From Kathy Underwood – Director of Lifespan Faith Formation

Spring is that time of the year when I feel a bit of a panic because there is so much to do in the two or so months remaining in the church year. It is a time to celebrate what we have shared and created together, and a time to reflect on the processes that got us to where we are, and then how to build upon it in the year to come. A need to look in the past in order to move forward. Sankofa.

In looking at the recent past, we have had some things to celebrate: we started a Parents’ Circle that meets monthly to share the joys and challenges of parenting; we also started Family Friday to bring families with children and youth together; and we had a social action project and made 50 lunches for Connections for the Homeless. All of this in addition to our growing faith formation program for our young people and welcoming so many new families to UCE! We have much to be grateful for.

As we look ahead, we have even more to celebrate! We have major holidays all happening in the coming weeks, with our worship service on April 9 focused on the joy of Passover and Easter and then Earth Day later in the month. And one of my biggest joys of the church year happens on April 30, which is Youth Sunday! This year, our youth have been learning about neurodivergence and creating a worship service for us to experience and learn from. Our youth are so compassionate, intelligent, and creative!

April also marks the last two retreats for the OWL (Our Whole Lives) youth. They have met monthly all year long to learn about sexuality and how our UU values connect and help shape our relationships, especially as we explore intimate relationships in our teen years. Here is where I will put in a plug for the OWL program for all ages – yes, there is even a program for young adults, adults, and older adults! My fantasy (maybe not the best choice of words here) is to have all levels of OWL throughout the lifespan offered at UCE in the near future. If this is something that you’d like to learn more about, I would be happy to tell you more!

Speaking of adults, we have a series of programs in April to exercise your brains and get you thinking about science, philosophy, and religion facilitated by Robb Geiger: A Scientific Thought Experiment on the Birth of Meaning: How the Universe Gave Us Our Mojo to explore how the emergence of life gives birth to information, intentionality, purpose, and meaning. Register HERE for this wonderful series.

In Faith,

Kathy