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This Week in Religious Education

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

This Week inReligious EducationWhat is happening for children, youth, and familiesat OUUC

It's time to register for 2018-2019 programs

If you have not already done so, please take some time this week to complete the registration form for the new program year.


Children's Registration


Youth Registration

What to Expect this Sunday

Classes will follow the usual format of children starting in the worship service in the sanctuary, and being "sung out" following a story. This week our Director of Religious Education, Sara Lewis, is away from OUUC, so look for our staff teacher, Anisa Bentlemsani, if you have any questions this week.


At 9:15 there will be one Spirit Play class for preschool-5th grade children. They will have a story about the Flaming Chalice and the 7 Promises that UU's make to each other about how to be in community.


At 11:00 there will be a Spirit Play class for PreK, with the Flaming Chalice lesson described above, a Labyrinth Learning class for 1st-5th grades will be creating their classroom covenant and exploring the different between rules and promises, and the Middle School Group (starting in the youth room right at 11:00) will be meeting with a member of the Ministerial Search Committee.


The High School group is meeting at 12:30 in the youth room, also meeting with a member of the Ministerial Search Committee.

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Families and Youth and the Search Process

The Ministerial Search Committee wants families and youth to know how they can connect with the search process. Right now the committee is gathering input from the congregation - and that includes everyone, of all ages!



Mark your calendars for youth and family cottage meetings with the Search Committee:

  • Middle School Group meeting September 23rd, 11am
  • High School Group meeting September 23rd, 12:30pm
  • Family meeting, childcare provided, September 30 12:30pm. Register for this meeting here.
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Generational Mixer and Happy Hour

September 22, 5:00 – 7:00 pm!


All ages and generations are invited for a fun event that will highlight that although there are differences between generations (how we dance, what technology we like to use, etc) we can have lots of fun together. Join us for: Generational Dance Off, Trivia Challenge, Prizes, Finger Foods, and Lots of Fun!

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Owning Your Religious Past for Parents Class

Sundays 9:30-10:30am, October 7, 14, 21


As parents, you are a huge influence on the faith development and religious education of your children. Many Unitarian Universalist parents approach this role and the task of crafting their family's faith practices at home with mixed feelings, however.


Did you grow up in a different faith? Have you processed your experiences and feelings from your own religious childhood and set intentions of what you want to carry forward into your family life now?


Are you co-parenting with others who grew up in a different faith or who have very different feelings about faith now? How can you bring these faith histories together for an intentional family practice now?


Or perhaps you grew up unchurched, and now want to craft something different for your family.


This class will help parents reflect back on their own religious past in order to better move forward into a new faith future for their families.



Register Here

Sunday and Every Day: Taking It Home

Last week's service was our first Family Chapel, about Covenant and asking the question "How Will We Be Together?". Families who attended had the opportunity to write a Family Covenant, discuss their values using jenga blocks, practice listening to each other with a blindfolded lego building activity, and paint a chalice to take home.


If you don't have a family covenant already, you could start with these guiding questions:


  • What kind of family do we want to be? What is important to each of us?
  • What actions and behaviors from other people help you feel the way that is important to you? What can others do to make your home life ideal for you?
  • What can you do to make your home more ideal for the rest of your family? What promises would you make to each other to create that kind of family you want to have?
  • What impact do you want your family to have in the world? What is important to you about the way you live and what it does for community and nature and the world?
  • What about when people mess up or break the covenant? What can we do to return to covenant, make amends, and forgive?


We also learned some hymns, such as this Benediction that we sing at the end of each worship service at OUUC.

https://youtu.be/hlVlh6VbIAM

Looking Ahead, Sunday September 30th

On Sunday September 30th we will be following through on our covenants and promises to one another with a Service Sunday. There will be age appropriate cleaning tasks for both a sunny day or a rainy day, and other ways to give back to our community, such as making Get Well cards for our members who get sick this year.


9:15 - Spirit Play for Pre-5th grade, The Promises Lesson - what promises (the 7 Principles) do UU's make to each other?

11:00 - Spirit Play for PreK,The Promises Lesson - what promises (the 7 Principles) do UU's make to each other?

11:00- Labyrinth Learning for 1st-5th grade, Service Sunday - how do we care for our community?


Youth groups will not be meeting. Middle School youth will be away at the Puget Sound UU MS CON.

Event Information

Our Whole Lives for 7th-8th Grades Parent Orientation (Mandatory)

Our Whole Lives is a comprehensive, holistic, values-based sexuality education program. Learn more at: https://www.uua.org/re/owl


This year the 7th-8th grade program will be offered on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm. It is a school-year long program. All 7th and 8th graders (or the homeschooled equivalent) are welcome, whether or not they attend OUUC or are Unitarian Universalists. Class size is limited to 16 participants, email olydre@gmail.com to reserve a spot.


Parents or legal guardians must attend the mandatory Parent Orientation or make arrangements in advance to meet with our Director of Religious Education, Sara Lewis, for a make-up orientation. Dinner will be provided, youth do not need to attend. Contact Sara if you need to arrange childcare.

When?

Wednesday, Sep 19, 2018, 06:30 PM

Where?

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Division Street Northwest, Olympia, WA, USA

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Help Out!

Everyone is needed to make our beloved community work! Here are some ways you can help our children and youth programs now:


1) Donate Snacks. Healthy and yummy snacks build community and keep our kiddos happy! You can bring non-perishable snacks to stash in the RE cupboard in the kitchen, or sign up to bring a healthy fresh snack on a given Sunday.


2) Come as a family on September 30th to volunteer together for the Labyrinth Learning class's "Service Sunday". We will be cleaning and weeding in the play yard and sorting and tidying the craft supplies, among other possible tasks.

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UUA Regional and District Youth Events

Middle School CON: September 28-30. Registration Has Closed


High School Fall CON: October 26-28 Registration is open


High School Chaplain Training: November 16-18


High School Leadership Development Training: November 16-18 Applications Being Accepted Now


High School Spring CON: April 5-7, 2019

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Yule Play Auditions

Let's put on a play! Directed and written by middle schoolers, we will put on an adaptation of the Grinch this year. Performance will be on December 8th. All ages welcome!


Auditions will be held Sunday October 7th at 12:30.

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Yours in Faith,

Sara Lewis, credentialed religious educator, master level

Director of Lifespan Religious Education


Summer Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10-1pm. Available by appointment Tuesday-Sunday. Monday is my sabbath day, and I will not answer phone or email as I engage this spiritual discipline of pausing.


olydre@gmail.com or dre@ouuc.org

360-786-6383 x. 102