Religious Exploration/Education
November's Theme is Holding History
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Hello Families,
It seems the weeks are flying by, and somehow we find ourselves at the end of November already. It is such a blessing to be with you every week, exploring this world and creating community together. If you haven't made it to RE yet this year, always feel free to come anytime! We have been outside, with most of the parents staying outside with their kiddos. It's a lovely, all ages family gathering every Sunday and I just love it.
This month in RE
As we close out November, I thought it important to share with you some of the Soul Matters offerings, even though we are at the end of the month. The theme of "holding history" or "hugging stories" (as they say for the youngest among us) is such an important concept. So read on for books and videos from the Soul Matters team, including ones specifically chosen by their "Widening the Circle of Concern" team that brings in important resources that highlight indigenous, black and people of color perspectives in our communities.
So as we think of everything we are grateful for, may we also remember the stories and experiences of native peoples and people of color in this country. As we remember and re-tell, we continue to support our collective healing.
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Last Sunday was so much fun! We started with a mini-parachute game and painted gratitude rocks. We had a beautiful sharing circle in our spiral with our new stumps. Then we brought the painted rocks around to the front to give to congregants as they left the sanctuary. Some of us decorated new gratitude flags (we'll do more of this for anyone who missed out!)
Then four volunteers brought tools and, along with many kids, helped to take down our old, beloved play structure. Check out the process below!
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It's so fun to bounce the panda and work together to keep him on the blanket |
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New stumps around our spiral that were saved from the tree that fell during the hurricane |
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Down come the monkey bars and swings |
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The whole tower is tipped over and our string of very old prayer flags comes down, with the prayers released into the wind! |
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Many hands helped to take apart the pieces once it was down on the ground |
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It turns out many of the pieces are quite fun to play on still! |
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Asa decided that the steering wheel and monkey bars would make a great bus. Many friends jumped aboard! |
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Sylvan and Declan stayed for more than an hour after everyone else left and made this incredible creation! |
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Soul Matters Sharing Circle is a compilation of resources for RE, Ministry, and Small Groups that UU Congregations across the country use, following a new theme each month.
This is from the Soul Matter's team: "The theme this month is Holding History. Our faith places truthful telling of history at the center of our principles. In our first principle, we promise to value the worth and dignity of every person. In our fourth principle, we value the search for what is true.
When we want to tell the real story, it's not just that we want to be honest and want to tell the full story. It’s also because part of the story has been locked up. And by locking up the real story, we erase the people of color in the story, we not only cause pain, but we prevent their gifts from flowing out into the world. As part of our Unitarian Universalist faith, we want to resist and defy the racism in our country that wants to keep the truthful telling hidden. We want truthful tellings so that we can find the broken places and also let the beauty and healing emerge."
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We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell. In this video, the book is read by the author who then goes on to talk about her book and the "seasons of gratitude." Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, it follows a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.
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Stolen Words by Melanie Florence is a conversation between a child and her grandpa where the child learns that her grandpa doesn't remember the words of his native language, because he was "re-educated" in a residential school that took away his native language and customs. |
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Grandad's Prayers for the Earth, by Douglas Wood is a gorgeously illustrated story of a grandpa sharing his wonder of the world with his grandchild, who then finds connection in nature after his grandad's passing. |
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Here’s a video clip from the show Molly of Denali, called “Grandpa’s Drum.” Molly’s grandfather stopped singing his songs when the teachers at his boarding school demanded only English. Molly helps find her Grandfather’s drum and bring back his songs. It’s a good reminder how history needs to include the truthful stories of what happened to Native Peoples. By knowing the true story, all peoples can start to heal |
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This short video brought tears to my eyes. Kwame Alexander reads his book, The Undefeated to a group of middle school students. It’s a story about the people who persevered. It’s a story about the African Americans who by their example help us keep on going. We hold history by standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.
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Grateful: A Love Song
by Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod
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All that I am
All that I see
All that I've been
And all that I'll ever be
Is a blessing
It's so amazing
And I am grateful for it all
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I've been loving our all-ages, parents included, outside RE program so far this year. It's such a sweet and precious form of family worship that I can't wait to continue.
At this time, masks are optional outside, and mandatory inside the building.
In Person Services!
November 28th: Eli Nixon talks about a proposed holiday honoring horseshoe crabs
While Penny Hall's grown-up kid, Eli speaks about this fun and fabulous new holiday idea, we will be outside making gratitude flags and building with pieces of the taken down play structure.
December 5th: Thinking about Spirituality at Chanukah, with Adria and Jonathan. And our first service with Rev. Denis! Families are invited to be upstairs for the beginning. Then we will go outside to begin to talk about our Solstice play!
December 12th: Inter-racial Adoption and BIPOC racial justice, with April Dinwoodie.
Outside (weather permitting) we will be getting ready for our solstice play.
December 19th: Multi-Gen Solstice service in sanctuary, with Lee and Johnnie. Kids and families are invited for a full service in the sanctuary, where we will put on our short solstice play!
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