religious education news Archives - Page 5 of 8

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 19, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Faith Formation?

Welcome as we continue our theme of Beloved Community! You can access the Soulful Home packet here at your own leisure. This week we focus on the segments On the Porch and In the Neighborhood. Check out this week’s video here.

Many Ways to Connect

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Virtually on Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – February’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

The Ecology Center Outing – Sunday, February 28 at 2-3:30 pm – we have two spots open for two more young people! The forecast looks good – mid-30s! Signup here.

Forum Discussion

UCE Forum Discussion – Sunday, February 21st at 10 am

Why an 8th Principle?

Leaders: Martha Holman and Team 8th

Come to Forum to learn a bit of the history of this proposed 8th principle, parse what it means, and consider how it might transform our lives here at UCE. The 8^th principle is:

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

Join the Discussion

Current & Upcoming Adult Faith Formation Programs

Process Buddhism: Zen Style (Part of the “Visions of God” series.)

Sponsored by UCE and the Cobb Institute for Community and Practice – Tuesdays, February 23 at 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Jay McDaniel, Cobb Institute

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Tuesday, March 2 at 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry – March 9 at 7 pm via Zoom – As a part of our denomination’s work and effort to examine white fragility and supremacy, this book was chosen as the Common Read. Congregations all over the country are reading and discussing this book to help understand these complex systems and relationships that support racism and oppression. Facilitated by Kathy Underwood.

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 19, 2021UCE UCE2021-02-19T20:27:15+00:00

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 12, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Faith Formation?

Welcome as we continue our theme of Beloved Community! You can access the Soulful Home packet here at your own leisure. This week we focus on the segments Around the Neighborhood and At Play. Check out this week’s video here.

Many Ways to Connect

Sledding at Lovelace Park – Saturday, February 13 at 10:30 am. Meet at the Pavilion.

Mystery Match this Sunday at 12:30 pm! – Those who were matched can join a special Zoom at 12:30 pm after worship. Meet your match and get to know each other a bit with a fun game! Click here to join the Mystery Match Celebration.

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – February’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

We have two spots open for a Visit to the Ecology Center! – February 28 at 2-3:30 pm. Sign up at here.

Current and Upcoming Adult Faith Formation Programs

Process Buddhism: Zen Style (Part of the “Visions of God” series.)

Sponsored by UCE and the Cobb Institute for Community and Practice – Tuesdays, February 16, 23 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Jay McDaniel, Cobb Institute

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Tuesday, March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry – March 9 at 7 pm via Zoom – As a part of our denomination’s work and effort to examine white fragility and supremacy, this book was chosen as the Common Read. Congregations all over the country are reading and discussing this book to help understand these complex systems and relationships that support racism and oppression. Facilitated by Kathy Underwood.

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 12, 2021UCE UCE2021-02-11T22:30:11+00:00

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 5, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Faith Formation?

Welcome to our new theme of Beloved Community! Soul Kits are in the mail, so check your mailboxes! You can access the Soulful Home packet here at your own leisure. This week we focus on the segments The Welcome Mat, At the Table, and On the Message Board. Check out this week’s video here.

Many Ways to Connect

Sledding at Lovelace Park – Saturday, February 13 at 10:30 am. Meet at the Pavilion.

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – February’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

Popcorn Theology for 6th-8th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Look for the email with the link.

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.

Current and Upcoming Adult Faith Formation Programs

Process Buddhism: Zen Style (Part of the “Visions of God” series.)

Sponsored by UCE and the Cobb Institute for Community and Practice – Tuesdays, February 9, 16, 23 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Jay McDaniel, Cobb Institute

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Tuesday, March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry – March 9 at 7 pm via Zoom – High School youth and adults are welcome to join us as we discuss this year’s UUA Common Read.

Learn More and Register

Join the Zoom Meeting

VirtUUal Faith Formation: February 5, 2021UCE UCE2021-02-05T18:29:19+00:00

Intersectionality in Speculative Fiction: May 2021

Intersectionality in speculative fiction: N. K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season
Tuesdays, May 4, 11, 18 at 7-8:30 pm | All sessions will be via Zoom | Facilitated by UCE member Emily Eckwahl-Sanna

“So here is why I write what I do: We all have futures. We all have pasts. We all have stories. And we all, every single one of us, no matter who we are and no matter what’s been taken from us or what poison we’ve internalized or how hard we’ve had to work to expel it—we all get to dream.” —N. K. Jemisin

Imagine a world where apocalypses are commonplace. Where frequent seismic activity—whether volcanoes, earthquakes, or other environmental disasters—result in extended winters and the widespread loss of human life. In this world, where nature is seen as a force to be feared rather than revered and where human survival is always tenuous at best, society and law are ordered around strict caste systems, and orogenes—people with the magical power to affect and control the earth—are feared and subdued.

