The Gift of Time

"Love is, above all, the gift of oneself."

This quote from Jean Anouilh was the basis of the elementary children's lesson today as they explored our second Unitarian Universalist Source of beliefs, expressed in children's language as "women and men of long ago and today whose lives remind us to be kind and fair."  They heard an often-quoted Christmas story from the life of UU minister and author Ralph Waldo Emerson.  When Emerson asked his daughter Emily what she wanted for Christmas, she responded with a riddle:  "You cannot buy it, for it is worth all the money you have, but only YOU can give it."  Emerson pondered that for quite a while, and finally concluded - correctly - that his daughter's wish was for the gift of his time, which he gladly gave her throughout the coming year.  Later in his life, Emerson would repeat that story often in his writings and from the pulpit. 

Today the children played a riddle guessing game, and made Gift of Time coupons to give to family members.  They added a new UU constellation to the Night Sky display:  a constellation of two stick figures joining hands, representing our second Source and the gift of love.

In another lesson on the gift of love, our middle school youth thanked the congregation for their extremely generous special collections the past two weeks (over $500 was donated as well as several boxes of food goods) and spent the morning shopping to fill the shelves of the local Food Pantry.

AT HOME IDEAS:  Start a new holiday tradition of gifting others with your time!  With your child, explore the topic together.  Is there a family member or friend who might especially appreciate the gift of your time?  Brainstorm ways your family can spend time together without spending a lot of money, such as planting a garden, going for a walk, reading books, playing games, etc.  Coupon booklets are one way to capture those gifts of time.  Another is to make a Give Love or Gift of Time jar, into which family members can deposit a piece of paper with a gift of time that the family can share together such as family movie night, or cooking dinner together.  Then once a week or so, have the family gather round to draw one slip and enjoy the gift of time together.  Or create a Give Love family scrapbook.  This is particularly appropriate at this holiday season when we have time to spend with extended family members, and can include interviews as well as multigenerational scrapbooking activities. 

In this era when a family's life can be filled to overflowing with one structured activity after another, giving our children the Gift of Time can be the most precious thing we can do.

PEAK and MEETING MYSTERY

Under the leadership of teacher Diane Shields, today's elementary group participated in a PEAK program (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids).  The topic was "How Long Does It Last?"and the focus was on the "Pack Your Trash" principle of Leave No Trace.  Participants were shown a variety of objects (aluminum can, wool sock, orange peels, paper, plastic grocery bag, etc) and guessed at the length of time each item takes to decompose.  That led to a discussion of what it means to decompose, and some side discussions such as mending worn clothing that is still quite usable, disposing of pet droppings, and bringing cloth bags to use at the grocery store.  Since the temperature was quite brisk, children were given the choice to do the primary activity indoors or outdoors.  Responding to the theme, they unanimously chose to do the activity outdoors!  Diane notes that PEAK is a GREAT addition to our RE program, not just for the kids but for the parents and general congregation as well.  The idea of incorporating Leave No Trace/PEAK principles into a culminating spring camping trip was discussed with a few parents afterward, with great enthusiasm.  Look for details in the future!

While the elementary group was exploring environmental practices, the middle school group, under the guidance of Linda Dutton, was busy with their Questing Year session "Meeting Mystery."  Discussion revolved around the different ways people use to explore spirituality, including prayer, meditation, and music.  Participants had the opportunity to experience various practices such as chanting during their Mystery Quest.

Thanks to the extremely generous donations of our congregation in the past two Sunday special collections, the middle school and upper elementary students will spend next Sunday (December 18) shopping for the Food Pantry.  The students are excited to offer this service on behalf of our congregation.  The children's religious education program thanks our congregation for such generous support!

I would also like to draw your attention to a wonderful weekly parenting blog by UU educator Michelle Richards.  She focuses on how to incorporate UU principles into daily practice within the family.  Please visit her blog "UU Parenting" at:  blogs.uuworld.org/parenting

We Learn from Jewish and Christian Teachings

This past Sunday the elementary level learned about Jesus' life through a story based on passages from Christian scripture.  They explored the fourth Unitarian Universalist Source, "Jewish and Christian teachings which tell us to love all others as we love ourselves", learning that Jesus taught - and more importantly, demonstrated - the importance of taking care of everyone in a community.  The children identified communities they belong to, talked about what being a community means, and tied their lesson about building community to the story of Stone Soup that was read during the worship service, and which would be experienced during the Stone Soup lunch to follow.

Children also shared personal experiences about Christmas (the birth of Jesus) and other seasonal holidays such as Hannukah and the lesser-celebrated Solstice.  They heard one of Jesus' parables about the tiny mustard seed growing into a huge bush large enough for birds to nest in, and how Jesus compared the mustard seed to the way that Love grows in our hearts.  They created mustard seed door hangers as a take home reminder of that story. 

