  |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
*********************************************************** MOUNT MANSFIELD UNITARIAN RE News September 2007 "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; In Buddhism, there is a concept called "beginner's mind". It means that when you are exposed to a new subject your mind is open and eager, unencumbered by preconceptions and judgments. So how do we achieve this valued state? Well, either meditate regularly or become six years old. I am lucky enough to work with students who naturally enjoy beginner's mind, and it is a great joy to endeavor to see the world through their fresh new eyes. This year, our UU curriculum called Holidays and Holy Days is a child friendly tour of the major world religions as experienced through celebrations. I get such a kick out of teaching our children about other faiths because it is so different from when I was growing up. Being raised as a pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic, I was firmly discouraged from associating with non-Catholics for fear of being led away from the "One True Church". So it means a lot to me to nurture our children's curiosity about and appreciation for all spiritual paths as they move out into the world, and encourage them to make up their own minds about what they learn. After all, our 4th UU Principle is each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life. See why I love being a UU? As our children grow, may we share their wonder and excitement in discovering the big wide world. Your Friend, Tess Starecheski, SRE (Senior Religious Educator) of MMUUF Today, today, today. Bless us ... and help us to grow. From the Rosh Hashanah liturgy Hello everyone, I will be the teacher for the kids in the 3rd and 4th grades this year - and I'm really looking forward to it! I am planning a series of projects for the kids that I hope will foster a feeling of belonging to the MMUUF community, and show them how the give and take of a community really works. Our first project will be to host a potluck lunch for the fellowship, scheduled for Sunday, October 14 at 11:30 a.m. in the Jericho Elementary School cafeteria (after the service). We will create a welcoming space with a Fall theme, facilitate the meal sharing, and offer some (optional) activities for all ages after the meal. Everyone is welcome. Please join us! If you are the kind of person who thinks that half of the fun of an event like this is in the planning, come join us in the prep work. We could use volunteers on the Sunday RE times preceding the potluck, and on the day of the potluck. Call or email me for more information. All kids in 3rd and 4th grade should receive a letter from me before the first service, but I welcome any parents of 3-4s to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns about the program or their child. See you all soon! Jane Dorney jdorney@compuserve.com 434-5179 *********************************************************** PROJECT REACH OUT I really like the opening words by Rev. Robert Fulghum printed in the Fall UU World: "We come to this place because we need each other. We need to see each other, we need to touch each other, we need to smell each other, we need to hug each other. We need each other. So we come to this place. We come to work, to talk, to sing, to laugh, to dance. We call this a religious community because what we do, what we say, and what we are makes it a sacred gathering." I'm looking forward to renewing our sacred gathering, and seeing, smelling, hugging, singing, laughing and dancing with you all again. PRO, our program for those in grades 5-8, will start with a gathering of the waters ceremony, and check in. We're going to spend part of each week discussing parables, first some parables from the bible, and later parables from other traditions. We'll talk about what they mean, and then rewrite them for 2007 in Vermont. September will also be planning month, where we talk about the projects we want to work on this year, so bring your ideas. I can't wait - see you in a week! Karen EXCELLENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY For those of you for looking for a fun and easy way to support MMUUF, here's the good news: the R.E. program would love to have you! Classroom helpers are a valued part of our team every service Sunday. No preparation is required, and it's a terrific way to share some quality time with our awesome children. Below are the dates you can choose from to sign up for any of the classes (Tess': pre K-2nd grade, Jane's: 3rd-4th grade, Karen's: middle school); just contact any of us as soon as possible. We're particularly interested in getting that first Sunday, September 9th, covered. Looking forward to working with you! Tess Starecheski tessstar@gmavt.net 434-7005 Jane Dorney jdorney@compuserve.com 434-5179 Karen Baron kbaronvt@gmail.com 878-6773 CLASSROOM HELPER SIGN-UP SHEET
*********************************************************** BOOKS TO GROW ON From Tess: The children and I are studying world religions this year, and I wanted to pass on these wonderful resources that will be sure to add to your family's enjoyment: Celebrations by Barnabas and Annabel Kindersley from the Children Just Like Me series: This book can be purchased from UNICEF, which receives a royalty for every copy sold. It's a delightful resource showcasing international children's festivals through colorful photographs and descriptions in the children's own words. The Story of Religion by Betsy and Julio Maestro: With enchanting illustrations and clear language, this beautiful children's book explains the history of religion on earth, why it appeared, and the many forms it has taken since (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, African Primal Religion, and Native American Primal Religion). I've often used this book as an RE resource, and have found it to be a wonderful overview of global spirituality in all its diversity. Kids Around the World Celebrate! By Lynda Jones: Full of fun multicultural activities including cooking and crafts projects with clear explanations of 16 different holidays under these headings: Welcoming the New Year! Celebrating Before and After Feasts Giving Thanks Renewing the Spirit The Kids Multi-cultural Art Book /Art and Craft Experiences from Around the World by Alexandra M. Terzian: For ages 3-9, with projects for the whole family. *********************************************************** HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO: T'yana Cheney September 28th Sam Lewis September 27th
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