This is the world of N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy—the only science fiction trilogy to win the Hugo Award in consecutive years for all three novels and the first time a Black writer has won a Hugo for a novel. Written while Jemisin was attending a NASA-funded workshop on science and media, the first book in the trilogy, The Fifth Season, tells the story of three orogene women of different castes, ages, and time periods who are seeking to survive in the midst of apocalypse.

In this three-week series, we will discuss how Kimberlé Crenshaw’s definition of intersectionality—or how race, class, gender, sexuality, and other identities interconnect and overlap—shows up in the The Fifth Season. Other topics to address include the role of science in interpreting science fiction and the role of speculative fiction in creating the Beloved Community.

About Emily Eckwahl-Sanna
Emily Eckwahl-Sanna is the managing editor of U.S. Catholic, a progressive magazine based in Chicago that focuses on how spirituality affects all parts of life, from social justice work to family to pop culture. She has an M.Div from Yale Divinity School, where she studied sexual ethics and feminist theology. When she’s not working, she’s probably reading, and while her bookshelves are full of everything from Hindu philosophy to Harry Potter to historical romance novels, science fiction and fantasy books remain particular favorites.

Register

Intersectionality in Speculative Fiction: May 2021UCE UCE2021-02-05T00:11:21+00:00

VirtUUal RE: January 29, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Welcome to week four on our theme of Imagination! You can access the new Soulful Home packet here. This week, we focus on the segments At the Bedside, Blessing, and The Extra Mile. Check out this week’s video.

REvisioning Our Multigenerational RE Program Update – See more in Kathy’s column.

Mystery Match is Here!

What’s Mystery Match? This program takes interested adults and matches them with a young person anonymously. During the week of February 6-13, adults send a card or two to their Mystery Match with some clues to their identity. The young people love to get snail mail, and they love guessing games! Then after the worship service on February 14, we will have a Meet Your Match virtual celebration where the young people will guess who their match is and meet you. This is a fun and easy way to get to know our young people!

Non-Parental Adults, if you’d like to participate in Mystery Match, sign up here by Wednesday, February 3.

Parents, sign up your child(ren) or youth here by by Wednesday, February 3.

You can also email Kathy at kunderwood@ucevanston.org.

Many Ways to Connect

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with details.

Current & Upcoming Adult RE Programs

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Tuesdays, February 2; March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Learn More and Register

Click here to join the Zoom class

Process Buddhism: Zen Style (Part of the “Visions of God” series.) – Sponsored by UCE and the Cobb Institute for Community and Practice – Tuesdays, February 9, 16, 23 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Jay McDaniel, Cobb Institute

Learn More and Register

Click here to join the Zoom class

VirtUUal RE: January 29, 2021UCE UCE2021-01-29T22:06:20+00:00

VirtUUal RE: January 22, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Welcome to week three on our theme of Imagination! You can access the new Soulful Home packet here. This week, we focus on the segments On the Porch and From the Mailbox. Check out this week’s video.

REvisioning Our Multigenerational RE Program Update – We had 19 members participate in last weekend’s gatherings! Thank you to all who came to the conversation on our hopes and dreams for our program as we begin a new ministry with a settled minister and a vision for when we return to in-person gatherings. Looking ahead, we are forming a task force to explore models of faith formation that fit our shared values, inspire us, and meet the needs of our children, youth, families, and whole congregation. This task force will meet virtually 4-6 times over the next 3-6 months. We’d love to have a few more folks – preferably young adults, older youth, and parents of younger children. Email Kathy at kunderwood@ucevanston.org to learn more.

Many Ways to Connect

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

Taking Flight Sex Ed Program for 7th-9th Youth – Sunday at 1:30 pm. Youth must be registered to attend. Look for the email that went out with the link.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. We’ll take a leisurely walk around the Landfill/Lakefill path. Look for details in the email, and RSVP to Mike Takada at mdtakada@gmail.com.

Upcoming Adult RE Programs

PROCESS RELATIONAL THEOLOGY: A Vision For Environmental And Social Justice – (Part of the “Visions of God” Series)

Tuesdays, January 19, 26. at 7-8:30 pm

Facilitated by Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Bob Mesle.

The process relational worldview, values, and modes of thought offer a broad worldview which creatively links these UU principles and give them greater depth. Since this is part of a larger series on VISIONS OF GOD, we will give some attention, but not all of our attention, to this radically different concept of God. Process relational thinking is a valuable resource helping us address issues of environmental and social justice, and links with feminist, womanist, and queer theologies.

