Jan. 25, 2015 School of the Spirit Weekly Update

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Explore the theme of Evil in the School of the Spirit: with a Patronus ShieldJam from Harry Potter and a BucketJam.  (Patronus = your mythical animal protector) Also, “Anne Frank and the Remembering Tree” with Vivian Hamilton….

Hermione-s-Patronus

 

9 and 11 a.m. CircleJam (opening) Sharing Circle Ritual and our theme songs for the monthly theme of Evil.  Storyteller Vivian Hamilton tells the story from the new book by Rabbi Sandy Sasso “Anne Frank and the Remembering Tree”  just published by the U.U. “Skinner Books” publishing house. There are saplings from the Chestnut outside the “Secret Attic” that have been planted around the world.

Patronus ShieldJam:  Make a shield using a cardboard cake round and decorate it with your mythical animal protector, your patronus. The stag was Harry Potters’ and the otter was Hermione’s, for example. with Rachel, SpiritJam leader.

BucketJam:  How to fill your “bucket” and what a “bucket dipper” is. The bucket becomes a symbol of universal compassion and caring teaching us how to draw wisdom from our own hearts. with Michael Newman, spiritjam leader.

9 and 11 a.m. Preschool/Nursery-  with Miss Ari, Early Childhood Music Specialist and Teacher will be making shields, too. Check out the new Cozy Corner. Miss Ari requests some wooden puzzles and a beanbag chair if anyone has them to donate.

7/8th Grade Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.)   – with Luis Uribe and Scott McCollom. (8:45 – 10:15 a.m.) Bullying and Bystander Responsibilities.

8th/9th Grade Coming of Age (COA)  – “Issues Facing Youth” with Michael Newman and Laura Murray (12:15 – 1:45 p.m.)

Adult Classes: (Drop In’s Welcome!) Read about more on the “one-stop-shopping” Adult Webpage

  • “Wicked” chat is cancelled.
  • Guitar Circles, Mindfulness, Retreats, Chats, all sorts of classes for adults coming up.

Playground Monitors:  needed, 10 – 11 a.m.  Sign up online  or on the bulletin board. Weather permitting, but the children love to go outside!

Read more about our unique experimental SpiritJam model at www.spiritjam.info   Join us as we co-create this experimental program with paid lead teachers and monthly themes!

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Announcements: 

Next week: Feb. 1 Service for Children, Youth and Adults. Everyone will attend the Service in  the Sanctuary for 3 stories relating to our mission –

  • Francis Harper (1800’s) African American Poet, freewoman and Unitarian,
  • Martha and Waitsill Sharp (1939 – 45),  Unitarian rescuers in Prague during the Nazi invasion
  • Portland, OR UU congregation, (2012), LGBTQ advocates and healers

Roles for children/youth (contact Katie):

  • being recognized as a new reader (1st/2nd graders – ish) entering the Age of Reason (with a gift!)
  • acting in the skit as a guard or soldier during WWII
  • Wrapping a ribbon around the room

New! Parent Circles

Sundays, 9 and 11 a.m. once a month, drop ins welcome!

Feb. 8 – Reason: Explaining life and death to a child.
March 15 – Trust: Balancing safety and freedom.
April 12 – Redemption: Making mistakes; not being perfect.
May 3 – Calling: The call to nurture, what is a parent’s role?

Meet 9 a.m. Thoreau Rm; 11 a.m. Barnum Rm. – your choice! Children are welcome to attend the Preschool/Nursery or SpiritJam.

Reflection, Sharing and Support
Guided by the monthly theme with tangents as desired.
Specifically for parents, and other important adults in a family.
Facilitated by Katie Covey, Director, School of the Spirit

Mini-care packages for the homeless – donations of items needed (travel sized toothpaste, toothbrushes, granola bars, thin gloves, comb, soap, emergency blanket, razor, small wet wipes, small First Aid items, small deodorant, cracker packages, bus passes, etc.) for the 3/1 ServiceJam Project (one service at 10 a.m. only). Donation box by the SpiritJam Lab. Items will be packed in a quart sized Ziploc bag by children and others. The mini-care packages will be available to congregants willing to keep them in their car or purse to give to the homeless.

Check out the Youth Ministry Newsletter by Emily Conger, Youth Coordinator for 7th – 12th graders.

Finally, check out this Yahoo blog about “Raising Kids without God, but Maybe Not Without Religion” and guess what? It is about the author discovering a UU congregation!  Thanks to Jean Cannella for sharing it.

Your School of the Spirit Staff:

  • Emily Conger, Youth Coordinator, youthcoordinator@bvuuf.org 
  • Ari Flauta, Early Childhood Teacher, preschool@bvuuf.org
  • Rachel Stevenson, SpiritJam Teacher and Religious Education Assistant, assistantre@bvuuf.org 
  • Michael Newman, SpiritJam Teacher, spiritjam@bvuuf.org
  • Katie Covey, Director of the School of the Spirit, dirrectorre@bvuuf.org