The lesson ended with creating a new UU Source constellation in our Night Sky display - the constellation of Jewish and Christian Teachings (a cross and a Star of David.)

Families are encouraged to explore the vast diversity of this season's holidays, and to include child-friendly story books about the teachings of Jesus such as Tomie DePaola's classic Book of Bible Stories, acclaimed for its gentle stories and sweet illustrations.

Giving Thanks

Today's elementary group, under the guidance of Laura Mitchell, walked to the Crestview Pond to conduct their seasonal water monitoring.  They collected water samples and tested pH and dissolved oxygen levels as well as determining the relative turbidity.  They will graph their results and compare it with the testing they did in September, and will keep a running tally so they can determine what, if any, changes occur in our neighborhood pond throughout the seasons.  They also examined water samples under a microscope and viewed simple celled organisms. 

What does a scientific study have to do with children's religious education?  For Unitarian Universalists, the answer is:  A LOT!  Our 5th Source of Beliefs draws upon "the guidance of reason and the results of science."  Our 7th Principle affirms and promotes "the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."  UUCR is a certified Green Sanctuary, and the children's religious education program upholds the importance of affirming both our 5th Source and our 7th Principle.  A full 25% of our elementary age program is devoted to developing an intimate connection with our local environment so that we can foster a love for the natural world in our children.  We know as adults that what we cherish, we preserve and protect - and what better way to raise our youth to become stewards of the earth than to immerse them in the wonders of their immediate natural surroundings as part of a faith-based program!

While the elementary group was examining the wonders of our watery ecosystem, the middle school group was eagerly diving into "A Time of Thanks" as part of their Questing Year program.  Under the guidance of Rachel Perry, our youth explored the meaning of ritual as both a personal and an institutional tool that can lead to greater growth and depth of their religious beliefs.  The upcoming holidays were discussed, and the variety of expression of the holidays within a UU congregation was affirmed as well as our mandate as a people of faith to help improve the lives of others.

To this end, our middle school group will be taking a special collection on Sunday, Dec 4th and Dec 11th to purchase foods for the local Food Pantry.  At a time when the local Kent County food pantries are perilously short on food items, our youth are eager and excited to provide this badly-needed service to our community.  Our congregation can directly empower our youth to improve the lives of others through the simple act of being generous financial supporters of this endeavor.

Love Will Guide Us - We Are Loved, Flaws and All

Today's elementary session focused on the first Unitarian Universalist Source, "Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and openness to the forces that create and uphold life."  Expressed in children's language, we learned about "the sense of wonder we all share." 

Participants considered human nature, with a focus on the wonder and awe of finding beauty in unexpected places.  To experience this directly, we broke open geodes - very ordinary looking round rocks that contain unexpectedly beautiful crystals within.  We also examined a bracelet belonging to Ms. Pat, made of beautiful fragments of the 17th century stained glass windows that melted and were destroyed when her childhood church caught fire and burned down.

Today's session also affirmed that, although humans are imperfect creatures, with work and time and love we can turn our flaws into strength and beauty.  The story "The Scratched Diamond" told of a gem carver who transforms a deeply scratched diamond by incorporating the scratch into an etching of a beautiful flower.  We talked about how turning a flaw or mistake into something beautiful can create a moment of "wow" and wonder in our hearts. 

Children also considered ways they can transform uncomfortable situations, poor choices, or bad behaviors into something better.  By focusing on the constellation AWE AND WONDER in our Night Sky display, we affirmed that by keeping Love as our guiding star, each of us has the ability to make those wonder-filled tranformations every day.

PEAK and QUESTING YEAR

As a UUA certified Green Sanctuary, UUCR has maintained a commitment to promoting environmental awareness as a faith issue as one component of the children's religious education program.  On the second Sunday of each month from November through April, elementary level children will delight in developing their appreciation for the natural world through a variety of activities and games.  In today's elementary RE program, participants were introduced to the principles of Leave No Trace through the child-friendly language and activities developed in the PEAK program (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids.) By interacting with the story characters exemplifying each of the principles of LNT, participants will become aware of their impact on the environment and learn how to lessen it while enjoying their explorations of the outdoor world.

The middle school group gained further insights into their Questing Year program through the session Reflections.  One component of their activities was to create mirrorboards as a tool to help them as they consider questions about self, life, and faith.

Love Will Guide Us - Using Reason and Science

"Science and religion are two windows that people look through, trying to understand the big universe outside, trying to understand why we are here.  The two windows give different views, but both look out at the same universe.  Both views are one-sided, neither is complete.  Both leave out essential features of the real world.  And both are worthy of respect."  - Freeman Dyson, physics professor emeritus at the Institue for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ, in a speech accepting the 2000 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.

In today's RE session, children explored our fifth Unitarian Universalist Source:  The use of reason and the discoveries of science.  We shared some incredible discoveries of science, such as battery-operated flashlights, music and movies on DVDs, and the role that plant selection and genetics played in developing the potatoes we know today from the small knobby roots originally eaten by early people in South America. 