We will highlight how Process Theology relates to these UU Principles:

1. The Inherent worth and dignity of every person

2. Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part.

Click here to join this class

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – Get a jump on this read now so you can join us next month! Tuesdays, February 2; March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Click here to join this class

Click here to register for Towards an Understanding of Beloved

VirtUUal RE: January 22, 2021UCE UCE2021-01-28T23:32:54+00:00

VirtUUal RE: January 15, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Welcome to our new theme of Imagination! You can access the new Soulful Home packet here. This week we focus on the segments Around the Neighborhood and At Play. Check out this week’s video.

Many Ways to Connect

REvisioning Our Multigenerational RE Program Gathering

If you’ve missed this announcement or simply forgot to sign up, please feel free to join us either Saturday or Sunday!

Saturday at 1-2:30 pm – Click here to join the Zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 936 4740 6947; Passcode: 182294; One tap mobile +13126266799,,93647406947#,,,,*182294# US (Chicago)
Sunday at 2-3:30 pm – Click here to join Zoom meeting . Meeting ID: 984 9783 3615; Passcode: 054577; One tap mobile +13126266799,,98497833615#,,,,*054577# US (Chicago)

Taking Flight Parent Orientation – Saturday at 10 am. This is for parents of youth in grades 7-9 who are interested in this sex ed program. Contact Kathy at kunderwood@ucevanston.org for Zoom info.

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Rev. Eileen will be joining the group this week to hear your thoughts and ideas on the youth program, worship, and more. Look for the email Mike Takada sent out earlier this week.

UCE Forum Discussion

UCE Forum – Sunday, January 17th at 10 am

3rd UU Principle

Leaders: Shirley Adams and Emily Sanna

Examining our third UUA principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations

Have you ever noticed or wondered why the third principle combines ‘accepting each other’ with spiritual growth? Emily and Shirley will offer a few ideas and some background on how these concepts connect and how they are foundational to UU’s. Join us for a brief presentation and a lively discussion on the links between spirituality and social action.

We suggest you review this article: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/spirituality-humanism
Also suggested is the participants refresh their memory of UCE’s Mission and End Statements.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 924 4957 5721; Passcode: 489150; One tap mobile +13126266799,,92449575721#,,,,,,0#,,489150# US (Chicago)

Upcoming Adult RE Programs

PROCESS RELATIONAL THEOLOGY: A Vision For Environmental And Social Justice – (Part of the “Visions of God” Series)

Tuesdays, January 19, 26. at 7-8:30 pm

Facilitated by Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Bob Mesle.

The process relational worldview, values, and modes of thought offer a broad worldview which creatively links these UU principles and give them greater depth. Since this is part of a larger series on VISIONS OF GOD, we will give some attention, but not all of our attention, to this radically different concept of God. Process relational thinking is a valuable resource helping us address issues of environmental and social justice, and links with feminist, womanist, and queer theologies.

We will highlight how Process Theology relates to these UU Principles:

1. The Inherent worth and dignity of every person

2. Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part.

Register for Process Relational Theology Class

Towards an Understanding of BELOVED by Toni Morrison – (Get a jump on this read now so you can join us next month! Tuesdays, February 2; March 2. 7-8:30 pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Barbara Mesle.

Register for Towards an Understanding of BELOVED

Learn more about upcoming programs

VirtUUal RE: January 15, 2021UCE UCE2021-01-14T22:51:01+00:00

VirtUUal RE: January 8, 2021

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Welcome to our new theme of Imagination! You can access the new Soulful Home packet here.

This week we focus on the segments The Welcome Mat, At the Table and On the Message Board. Check out this week’s video.

Soul Kits were mailed this week too, so hopefully they arrive this weekend!

Christmas time is gone…

Those who took a costume home for the Christmas pageant can return it by either calling the office ahead of time to ensure someone can let you in, or by emailing Kathy (kunderwood@ucevanston.org) to arrange a time. You can leave costumes in the lobby where you picked them up. Thanks!

Many Ways to Connect

Popcorn Theology Online for 6th-8th Grades – This Sunday at 1pm via Zoom. Click he r e t o jo in the mee ti n g.

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – January’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

High School Youth – Sunday at 4 pm. Look for an email with more details.

