RE Weekly Newsletter: Stay in-the-know

RE Weekly Newsletter:

April: Liberation

We will keep you up-to-date with the CDC guidelines in our e-newsletters.

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PARENT RESOURCES

Learn more about Soul Matters curriculum guides .

"Gift of a Growing Flower Easter at the Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, PA when I was growing up, meant the gift of a potted pansy or marigold. In this humanist-flavored congregation, the wonder of spring was the only way we celebrated the holiday. Each child received a little flower, sparking our wonder and joy at the little face looking at back at us."

Theme Connection : The liberation from winter and the freedom of sunshine and warmth.

Song for All Ages Hymns and songs can be used as a Story for All Ages. Here’s a way to invite the music the family into multi-generational worship at home.

IMPORTANT DATES TO KEEP IN MIND:

Buddhism : Buddha’s Birthday: April 8

Christianity : Easter, April 12

Judaism : Passover, April 8 - 16

Islam : Ramadan: April 23 - May 23

April is Arab American Heritage Month

WELCOME

UU Friend

Our theme of the month circumferences Hinduism . Hinduism is a religion built around liberating one from the cycle of reincarnation.

Likewise, Buddhism is all about liberating one from suffering and achieving Nirvana.

Good Friday , also known as Great Friday, Holy Friday, or Sorrowful Friday, is a major Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is a time for Christians to reflect upon his suffering and willing sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind. For some worshipers, it is a day of fasting.

Good Friday occurs two days before Easter (which celebrates Christ's resurrection). It is part of Holy Week, which starts with Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. In certain countries, such as Canada, it is an official public holiday. In the United States, a number of states declare this a state holiday. Traditional foods served on Good Friday include hot cross buns. These spiced sweet buns usually contain currants or raisins and are topped with icing in the shape of a cross.

Learn more about our own UUSP History Here!

Religious Education Classes K-12th

Ms. Trish's K - 3rd Grade Class

Loss and Defeat Never Have the Last Word

Session Goal: Exploring the holiday of Easter and the idea that we can be liberated from hopelessness.

Calendar Connection: Easter, the Christian holiday that falls on April 12.

Please click the video above for the full lesson for this week.

Wonderbox : A cross, which symbolizes the Christian meaning of Easter. We’ll discuss how Jesus’ message liberates us from evil and unkindness.

Meditation : Finding a sense of hope.

Activity : Making a paper chain of hearts, for loving kindness, and to represent our connection.

Quick & Easy Valentines Day Paper Heart Chain Decoration - DIY Valentine's Day Crafts

RE Lesson April 12th - Comrade Cool Cats

Please click the video above for the full lesson for this week.

“ The monks continued to try to figure out who amongst them might be the Messiah, but none of them came to any conclusions. Still, they realized that they could sometimes see the Messiah in one another’s faces; they could sometimes hear the Messiah in one another’s voices. And they began to treat one another more kindly and more fairly, just in case.. ” from the story

Theme Connection: “Why do we treat one another so differently than we would treat a Messiah?” - Elisa Pearmain. This story helps liberate us from our failings into the awareness that we are all children of God, all deserving of worth and dignity.

Ms. Jeanay's 4th - 12th Grade Class

Session Goal : Easter - Loss and Defeat Never Have the Last Word, Expanding our knowledge on the theme of the month.

Meditation: Loss never has the last word. Imagine the hope filling your heart. Now it fills your entire body and beams out, giving hope to others. Take a deep breath and feel the hopelessness slip away. Take another deep breath and return to us now.

Arts & Crafts: Click here for video

Sophia Lyon Fahs' contribution to the liberal religious movement is immeasurable. An authority on the education of children, she served the American Unitarian Association as Editor of Curriculum Materials for Religious Education from 1937 to 1961.

She maintained that faith should not be imposed on a child but should grow out of natural curiosity. The author of numerous books for and about children, Fahs has been hailed as a true pioneer in child-directed education.

Sophia Lyon Fahs August 2, 1876 - April 14, 1978

In honor of Sophia Lyon Fahs’ death on April 14 and Easter, we lift up Fah’s take on the Easter Story/wisdom tale.

Fah’s describes Jesus’ resurrection not as supernatural, but as a matter of his message living on in his disciples. For Fahs (and many UUs), Jesus offers liberation not through his death but through his message of loving kindness.

Theme Connection: Fahs liberated children’s religious education from rote learning to wondering and seeking.

Learn more here..

How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally

Try dyeing eggs the old-fashioned way—with spices, food, and plants! It turns out that your own kitchen and nature can provide all you need. It’s fun and something different to try. Note: You’ll want to dye these eggs at least one day in advance for vivid colors.

Learn more...

Helpful Resources

10 Teaching Strategies to Keep Struggling Students Working

We have all had to struggle at one point in our lives or another. And as human beings, we understand that sometimes life can get hard and that we have to push ourselves in order to get through it. As children, this is a lesson that needs to be...

Read more
www.teachhub.com

Monday, April 13 - Friday, May 1

All schools will distribute food Monday, Wednesday and Friday

From 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.;

two-days-worth of meals per distribution day (2 breakfasts and 2 lunches)

To view school listings, click here.

Disaster Loan Applications

Find out how to apply for SBA Disaster loans. This is for small business owners with employees of less than 500. If you are a small business owner and you have been impacted by COVID-19, apply here for a loan. This loan does not have to be repaid.

Read more
www.sba.gov

Fun Info for the Family

If you haven't already enjoyed this new film, this movie 'Onward' is available on multiple viewing platforms. It shares a beautiful perspective of what loss and grief can feel like using adventure to also expand and grow in areas that needed attention. With moments that feel like Disney's Up and Coco, it shares a youthful view with fanciful display of how to embrace the loss and grow from it.

THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY

Sirius is nicknamed “the Dog Star,” because it’s the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major. Sirius is super easy to locate: Just face toward the south and look for Orion. The three bright stars that make up Orion’s belt point downward, toward Sirius. See the post on Sirius, The Brightest Star in the Sky Tonight .

BRIGHTEST SUPERMOON OF 2020

April "Pink" Supermoon: Brightest of 2020

This year, the nearest (and, thus biggest and brightest) supermoon of the year had risen between April 7–8. This was the start of the 2020 supermoon season with three in a row, in March, April, and May. How big or bright will the Moon appear? What is a supermoon? And why don’t we use this term in The Old Farmer’s Almanac? Here are more helpful facts from Bob Berman.