Taking It Home for Sunday, February 24, 2013

Spirit Play (4-5 year olds)

This week’s story is “The Rooster Who Learned to Crow,” a Yellow promise story, which is our 5^th principle – yearn to accept and learn about ourselves and others. In this story, a young rooster grows up on a farm that is always late because it had no rooster to crow early in the morning. All the animals are excited for the rooster to be old enough to crow, but the rooster is fearful that it doesn’t know how to crow and that his friends won’t like him anymore. He does crow, of course, and the other animals give him the open acceptance and love he is yearning for.

Wondering Questions:

I wonder which part of this story is the most important?

I wonder which part you like the best?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder how a rooster knows how to be a rooster?

I wonder how a pig knows how to be a pig?

I wonder how you know how to be yourself?

I wonder if you have learned anything new this year?

I wonder if learning new things is hard for everyone?

I wonder if you have ever been afraid to try something new?

I wonder if Mrs. Chicken was proud of her son, young Mr. Rooster?

I wonder where the Spirit of Love and Mystery is in this story?

General Promise Questions:

I wonder if you have ever made a promise?

I wonder which promise you like the best?

I wonder how it feels when we keep a promise?

I wonder what happens when we keep a promise?

I wonder if it is easy or hard to keep a promise?

I wonder what happens when a promise is broken?

I wonder what here is most important?

I wonder how it feels to be on this rainbow path?

Grades K-2: Wonderful Welcome

Taking It Home, Session 6: The Gift Of Friends

A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hold a true friend with both your hands.

— Nigerian proverb

IN TODAY'S SESSION...

When the children opened the Wonder Box today, they found a friendship bracelet. We talked about the intangible gift of friendship. Friends can be people we have known a long time or people we just met.

In the story, How Coyote Lost His Songs, Music and Dance, a coyote decides that he doesn't want to be around his friends. As he abandons his friends to go off and be alone, he loses his ability to sing, dance and make music. Through a dream, he learns how his friends enrich his life in such a way that they inspire his music, song and dance. The children made "friendship flowers" to share with someone special. They also sang the song, "Make New Friends."

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about...

How do you make friends as a family? Have you vacationed and met people whom you have kept in touch with? Even if you don't see friends you meet on vacation again, recall how they made the vacation more fun by sharing experiences. Think about the friends you have made in your life, and talk about why it is important to have friends.

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try...

... reaching out to an old friend you have not spoken to in a long time. Talk as a family about someone you all remember, perhaps from an old neighborhood, a previous school or job, or another congregation. Contact them and ask how they are doing. You can have your child draw a picture to send to that friend.

Grades 3-5: Love Will Guide Us

Taking It Home, Session 2: Awesome Love

I want to be a dogfish

and catch a leaping catfish

with whiskers as long as the stream.

And I want to be

the rain trinkling down on the world

telling it it's springtime.

 — Noah Frank, Grade 2, Lakeshore Elementary School, California

IN TODAY'S SESSION... Children listened to a magical, bedtime story by Kim Stafford, "We All Got Here Together," which offers a mystery-filled explanation for beginnings. Drawing on the story's bubble and rain themes, the children imagined their own story and made rain sticks. The children learned about our first Unitarian Universalist Source—in child-friendly words, "The sense of wonder we all share."

When you read the Source, it is easy to see why it needs simplification:

Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.

Children heard these words:

Today we talked about things we see, hear, or touch in nature that can make us feel awe and wonder. Our own, personal feeling inside of awe and wonder is one of our Unitarian Universalist Sources that points us to love.

And we read together:

Our Unitarian Universalist beliefs come from the sense of wonder we all share.

By opening children's minds to spirituality, we hope they will develop spiritual traits we cultivate in ourselves: love, compassion, and service; connection with the earth; and a sense of purpose and place in the universe.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. We used the word "awesome" to suggest the transcendence of life and how nature's wonders sometimes strike us. Consider using the word "awesome" as you share moments of awe with your child. You might ask:

• Did anything awesome and wonderful happen at school today? Something that took you by surprise and made you glad?
• Are you ever just amazed at how leaves come out on a tree every spring? Do you think that's awesome? (Of course, you may get a very practical and scientific response to this.)

