Children’s Religious Education
Jody Burrows, Maj-Britt Johnson
Karen Washington, Youth Group Advisor
Not for parents only!
The newly formed RE team wishes to thank Mindy Fullilove and Joan Christos
who co-led the Sunday school last year. The one room schoolhouse provides
us with a basic, and expandable model. Mindy and Joan have both chosen
to focus on other volunteer activities this year. Jody Burrows and Julio
Perez, along with Maj-Britt Johnson as a consulting member, have formed
a core RE team. The Board of Trustees hired Aisha Hauser who is the
DRE at the UU Congregation in East Orange for a limited number of hours
as consultant to the RE Team. (Just so no one is confused, she is not
our RE director) But she's great and will be a big help.
Plans for the coming year.
-Overall the Religious Education team will function much as the Program
Team does. It will meet regularly and coordinators will take turns making
sure the children’s Sunday “Service” happens as smoothly
as the adult service.
-Coordinators will volunteer for two to three months stints, and be
present to lead the opening of the children’s session, introduce
that day’s “guest” presenter, and check in over the
hour to support the teacher as necessary.
-Julio and Jody will coordinate the first three months, more coordinators
will be recruited this fall.
-Except for specially planned intergenerational services which will
happen at Holiday times, children will have their own spiritual gathering
prior to their lesson and will not join the adults for the beginning
of the service.
-Fourteen members have signed up so far for guest teaching spots and
will be encouraged to attend a 2-3 hour training and community building
session led by Aisha Hauser, the RE director of the East Orange congregation
who will also be consulting on a very part time basis.
-It is hoped that teachers will enjoy the training and teaching so much
they’ll sign up for more teaching spots!
-Aisha Hauser will be available to the RE Team leaders one hour a week
for support.
-Aisha Hauser has gathered curriculum for the entire year based on the
Team’s request that it be based on the seven principles and the
six sources of our living tradition, with some wild card holiday Sundays
thrown in for fun.
-The minister and the Small Group Ministry facilitators will simultaneously
be focusing on the principles and sources in sermons and small groups.
-The team is in the process of calling members with children to determine
how many children will attend and what level of commitment there is
for regular attendance.
-The youth will be surveyed to determine their level of interest and
their preferences for a program of their own.
-The team is creating set-up and safety guidelines for teachers and
coordinators
Finance
Help always needed, contact Bill Hoffman, Treasurer
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Justice
Arlene Corsano, Chair
Meeting monthly, , see our calender for
details.
The Justice Team sends kudos to all those who cooked, and all those
who "bedded down" for the night during UUCP's period of
staffing at the IRFH family shelter. Special thanks to Kate and Steve
for their time and effort and growing expertise organizing our efforts.
First Friends Project
Eight of our members signed up to be trained by the First Friends
Project to become "visitors" to the detainees at the Elizabeth
Detention Center. Several of us went to the potluck supper held at
Ethical Culture where we received a general orientation regarding
what happens to people seeking political asylum in our country. We
also learned about the sanctuary program for "parolees"
chosen from among the detainees. Our Congregation is not becoming
part of the sanctuary program at this time. Our focus remains on visiting
detainees.
Membership
Donna Buono, leader
Al Stawsky, Joan Christos, Bonnie Savitz, Sally Cummings
Meeting usually at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, see
our calender for details.
The people who ‘officially’ greet newcomers, organize
the coffee hour, conduct the New Member ceremonies, organize Circle
Suppers and the Caring Committee, which sends notes of sympathy, congratulations
and welcome to our Guests and Members.
Updating our UUCP Directory.
Please send any changes in address, e-mail address or phone to Sally
Cummins, UUCP database administrator. Please send all changes (now
and in the future) to her personal e-mail address
salsc@optonline.net:
If you do not wish to be included on this Directory please let her
know as well.
Please join us in this vital and interesting work. Please contact
Donna or Al if interested.
