I'm sending love from Arkansas as I visit my family for the holidays. I missed seeing your shining faces on Christmas Eve and the Sunday Service on 12/27, but I heard everyone had a great time. The younger kids were combined with Karli and Tara, while the youth met with JT Mason to have some enlightening discussions.
January is almost here! What traditions does your family participate in for ringing in the new year? Will you be participating in R.E. for 2016?
The Committee for Family Ministries is looking for fresh faces, helpers are always welcome in the classrooms, or even providing snacks for our kids and teens is appreciated! Remember, you don't have to be a parent of a child currently in a program to help out. Check out the sign up forSunday volunteering here:
http://www.signupgenius.com/
http://www.signupgenius.com/
All families are welcome to join the music department in a variety of ways as well. Right now, Camille is starting a Children's Choir, open to any student in grades 3-8. This choir will meet once a week between January 17th-February 28th to learn a special song for the Sundayservice on 2/28. If your child is interested, please contact Camille today at music@uucmp.org.
Our parent resource table, located outside my office in the RE Corner of the new hexes, has some fun seasonal activities to take home. There's also a large selection of books and movies for all ages in the R.E. Lending Library. Be sure to stop by and take a look!
Upcoming Events
Sunday, 1/3 . Owl will resume with Bonnie Fernandez and JT Mason leading the workshop on Disability and Other Diversity Issues.
Please check out the signup genius to see if you can provide snacks for our hungry teens!
http://www.signupgenius.com/
http://www.signupgenius.com/
Non Owl Youth will meet in the Emerson Room with Dominic DiMaggio to discuss what the teens want to do in 2016. Bring your best suggestions for fun field trips, sleepovers, and gatherings!
Pre-K - 2nd Graders will be exploring the curriculum called “Growing Times” with Teacher Karli.
Teachers Tara & Maisy will have the older Elementary kids engaged in fun and learning. And as always, the nursery will be open for babies and toddlers.
Saturday, 1/9 The Committee for Family Ministries will be hosting a REvisioning Retreat and potluck brunch from 9:00-1:00. We'll be discussing our proposed calendar for the year and asking for input for what we want to see happen for our children and youth. Are we meeting the needs of young families? How do we build connections between youth and older members? Bring your energy and ideas. A vibrant RE program is vital to grow and sustain our church. Please RSVP to me at dre.cassidy@uucmp.org if you need childcare for this event.
Also Saturday, 1/9 5:00-8:00 Explore Sacred Chanting with Shams. We will gather for approximately 3 hours to explore sacred chanting from a variety of traditions, including UUism, Paganism, Sufism, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism and more. Do you have a favorite chant practice? Would you like to use mindfulness to explore the effect of chanting on your mind/body/spirit? We'll sing, journal, and reflect together on the praxis of sacred chant in solitude and in community. Suitable for adults and mature youth. Suggested $30 donation benefits UUCMP. This was a gavel offering that needs a few more people to go forward. Bring a journal and some sustenance for yourself, or to share.
Sunday, 1/10, OWL will be hosting a guest panel from the Rainbow Speakers and friends to the 7th-9th graders involved in the class. The OWL curricula wants to put faces to the issues of being gay, lesbian, and bisexual, to identify costs of homophobia to heterosexuals, and increase empathy for those who have grown up with feelings of attraction toward members of their own gender. Definitely not one to miss, so please make sure your kids are here and ready by 10:30.
