Dear Families,
Planning for Children’s and Youth Religious Education during the pandemic has been challenging. We miss each other’s company so much, yet want to remain as safe as possible.
This year we will be hosting a “hybrid” program for Elementary-aged students, based on Soul Matters themes (Renewal, Deep Listening, Healing, Stillness, Imagination, Beloved Community, Commitment, Becoming, Story, Play) and revolving around experiences and activities to be shared at home. Registered families can expect materials from the Director of RE 2x/month, so they can connect in meaningful activity on their own schedule. Then students will be invited to “meet and share” online once/month before Sunday morning worship with a pair of facilitator/teachers.
Middle School students are a bit more accustomed, perhaps, to online learning. These students will meet after Sunday online Worship. Most will be able to join in a successful Social Justice curriculum we have used in the past – but adapted for online use. The 8th-graders who began the Coming of Age program in 2019-20, but were unable to complete it in the Spring, will have that opportunity this Fall. They will then be invited to join the other Middle Schoolers again in the Spring.
High school students can join the “Young Religious UUs” group that typically met after Sunday Worship for support of each others’ continued spiritual, emotional and leadership growth. Only this year, they will do so online.
Details on the class groups and registration can be found on the UUCW website.
I hope you make growing in our UU faith a priority for your family this year. And I look forward to connecting with you.
In Gratitude,
Dave Cicero, DLRE