A Family Game. Play "I Spy" outdoors: One player says "I spy, with my little eye, something... (say the color of the item you are looking at).". The others guess the item. If you live in an urban setting, go to a park and try to spy items from nature as well as human-made items. If you have a backyard, try to spy items that are not usually noticed, such as a small bird—even a squirrel, a nut, or something else seen so constantly that you may take it for granted. Perhaps try to find a nest or a small hole in the ground that might be used as a burrow for a small animal. Use this game to promote awareness of awesome nature around us.

A Family Ritual. If you do not already do so, light a chalice (which can be as simple as a votive glass) before your family dinner. Use simple words to set a theme for each meal. "Give thanks and praises" (Bob Marley) is a good example. Or, have children write their own.

Middle School: Riddle and Mystery

Taking It Home, Planning Session

Ask about the social justice project the middle school class planned, and what upcoming events they want to schedule for the middle school youth group!

Family Information for Sunday, February 24, 2013

Hello Friends and Families of Westside!

Check out the great events we have coming up (below)! And for our middle school youth, this is an important Sunday to be in class. No lesson this week, but great planning for our spring activities. See below for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.    YOUTH-LED SERVICE: March 3^rd, the WSUU youth will be leading a rich and expressive service. Be sure to attend – you won’t want to miss this!

2.    CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Please contact Lisa (l.maynard@comcast.net) or Liz (liz.bucklew@becu.org) to be sure your child participates in a musical adventure this spring!

3.    CRAFTS AND COFFEE: Join us on Friday mornings in the church library (3^rd floor) from 10-12 to visit, enjoy your coffee, and help to create crafts to be used in the RE program. Babies and children are invited! Contact Stina Lane-Cummings (stina@kempf.com) or Betsy Lowry (dre@wsuu.org).

4.    DRUM ‘N DINE: Bring the whole family to participate in some great fun, drumming together this coming Wednesday, February 27^th at 6:30. Enjoy a potluck dinner!

THIS WEEK:

Story Time: This week our children will share a story and snack together. Please let the teachers in the class know if your child has a food allergy.

Spirit Play: This week’s story is “The Rooster Who Learned to Crow,” a Yellow promise story, which is our 5^th principle – yearn to accept and learn about ourselves and others. In this story, a young rooster grows up on a farm that is always late because it had no rooster to crow early in the morning. All the animals are excited for the rooster to be old enough to crow, but the rooster is fearful that it doesn’t know how to crow and that his friends won’t like him anymore. He does crow, of course, and the other animals give him the open acceptance and love he is yearning for.  

Kindergarten through Second Grade: “Wonderful Welcome”:  This week’s class in the Wonderful Welcome curriculum is about the “The Gift of Friendship.” The Wonder Box has friendship bracelets in it. The kids will hear a Native American story about a coyote who learns to value his friends, and then role play with character puppets. (This is the same story I told in the Story for All Ages a couple weeks ago.) Children will learn that having friends and being a friend are an important part of who we are.

Third through Fifth Grades: “Love Will Guide Us”:  This week in the Love Will Guide Us curriculum, the class will explore our first Unitarian Universalist Source, “Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder…” in a lesson titled “Awesome Love.” The class will experience the mystery and wonder of different objects and learn that all of their varied experiences and wonderings are “right” and true to them. Our first Source is rooted in Transcendentalism, most notably in the thinking of Henry David Thoreau, who taught us to live in harmony with nature, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who taught us we can directly experience the awe, wonder, and mystery in nature.

Middle School: “Riddle and Mystery”:  No lesson this week. We have important possibilities to discuss, and plans to make! This week middle school teachers and the DRE will facilitate planning for a social justice project for the next few months. We will also talk about what our MS youth want to do as a youth group for fun this spring. And we have two opportunities for upcoming music and theatrical fun in our services – join our new band, and act in a skit!

