Winter Warmth

It's cold outside, but we were busy and staying warm!
Explorers continued learning about the story of Moses today, and enjoyed elements of a Passover Seder.

The youth made gift tags to accompany the donations they have been collecting for the homeless at Tent City.

The youth hope these donations will help keep many people warm!  We will be collecting donations for one more Sunday.

Discovery heard a story about the Golden Rule, the bible, and the Torah.  They made gold bracelets to help remember the golden rule . . .

. . . and enjoyed eating snack together.

Treasure Hunters made lion masks after hearing the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den.

Back to class

Everyone was happy to get back to their classes today after the winter holidays.

The middle school youth read the story of the Good Samaritan and talked about helping others.

The Explorers began a study of the story of Moses.

They dressed up in costumes to act out key scenes from the story.

The Treasure Hunters reviewed some of the stories they have heard so far this year, and related them to the five questions:  Who decides what is right and true in life?  What is sacred or holy?  What are people like?  How should we live our lives?  and What is church for?

One reason people come to church is to find a light inside of them and keep it burning.  The Treasure Hunters acted out this idea by making an obstacle course with their bodies and taking turns navigating the obstacles while carrying a light.

The Discovery Class heard a story about the 7 promises we make to one another as Unitarian Universalists (our seven principles).

During their choice time, the children made posters of the seven promises, and explored other activities in the classroom.

Welcome back to class!

Celebrating Winter Holidays

The children in today's village class made this display of the many different holidays people celebrate in the winter time.  

May your family's holiday celebrations bring you joy.  

Hooray for Marriage Equality!

Almost two years ago, the elementary age children in the Spirit Play class heard a story called "Valentines for the Governor" as part of their religious education curriculum.  The story was about how Unitarian Universalists in California had bombarded the governor with valentines requesting marriage equality for all.  I included this lesson because it was suggested by the curriculum we were using that year, but I didn't really think at that time that marriage equality would become a reality in our own state of Washington anytime soon.  I remember thinking, it's good for the children to see how other Unitarian Universalists are working to make a difference.  Maybe someday we'll be doing that in Washington.  

Flash forward two years (only two years!)  When we found out that the first day same-sex marriages were to be legal in Washington state, Rev. James and I decided that we would hold the first weddings at Saltwater Church, during the worship service.  And we would invite all the children and youth to participate too, so all ages could witness this historic event.

I feel so lucky to have been able to celebrate my wedding day with all of you, and am thrilled that we were able to have a double ceremony with Devin and Geoffery!

Thank you everyone who was able to be a part of our ceremony this morning, and to everyone who has shared their love and support in making marriage equality a reality.

Giving Thanks

One way we can show thanks is by sharing with people in need.  This past Sunday, our children heard about the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.  The UUSC partners with organizations around the world to provide food, shelter, and other emergency supplies.  Next Sunday we will distribute boxes to collect money for the Guest at Your Table project.  To participate, take home a box and keep it on your table.  When you sit down to eat, contribute coins to the box, remembering those around the world who need help.

In my column in the Scroll last month I'd promised to post some table graces.  I  didn't get them up before Thanksgiving, but perhaps you'd like to add a table grace to your dinner routine this month, or try out a new one.  The six graces below come from our six sources, and can also be found at:  http://www.uua.org/documents/uuworld/families/09_winter.pdf

Thank you, Great Spirit, for the roof over our

heads, for being together, for all the food we eat.

—Unitarian Universalist blessing inspired by Earth-centered traditions

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything your goodness sends,

Thank you!

—Adapted from a grace of Ralph Waldo Emerson by the

Rev. Phil Lund, sung to the tune of “Praise God

from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Hamotzi lechem

min ha’aretz,

we give thanks

to God for bread.

—Jewish blessing

For seeds—that, like memories and minds, keep

in themselves the recollection of what they were

and the power to become something more than

they are…

—From “Gratitude for the Garden” by the Rev. Max Coots

Loving spirit be our guest.

Dine with us, share our bread

That our table might be blessed

And our souls be fed.

—By the Rev. Gary Kowalski, sung to the tune of

“Mary Had a Little Lamb”

We receive this food in gratitude to all beings

Who have helped to bring it to our table,

And vow to respond in turn to those in need

With wisdom and compassion.

—Buddhist mealtime blessing

Asking Big Questions About the Flood, Hospitality, and God

Today's classes were wrestling with some big theological ideas.  The Treasure Hunters and Explorers classes discussed the story of Noah's ark.

The Treasure Hunters drew rainbows symbolizing God's covenant with Noah that he would never again send a great flood to destroy people and other living things.  Unitarian Universalists believe that all people are worthy of love.

The Treasure Hunters also enjoyed singing together the song Rise and Shine.

The Explorers class made art depicting the big ideas in today's story.  The talked about why the Bible might include this story about a great flood, and what it teaches.

The Discovery Class heard the story of Fox and Stork, a fable that teaches about offering hospitality to others.  The lesson was that we should offer others the help that they want, rather than the help we think they might want.  If you want to help someone, it is usually best to ask what sort of help would be appreciated.

Our youth group watched a video clip about John the Baptist.  Discussion about whether or not Jesus was white lead to conversation about whether people were created in God's image, or if people create God in their own image.  

Promises, Knowledge, Love, and Reason

Unitarian Universalists are guided by 7 principles.  Our principles are promises that we make to one another about how we will be in community with one another and with the whole world.  

Today the Discovery class heard the story of our promises.  

Each promise is represented by a different color of triangle.

Red = Respect all people.

Orange = Offer fair and kind treatment to all

Yellow = Yearn to learn about ourselves, each other, and the mystery

Green = Grow by exploring what is true and right

Blue = Believe in our ideals and act on them

Indigo = Insist on freedom, justice, and peace for all people

Violet = Value our earth, the home we share with all living things

Our older classes heard the story of Adam and Eve today.  The Explorers class talked about the idea of whether knowledge is always a good thing, and times when we may have found out something we wish we hadn't known.  We read the story of Adam and Eve from the bible, and talked about whether we think curiosity is good or bad, why God may not have wanted Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, and why God might have put the tree there if he didn't want them to eat.  

Explorers class enjoy an enticing snack of apples.

The Treasure Hunters heard the story of Adam and Eve's First Sunset.  In this

story about a story in the Bible, Adam and Eve don’t know what to do to stop the sun

from disappearing. They are afraid. Then they try something – making a fire! It keeps

them warm. Finally when morning comes they are filled with thanks and say a prayer.

We Unitarian Universalists seek what is true. When we don’t know what is happening we

try to understand using our love and our reason.

In the story, Adam and Eve blessed each day and each night.The children made little books of prayers and blessings to show thanks for days and nights and meals.