VirtUUal RE: April 12, 2020

Dear Parents,

This week is an important one for many of us as we try new ways of celebrating Passover and Easter while practicing physical distancing. Some families are holding virtual seders and Easter dinners. However your family and friends decide to celebrate, I hope that the meaning of the holy day/holiday holds even more joy for you.

We have a special surprise for you on Easter Sunday – a virtual Easter Egg Hunt! Look for the details in the description on the live streaming of Sunday’s worship service! And look for an Easter Egg Hunt in a PowerPoint that I will share on the Children and Youth Facebook page and via email.

This week’s VirtUUal RE session is about Easter Sunday with a connection to Passover and our theme of “liberation” this month. You can watch my video here. During this video, feel free to pause when suggested, or whenever you need to, and come back to it. If you would rather read through the session, you can see it and the activities at by clicking here.

For the activities I mention, here are the links:

Calendar Connection:

● Lent (Christian) – Feb. 26 – April 9
● Star Trek Day – April 5 (more here)
● Vesak – Buddha’s Birthday (& Enlightenment and Death) (Buddhist) – April 8, and others (more here)
● Palm Sunday (Christian) – April 5

Further Reading:

Jesus by Brian Wildsmith – https://www.brianwildsmith.com/jesus

The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith – https://www.brianwildsmith.com/the-easter-story-paperback

Forgiveness Activity and Craft: A way for kids to practice forgiveness as mentioned in Christian scripture. You can easily take out the Christian references, if desired. http://www.truthforkids.com/forgiving-others#.XoUEe4hKhPY

Neighborhood Love Notes Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1111215548947191/

Send pictures of any of the things you did to me too at kunderwood@ucevanston.org!

Here’s a new offering from Soul Matters: Creating Sabbath Space, week 2: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yI7kdgeBOYF11rRLCDtqXC_oi8Cdl3dPwMYIpsTjOSs/edit?usp=sharing

Next Tuesday, kids and parents can join me for a virtual Chalice Circle at 3:30 pm. You can join the meeting here or by phone instead at +1 209-844-4600,,392873602#

High school youth can connect Sunday evening at 7 pm on Zoom. Look for an email from the advisors later in the week with info on how to join.

For middle school youth, you can take a virtual tour of some of the world’s famous churches and cathedrals in celebration of Easter: https://www.arch2o.com/enjoy-virtual-tour-inside-3-europes-iconic-cathedrals/
https://cathedral.org/what-to-see/virtual-tours/

Here’s a new offering from Soul Matters: Creating Sabbath Space, week 2: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yI7kdgeBOYF11rRLCDtqXC_oi8Cdl3dPwMYIpsTjOSs/edit?usp=sharing

Another resource for families from Soul Matters, Soulful Home: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jbGY3c6r_nGVkY5lu7yhIItX5TmOXHLvgvl1e-mAxsg/edit?usp=sharing

Looking for more ideas? Here is a lesson from a colleague, The Challah in the Ark: Wisdom from the Jewish tradition: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZMVvSePb1mkAmp9cQfSrfniIkkf92G86mVaLUp7r0hA/edit?usp=sharing

And for adults, the Non-Fiction Book Group will be discussing An American Summer: Life and Death in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz on Sunday, May 3rd with Sarah Vanderwicken leading the discussion. Look for information on how to join this virtual gathering in the newsletter.

In Faith,

Kathy Underwood