High School: “Our Name is Earl”:  Our next class will be March 17^th, since the youth are leading the service on March 3^rd. The teachers have added a youth class for March 24^th so we’ll meet twice this month. Mark your calendars!   

Youth Group will meet in the Social Hall from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, to make final preparations for the service for March 3^rd. Shelby and Joe will be advising this week.

See you Sunday!

Betsy

This Week in UU History

Families and teachers--
You'll see this segment in our weekly blog posts now. This is something we've been sharing with teachers in their email message, and we're moving it to the blog for everyone to read. 

Enjoy!
Betsy

THIS WEEK IN UU HISTORY:

On February 22, Sarah Flower Adams was born in Harlow, Essex, England. An actress who achieved a dramatic triumph as Lady Macbeth, she became ill suddenly and had to give up the stage. She was a lifelong Unitarian, deeply devoted to her Unitarian church in South Place, London, and the author of many religious works, including Vivia Perpetua (“Eternal Life”). She also compoased symns, the most famous of which is “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” Adams worked with prisons, fought for greater civil and religious liberty, and established Sunday schools and benevolent societies. She died on August 15, 1848.

On February 23, 1813, John Murray Forbes was born in Bordeaux, France. His father was a wealthy merchant and John learned the trade. He invested in land, iron, steam, and railraods and served as president of the Michigan Central Railroad. After the assassination of Elijah Lovejoy, Murray became an abolitionist and provided equal pay to freed slaves. He supported Abraham Lincoln’s candidacy for president and was counsel to him during the Civil War. Forbes also fought for the rights of Irish immigrants. The Forbes family intermarried weveral times with the Emersons. John Murray Forbes used his great wealth for civic betterment. He was a member of First Parish (Unitarian) of Milton, Massachusetts, and gave the land for its parsonage. John Murray Forbes died on October 12, 1898.

Also on February 23, but in 1848, John Quincy Adams, a lifelong Unitarian and sixth president of the United States, died at age 80 of a stroke on the flor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

WEEKLY INSPIRATION:

"Our generation has a mission, a clear and evident one; we have a compelling moral purpose which can direct our lives and our energies—literally, we are about saving the world. These days of challenge call us to put aside our pettiness and our little quarrels, our theological differences, and to focus on the larger issues. You don’t talk about the color of the drapes when the house is burning down."


- Rev. Marilyn Sewell of First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon, from a sermon October 2006 on “The Moral Dimensions of Global Warming”

Taking It Home for Sunday, February 17, 2013

Spirit Play (4-5 year olds)

This week’s story is “My Many Colored Days,” a Yellow promise story, which is our 5^th principle – yearn to accept and learn about ourselves and others. This story is all about feelings – exploring the full range of our feelings, and accepting them all as part of us. 

Wondering Questions:

I wonder if you have ever seen any of this before?

I wonder which part of this story is the most important?

I wonder which part you like the best?

I wonder where you are in this story?

I wonder if there is a part of the story that we could leave out and still have a story?

I wonder if you have felt any of these feelings before?

I wonder if you have thought of your feelings as colors?

I wonder what it would be like if any of these feelings went away, what would it be like if you never felt happy anymore?  Or Mad?  Or cool and quiet?

I wonder if you like some of these feelings more than others?

I wonder if it is OK to be angry and mad sometimes as long as you feel this way without hurting anyone? 

I wonder if there are other feelings that aren’t on the underlay?

Grades K-2: Wonderful Welcome

Taking It Home, Session 5: The Gift Of Invitation

Come, come, whoever you are,

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving....

— Rumi

IN TODAY'S SESSION...

When children opened the Wonder Box today, they found a goblet, symbolizing the cup for Elijah that is part of the table setting at a Jewish Passover Seder. We talked about the intangible gift of invitation and explored a variety of ways we use the gift of invitation to let people know they are welcome.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about...

