This Week in Religious Education

What is happening for children, youth, and families at OUUC

Thank you Mystery Pals!

One of the ways that we support the faith development of all ages is through the opportunity to form multigenerational relationships and have experiences with people of all ages. Increasingly, our society is age-segregated, and many of our families don't live near extended family. Many of our elders are also distant from their extended family. And all of us spend more time in age-segregated activities than we once did. Really, church is one of the last remaining places for people of all ages to come together!

A wonderful way we build multigenerational relationships is our Mystery Pal program, which returned this year, and was once again a lovely experience and a great way for connections and relationships to form. Watch for it next year!

The next fun opportunities for all ages:

1) Come on March 24th to see our multigenerational actors putting on the story "How Robin Saved Spring" in the worship service.

2) The Children's Annual Meeting will be on April 14th this year.

3) Children are invited to join our Easter Egg Hunt following the worship service on Easter, this year April 21st.

This Sunday: March 17th

9:15

Nursery Care
All Ages Spirit Play: one of Jesus's teaching parables, The Good Samaritan

11:00

Nursery Care
Pre-K Spirit Play: one of Jesus's teaching parables, The Good Samaritan
Labyrinth Learning: learning about the story of Esther and the holiday of Purim
Middle School group: debriefing about the last few visits they've had to the Lutheran and Catholic churches and the Islamic Center.

2:45-4pm

Parent/Child Kindergarten-1st grade Our Whole Lives

Sunday and Every Day: Taking it Home

Last Sunday the children learned the story of Ruth (who received the gifts of food and care as a stranger in a new land). They discussed what it feels like to be new somewhere (a new school, a new church, a new country) and what helps to welcome the newcomer. And then they made salad for our all church potluck, to feed all - newcomer and congregant alike.

Discuss it at home:

What is a journey? What kinds of journeys can you take?
Who has taken a journey to arrive here? Who are the newcomers in our community? Our school? Our church? What do these newcomers need?
How can we welcome and care for the newcomer? How do we practice Welcome and hospitality?

Spiritual Practice:

There is nothing quite like food for building community and caring for one another. You can practice radical care and nourishment for all in as simple a way as carrying granola bars with you to hand to folks who are asking for help or experiencing homelessness, or you could take part in local organized efforts to feed the hungry. You can learn about some OUUC opportunties to serve the homeless here.

Add to our "Faithful Journey"

For this month's theme of "Journey", we invite you to add some steps or wheels to our "Faithful Journeys" poster in the back hallway. Take a pre-cut footprint or wheelchair track and write on it how you have been living your faith journey recently, then glue it to our poster. Come check out how others have been living their faith journeys as well!

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General Assembly of the UUA is in Spokane in June

General Assembly is the annual gathering of the UUA - a conference with thousands of UU's of all ages. This year GA will be held in Spokane, Washington. I hope many of you will join me there!

To learn more about General Assembly, explore the website and check out some of our GA information session we held last month to hear from folks who have attended past GA's.

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Easter Donations Needed

Donations are now being sought for the children's Easter Egg Hunt prize table. Items do not need to fit inside an egg. We love to receive: small toys, children's hair accessories, gently used or new children's books, art supplies, gently used or new stuffed animals, puzzles, and candy or other (wrapped and labeled) edible treats. Donations can be brought to the DRE's office anytime between now and Easter morning Thank you for making Easter special and fun for any and all children who attend our Easter Egg Hunt!

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Childcare at the Auction

There will be childcare (by reservation) at the OUUC Auction, April 13th. To learn more about the auction, check out the OUUC website.

Regional UU Events for High School Youth

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High School Youth Spring CON

Registration is open now for Youth Spring CON. To be eligible to attend CON, youth must be active in their local congregation and be approved by their DRE. If you are interested in attending CON, or in receiving a scholarship, contact Sara at dre@ouuc.org

Learn more here: https://www.uua.org/pacific-western/calendar/pwr-youth-events/pnwd-spring-con-2019