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For each child thats born a morning star rises
and sings to the universe who we are.
- Ysaye M Barnwell
Sunday October 21, 2012
Grades 2-3
IN Sunday October 21st second and third grade class... We focused on the Unitarian Universalist actor, director and activist Christopher Reeve, who died in 2004. We talked about how many people thought of Christopher Reeve as a superhero because he played Superman on the big screen. However, Reeve became a different kind of superhero after a riding accident left him a quadriplegic. His loss of mobility became the springboard for his activism. He spoke out in favor of stem cell research and created a nonprofit research and advocacy foundation. The children played a game that helped them think about how they might complete a task without the abilities that ordinarily help them do it. Our signpost to help guide us was "Include Everyone."
EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about... Do members of your immediate or extended family have disabilities? To include them fully, what actions do you or could you take? For instance, have you built a ramp so a wheelchair-user can visit your home? Are there people to whom children may need to talk more loudly or clearly? Do you need to make sure you are facing people who are hard of hearing when you talk with them? Identify the personal agency each of your family members does or could use to honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person through inclusion.
EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Try... You and your child are invited to the next FUUSE Multigenerational Book Group book discussion on Sunday, Nov. 4th, at 4:00 pm in the Community Room. We will be talking about Rules by Cynthia Lord, the story of Catherine, a twelve-year-old girl who just wants to live a normal life but finds it nearly impossible because of her brother's disability. From the book cover: "She's spent years trying to teach David the rules-from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"-in order to stop his embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a paraplegic boy, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?" Sunday the 2nd and 3rd grade R.E. class talked about the challenges and strengths that people with disabilities have. This book discussion is a great opportunity to explore the topic further. Hope to see you there. Copies of the book are at your public library. - Janet Szarmach
Grades 4-5
IN October 21 grade 4-5 SESSION... participants explored how, when love is the spirit of our church, we can find it in our hearts to treat others as we would like to be treated. Participants heard different statements of the ethic of reciprocity (also known as the Golden Rule) from a variety of religions and philosophies and a story about racing competitors who gave up their own chance to win when they chose to help a fellow runner after he fell. The participants role played what it might be like to enter a new situation where people were not being treated fairly.
EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about... ways you have extended friendship toward someone who seemed very different from yourself, or times when you forged or continued a relationship of some sort with a person who had vastly different (or even opposing) viewpoints. Share some experiences where you found it difficult to be welcoming to someone different (such as someone with opposing political viewpoints); explore what you did to overcome this or what you could do differently if you find yourself in the same situation again.
EXTEND THE TOPIC TOGETHER. As a family, reach out in some way to a neighbor, family member, or friend who has a different viewpoint than yours. You might invite them over for dinner to your house, plan a picnic at a park together, bring over a covered dish or dessert to their house or even write a letter of appreciation to them.
A Family Ritual. Share affirmations together as a family by lighting candles and each sharing one positive trait another family member has. Or, each share a positive memory you share with another family member. You might also adopt this as a mealtime ritual: Take a minute to express your thankfulness for the meal and the presence of your family members, and then encourage each family member to state a positive affirmation about someone else at the table.
In the 6-8th grade youth class we talked about Judaism using a curriculum called Neighboring Faiths. Some other faiths we will explore this year are Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Islam.
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Religious Education at 9 am
We hold religious education classes during our 9 am service for children in grades kindergarten through eight. Please use the RE Children - Youth link to find out more about our RE program.
Religious Education at 11 am
We offer an alternate multi-aged program for children k-5 attending our 11 am services. Youth in grades 6 or older are welcome in our sanctuary or as helpers for our youger class.
Nursery care is available for our youngest children.
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