Be sure to sign up for REvisioning our Multigenerational Religious Education Program! Please note that this Saturday’s gathering has been cancelled due to few registrants. Instead, we are combing those registered for this Saturday with the gathering on January 16. Feel free to sign up for another one! Please join us for ONE of the following virtual gatherings by re g i st e ring he re:

January 16 – 1-2:30 pm
January 17 – 2-3:30 pm

UCE Forum Discussion

UCE Forum – Sunday, January 17th at 10 am

3rd UU Principle

Leaders: Shirley Adams and Emily Sanna

Please join the Forum Discussion Group on January 17 to discuss the 3^rd UU principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting. Meeting ID: 924 4957 5721; Passcode: 489150; One tap mobile +13126266799,,92449575721#,,,,,,0#,,489150# US (Chicago)

Upcoming Adult RE Program

PROCESS RELATIONAL THEOLOGY: A Vision For Environmental And Social Justice – (Part of the “Visions of God” Series)

Tuesdays, January 12, 19, 26. at 7-8:30 pm

Facilitated by Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Bob Mesle.

The process relational worldview, values, and modes of thought offer a broad worldview which creatively links these UU principles and give them greater depth. Since this is part of a larger series on VISIONS OF GOD, we will give some attention, but not all of our attention, to this radically different concept of God. Process relational thinking is a valuable resource helping us address issues of environmental and social justice, and links with feminist, womanist, and queer theologies.

We will highlight how Process Theology relates to these UU Principles:

1. The Inherent worth and dignity of every person

2. Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part.

Click here to register for Process Relational Theology

Learn more about this class and upcoming Adult RE programs!

VirtUUal RE: January 8, 2021UCE UCE2021-01-07T23:26:38+00:00

VirtUUal RE: Dec 23 & 30

What’s Happening in Lifespan Religious Education?

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it! We head into the end of 2020 (yay!) with one last week on our theme of Stillness. This week in the Soulful Home packet we focus on the segments At the Bedside and Blessing. Check out this week’s video for a short synopsis.

Pre/K Kids and Families – POP (Parents of Preschoolers) – Decembers’s materials are available here. The password is YouGotThis2020 (case sensitive.) This UU-based program is to be used all month long. Do whatever fits your family’s schedule.

High School Youth – we will not meet this Sunday but will reconvene on January 3. Look for an email with more details.

In January, we will begin exploring our new theme, Imagination. Look for your Soul Kit after the first of the year!

REvisioning our Multigenerational Religious Education Program

In case you missed this in recent newsletters and emails, Rev. Eileen, Rev. Karen, and Kathy Underwood invite you to explore our purpose and mission for the religious education program as we look towards a post-pandemic future at UCE. At our previous gathering last February, we stated our hopes and ideas, which included:

Being a multigenerational community with more diversity, energy, and vibrancy
Connecting people within peer groups as well as across the ages
Nourishing parents to feel grounded in our UU values so they can be the spiritual guide for their child(ren)
Speaking to the deep hunger of people of all ages

At our next gathering, we want to delve deeper and express our hopes into future goals that say exactly what it is we want our children and youth to have as they grow older. We will also consider our Ends Statement: We foster intellectual excitement, lifelong learning, truth seeking, and respect for our traditions of reason and faith. Does it still resonate with us and fit our vision? We are aware of how over stretched you are. We know that time is precious, and we want to respect yours. We hope that you feel motivated by love for this congregation and the religious education program at UCE rather than by onerous obligation. We are hopeful that, together, we can discover our collective passions, values, and investments as well as the obstacles that get in the way of living into them. 

Please join us for ONE  of the following virtual gatherings by registering here.

January 9 – 10-11:30 am

January 16 – 1-2:30 pm

January 17 – 2-3:30 pm  

We look forward to seeing you there!

VirtUUal RE: Dec 23 & 30UCE UCE2020-12-22T20:55:03+00:00

Revisioning Our Multigenerational Community: December 16, 2020

We have been exploring our purpose and mission during this interim ministry period with Rev. Karen’s grace and guidance. Before we closed our doors last March, a group of us had met to share our hopes and dreams for the religious education program as we look towards calling a new minister. We had many insights and ideas! And now we are ready to continue the journey. Will you join us?

Rev. Karen, Rev. Eileen, and I want to hear what is on your heart and mind, centered around the questions:

“What is the role of a faith community in your life and your child(ren)’s life?”
“How can UCE create a mutually caring, thriving, supportive faith community?”

It is not our intent to stir up feelings of guilt either. Rather, we wish to discover what obstacles you’re facing and what you have passion around.

Please join us for ONE of the following virtual gatherings:

January 9 – 10-11:30 am

January 16 – 1-2:30 pm

January 17 – 2-3:30 pm

We look forward to seeing you there!

Register Today

Revisioning Our Multigenerational Community: December 16, 2020UCE UCE2020-12-16T23:11:58+00:00