At this age, children do much of their "inviting" in the context of family. Talk about how your family uses different ways to show you are welcoming others with invitation. Be aware of ways you model invitation for your child(ren), including ways you show welcome to new people in your congregation and your neighborhood.

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try...

This session may give your family the impetus to invite friends for a meal who have never been to your home before.

FAMILY DISCOVERY

Do you have neighbors you have never met? As a family, reach out in invitation to a neighboring family.

Grades 3-5: Love Will Guide Us

Taking It Home, Session 1: Love Is Like a Seed

Love is the vital essence that pervades and permeates, from the center to the circumference, the graduating circles of all thought and action. Love is the talisman of human weal and woe — the open sesame to every soul. 

— Elizabeth Cady Stanton, women's civil rights activist in a speech given in 1860

IN TODAY'S SESSION... the children heard the story of "The Everything Seed," which describes the origins of our universe in metaphoric language. We discussed the idea that love was included in that original "everything seed" and learned that love is a guiding force for Unitarian Universalists. Participants created universe seed art representing the love and creativity within our universe.

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about... theories about how the universe came into being, such as the Big Bang. Talk together about the awesome aspect of our universe's origin. Take turns naming things that were contained in the original, strange ball of matter which exploded to become our universe.

EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try... learning about seeds together. Dissect a seed and see what is inside. If possible, look at seeds under a microscope. Plants some seeds and watch them grow. Help your child create their own indoor or outdoor garden.

Family Adventure. Go on a walk to find as many seeds and seed holders as you can and try to identify the types of plants they will become.

Family Discovery. To learn more about seeds, watch the Scholastic video The Magic School Bus Goes to Seed. Or, read, The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow or The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis, both by Joanna Cole.

To hear about the universe's origin in metaphoric language, read together The Everything Seed (www.uuabookstore.org/) by Carole Martignacco (Minnesota: Beaver's Pond Press, 2003). Another book to read together is Born with a Bang: The Universe Tells Its Cosmic Story: Book One by Jennifer Morgan (Dawn Publications, 2002).

A Family Game. In the African game Mancala, two opponents try to collect the most seeds by taking turns dropping seeds into small cups carved into a board. The goal is to capture as many of your opponents' seeds as possible. Purchase Mancala at a toy and game store or play a version online (www.lookoutnow.com/game/mancala.htm) .

A Family Ritual. Start a yearly tradition: Plant a garden together. Create a ritual for the planting. For instance, you might read the story "The Garden," from the book Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel, or sing "The Garden Song" by David Mallett, recorded by many artists. You could gather water from rivers and lakes that you visit over the course of the year and use it to water the newly planted seeds.

Middle School: Riddle and Mystery

Taking It Home, Session 5: Out of Nothing

Out of the stars in their flight, out of the dust of eternity, here have we come. 

— Robert T. Weston

Talk about the quote. When you think about how life began, do you go all the way back to the stars?

WHAT WE DID TODAY

Today's Big Question is "How did life begin?" We saw that science is one of the best UU Sources to help answer that question, and we heard an answer in the story of evolution. We broadcast a WCUU show about life as a great wonder of the world, and we took a stand to show what we think about the beginning of life.

ANSWERING TODAY'S BIG QUESTION

How do members of your family feel about the theory of evolution? Do all of your relatives feel the same way? How about your friends? Talk about the Source that explains the beginning of life best. Is it religion? Science? Your own experiences and inner feelings?

SEE A SHOW

Watch a DVD called "The Awakening Universe." It is a capsule summary of the past 14 billion years prepared by Thomas Berry and based on the work of cosmologist Brian Swimme. Your congregation or your local library may have a copy, or you can find it online for your family to purchase. You will hear this narration, near the end:

The universe arose and gave rise to the galaxies. The galaxies gave rise to the stars. Our sun gave rise to the earth, and the earth gave rise to life and to all that we are. And now it is causing us to awaken from our dream of lonely isolation so we may rejoin the great community of life and take on our part in the stupendous unfolding story. As Thomas Berry says, "This is our great work."

