-wide, gentle quiet can do it. Sharing a delicious and nourishing meal can do it. And laughing together does it, too. For this activity, we’re going to bring a favorite youth group activity into the family group--it’s called the “Ha! Game.” If you have a teen who knows this game, invite them to explain and demonstrate how it works. Each member of the family lays on the ground or on your biggest bed--whatever surface is easy and comfortable for you all--perpendicular to the next person, with one’s head on another’s stomach. If there are three or more people in your family, join into a triangle or circle of sorts. If there are two people, you’ll go back and forth. The person who begins says, “Ha!” The next person says, “Ha, ha!” Next, “Ha, ha, ha!” Here’s a video showing how it’s done
A Message From UUA
"We must find the sources within ourselves
to give us courage in this moment.
To resist. To risk. To sacrifice for this movement
that needs all of us to succeed."
"Don’t turn away from the challenge and truth of the uprisings"
"On Sunday, I joined the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis for their service. I was grateful to represent UU’s across the country in solidarity with Minneapolis, remembering that we are in this together. Together, we prayed for cities and communities all over this country – a prayer for the safety, well-being, and courage of the people. And earlier this week, over 10,000 UUs gathered for the #WeCantBreathe vigil led by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) Organizing and Strategy team.
I especially lift in love and prayer Black Unitarian Universalists, and Black people across the United States. Through grief and rage, I pray for your safety, your strength, your life, and your loved ones. May the all-pervading presence of love hold you in power and in tenderness, bringing rest and deep care. And I share this pastoral message for Black UUs from the Rev. Lauren Smith, a member of the UUA’s Executive Leadership Council. I hope you will share it with Black UUs in your congregations."
- Rev Susan Frederick Gray
Gratitude Quote
"Each day provides its own gifts" - Marcellus Auralius
The next full Moon will occur tonight! This moon is known as the Full Strawberry Moon. Other names include the Rose Moon, the Hot Moon, and the Mead Moon.
This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry! Source
Sesame Street Just Made 110 Ebooks 100% Free
Keeping cooped-up kids occupied as the coronavirus keeps their schools close is easier said than done. Entertaining them and helping them learn something along the way? That's practically Herculean, but it is possible if you have the right tools. ...
We are continuing to send out the e-newsletter “Caring & Connected” to help sustain our UUSP community during uncertain times. Click here to read it and learn “how can I help?” and "how can I stay connected?” during the church closure.
Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg is not affiliated nor a sponsor of the community events posted on our UUSP RE e-newsletters. The information is derived from PeachJar.com, The Parent's Guide Magazine and City of St. Petersburg Events page, PlayLargo.com and various applications for family engagement strictly for informational purposes only. The information posted is not for profit or for monetary gain unless specified to contribute to a fundraiser in whereas the donations are to UU and/or UUA affiliates such as UUSC. If you have any questions or concerns about this statement, reply to this email.
Stay Connected!
Friend Jeanay Johnson here. I am the Religious Education Coordinator at UUSP. This newsletter is put together by myself using family based resources from SoulMatters and many more. If you have any submissions for the RE weekly newsletter, please submit your information to email me by noon every Tuesday to have it posted to the newsletter for Friday's e-print.