VirtUUal RE: May 31, 2020

With the end of May coming up, we are finishing our monthly theme of Thresholds this week. Many of you have completed e-learning and have crossed the threshold into summertime and freedom from schoolwork. And some of you have crossed the threshold of graduation, whether it be from one grade to another, from high school or from college. And we are collectively beginning to cross the threshold from social distancing and isolation to being able to see family and friends and eventually gather for worship.  

Our metaphor this week in VirtUUal RE is the door of imagination. You can find the VirtUUal RE session on the homepage. Your family can do this together at your own convenience any time during the week. You can read the session here or watch the video here.

For middle school youth, take a virtual tour of the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette here in this “Summit” Sunday session. The building’s architect, Louis Bourgeois, was a French Canadian who joined the Bahá’í faith more than a decade before working on the temple. Bourgeois felt the design of the temple needed to reflect the Bahá’í belief of oneness for humanity, as well as the unity of all religions. In describing his design, he said, “There are combinations of mathematical lines, symbolizing those of the universe, and in their intricate merging of circle into circle, and circle within circle, we visualize the merging of all religions into one.” If architecture interests you, then read more here.

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. 

Of course, we also have our virtual worship service on Sunday mornings at 11:15 am. I continue to post ideas on the UCE Children and Youth Facebook page, along with some interactive things to share, so look for that as well.  

We traditionally have a short break in RE between the church year and the start of the summer program. The Children and Youth Team is planning things now, so look for more info next week in the newsletter and on the website.    

The Non-Fiction Book Group will meet Sunday to discuss Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration by Emily Bazelon. More information is in this week’s newsletter.

In Faith, 

Kathy