What does that mean to your family?

SHARED SEARCH

Go together to a place that makes you or somebody else in the family think about how life began. Maybe it is a starlit field, or the shore of an ocean. Maybe . . . but you decide.

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Photograph something that makes you think about how all of life began. It could be something outdoors, such as flower buds on a tree. It might be a book inside your house. Get a camera and decide what calls to you.

FAMILY FAITH IN ACTION

The story of evolution not only explains how life began, it also demonstrates how strongly we are connected to all other life on the planet. Encourage your family to deepen their relationship with another life form. You could do this by caring for plants in a garden, spending more time with pets, or building birdhouses.

Family Information for Sunday, February 17, 2013

Hello Friends and Families of Westside!

What a great, sunny weekend we’re already having!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

1.    CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Hello families of young singers! Liz Bucklew and Lisa Maynard are putting together a children’s choir again for a couple of upcoming services.

·      March 10: The choir will join speaker/singer Nick Page in one song at this multigenerational service.

·      March 31: The choir will sing something special for Betsy’s official installation as our Director of Religious Exploration – note that this is Easter Sunday.

We hope your elementary or middle school child would like to participate! We’ll rehearse from 12 to 12:30 on March 3, 17, and 24. Please try to make all three rehearsals, but if you can’t, we’ll have sound files so you can practice at home. We’ll also have a short rehearsal around 10 am on March 10 and 31. Please let Lisa (l.maynard@comcast.net) or Liz (liz.bucklew@becu.org) know if your child is interested. Thank you!

THIS WEEK:

Story Time: This week our children will share a story and snack together. Please let the teachers in the class know if your child has a food allergy.

Spirit Play: This week’s story is “My Many Colored Days,” a Yellow promise story, which is our 5^th principle – yearn to accept and learn about ourselves and others. This story is all about feelings – exploring the full range of our feelings, and accepting them all as part of us.

Kindergarten through Second Grade: “Wonderful Welcome”: This week’s class in the Wonderful Welcome curriculum is about the “The Gift of Invitation.” The Wonder Box has a goblet in it, which will be used to teach the kids about the Jewish tradition of placing a goblet on an empty seat at the Passover Seder table at Passover to welcome an unknown guest. After hearing a story about how this is referred to as inviting “Elijah” (a prophet), everyone will look for pictures to make a collage of other ways that we can communicate an invitation.

Third through Fifth Grades: “Love Will Guide Us”:

We’re shifting to a new curriculum for this class. Windows and Mirrors was not at the best level for this group of kids. Our new curriculum is called “Love Will Guide Us.” In these lessons, we’ll learn to seek guidance in life through the lens of our Unitarian Universalist Sources, with an emphasis on love. Together we will ask questions such as, “Where did we come from?” What is our relationship to the Earth and other creatures?” “How can we respond with love, even in bad situations?” “What happens when you die?”

In this week’s session, “ Love is Like a Seed,” the class will talk about love as an unseen, guiding force unfolding in the universe, and learn about the six Sources of our UU faith.   

Middle School: “Riddle and Mystery”: This week’s lesson in the Riddle and Mystery curriculum is titled “Out of Nothing.” This week’s big question is “How did life begin?” Last week the class thought about God’s existence from a perspective of faith and belief. This week they apply science to the question of how life began. The kids will talk about the scientific method, the theory of evolution, and where they stand on the origin of life.

High School: “Our Name is Earl”:  This week the high school class will talk about obsession. In this episode of “My Name is Earl,” they’ll see how Earl allows his goals or his path to interfere with his life and the lives of others. While it’s wonderful to have dreams and goals (as we discussed in the last session), it’s sad when they take over our lives and we lose sight of everything else.   

Youth Group will meet in the Social Hall from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, primarily focusing on the upcoming morning service for March 3^rd. Shelby and Suki will be advising this week.

See you Sunday!

Betsy