Children heard a story about how a 19th century discovery of a dinosaur skeleton in New Jersey helped prove the earth is older than claimed in the Bible, and they played a game to determine the differences between facts and beliefs.  The group talked about how beliefs are something we hold in our hearts and minds as true, but they cannot be proven as either true or false.  We also discussed that reason is a way we listen to what others say; pay attention to what we ourselves see, hear and feel; and use our minds to figure out what is true. We also discussed the radical ideas of natural selection proposed by Charles Darwin and how it upset the religious world, and we explored the idea that Unitarian Universalism affirms the use of reason and science as one of the Sources of our faith. 

We examined pictures of pterodactyls (dinosaur ancestors of birds) and pelicans, and noted the similarities.  We marveled at the differences between pelicans and indigo buntings even though they are both species of birds and have common ancestors.  Participants made fossil imprints in salt clay so they could experience what paleontologists find at a fossil site.

The session ended with the creation of a special UU Source constellation in our Night Sky display:  the constellation of "Science and Reason", shaped like an infinity sign.  We affirmed that both beliefs and science and reason can be important "guiding stars" in helping us determine the best ways to act and relate to others. 

Dia de los Muertos

In today's children's religious education program for the elementary level, Jen Hicks guided an animated learning session about the Mexican religious and secular holiday "Dia de los Muertos" - the Day of the Dead.  Unlike American culture which views death and the deceased with discomfort, Mexicans use this day celebrating with festivities as they honor their departed.  Entire families congregate in cemeteries which are cleaned and spruced up, graves are lavishly decorated with fresh flowers, altars honoring the ancestors are built; and when the work is done the families sit down to enjoy a special picnic lunch or dinner.  In the home, altars are created to honor their loved ones who have passed on, decorated with candles, sugar skull candy, marigolds, photos, and memorabilia and the favorite food and drink of the departed ones.  Skeletal manikins are dressed in finery and displayed.  These offerings are left out as a welcoming gesture to the spirits of the deceased so they know they are remembered and honored.

The children created a beautiful altar in the lobby for all of us to enjoy during coffee hour, increasing our awareness of and appreciation for this joyful holiday.

Love Will Guide Us - Sense of Wonder and Awe!

In today's Children's RE lesson, children listened to the magical story by Kim Stafford, "We All Got Here Together", which offers a mystery and awe-filled explanation for beginnings.  A contemporary creation story, it draws upon the irresistible combination of bubbles and raindrops.  The children learned about our first Unitarian Universalist Source, restated in child-friendly words, "The sense of wonder and awe that we all share."

Children learned that things we see, hear, touch or feel can make us feel AWE and WONDER, and that as Unitarian Universalists we value the lessons we can learn from those experiences.  Our own personal feeling inside of AWE and WONDER is one of our UU Sources that points us to LOVE, much as the constellation the Big Dipper points us to the guiding North Star.

By opening children's minds to spirituality we hope they will develop spiritual traits that we cultivate in ourselves: 

1. Love, compassion and service,
2. Connection with the Earth, and
3. A sense of purpose and place in the universe.

We used the contemporary youth word "AWESOME" to suggest the transcendence of life and how nature's wonders sometimes strike us.  As examples, we explored the AWESOME WONDER of a piece of a tree with a naturally created hole in it (the Native American Indians would consider that to be the Center of the Universe); PopRocks candy (which crackles and pops in your mouth when the infused carbon dioxide is released in contact with moisture); the explosive chemical reaction that occurs when vinegar and baking soda are combined; and the incredible magical world of using a straw to blow bubbles inside of bubbles inside of bubbles in soapy water solution.

Family FollowUp:
As a follow up to today's lesson, you might consider using the word "awesome" as you share moments of awe with your child.  You might ask:

1. Did anything awesome and wonderful happen at school today, or at any other time during your day?  Something that took you by surprise and made you glad to be alive?

2. Are you ever just amazed at how leaves come out on a tree every spring?  Or how awesome a baby kitten is when it yawns?  Or when a lightening bolt strikes so close it makes everyone jump, and afterward you think, "THAT WAS AWESOME!"

A Take Home Family Ritual:
If you do not already, light a chalice (can be as simple as a candle or a votive glass) before your family dinner.  Use simple words to set a theme for each meal.  "Give thanks and praise" by Bob Marley is a good example.  Or, "For what we receive, we give thanks."  You can even be humorous, such as this Girl Scout Grace:  Thank You God for this Food; Thank You for this Grub; Thank You for filling our Bellies; Rub-a-Dub, Rub-a Dub - LET"S EAT!


The point is to stop and acknowledge the amazing, wonder-filled and awe-some experience of simply being alive, and being grateful for that opportunity.


--Pat Bjorke
Coordinator of UUCR's Children's Religious Education