One recent Sunday, I was making my rounds among the religious exploration rooms and I popped in to visit the eight-to-eleven year olds. There were at least ten children present and their lesson plan that morning was on Judaism. During check-in someone asked a question like, “Is Unitarian Universalism a religion, or just a group of people coming together on Sundays?” That spawned about 50 follow-up questions about God, spirit, faith, community, religion, the history of UUism, whether you really can “believe whatever you want”, and more. I pulled up a chair and stayed with the teacher, the lesson plan went out the window, and we had a wonderful, engaging, deep conversation. In fact, several of us stayed long after refreshments were done, to continue our talk.
The children and youth of this congregation are no different than the rest of us. Some have come out of other faiths or the secular world; some are growing up UU. Some believe in God, some don’t, and others aren’t quite sure. They work to respect those differences in their groups. They’re curious and open. They have great joys and tremendous sorrows. They are on their own paths, and we are here to support them on that journey. We try to meet them where they are, encourage exploration, and provide a space where they can connect with something greater and/or with something deep within themselves.
Working with youth and children can be challenging, frustrating, silly, fun, joyful, enlightening, and moving. Again - no different than the rest of us. On Sunday May 8th we will all have an opportunity to lift up the generosity of spirit of the teachers and advisors who support our young people. I hope you will join us in celebration and thanks.
Next year’s programming for children and youth has taken shape, after months of planning by the Religious Exploration (RE) and Our Whole Lives (OWL) Oversight Committees. Following the service on May 8th, the committees will share our plans, and have sign up sheets available for OWL facilitators, Youth Advisors, RE Teachers, Helping Hands, and Committee members. We hope that many of you will sign up now, for next year. It allows our plans to flow smoothly and, quite frankly, reduces our blood pressure.
It’s also a wonderful opportunity to be involved in the life of this community in a meaningful, positive way.
Peace,
Andrea
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