R.E. News

Update for RE for week of 11/03/24

RENews:

This past Sunday our PreK-5th Graders finished their month’s long exploration of Deep Listening by exploring stories, playing games, and doing crafts around listening. Our 5th/6th Grade OWL class covered Pregnancy and Prevention, while our 8th/9th Grade Class covered Consent.

Crossing Paths (6-8th grade) delved deeper into the survey of Christianity in preparation for their next off-campus visit on November 10th. High School Youth Group held their meeting outside for a special ritual and wax divination. Coming of Age met for their second official session to explore the impact of childhood and family expectations on our journey to discover who we are.

Thank you to all the volunteers, families, youth, and children for participating and making it a memorable Sunday!

Important Youth Group update: Youth Groups will now be meeting from 12:30-1:30pm. High School still meets every Sunday, and Middle School still meets every first and third Sunday.

Photos from the morning can be found here.

REsources November 2024 (for your family to use at home!)

The Soulful Home Topic this Month is Repair

If you would like to do more exploration into our monthly topic, click here for the Soulful Home materials, including activities and ideas for bringing our theme into your home. The packet this month has some wonderful suggestions for deepening conversations around repair with our children and youth, ideas for video games, movies, and more suggestions for all age groups. Let us know about your experience with the Soulful Home!

Christmas Pageant Sign-up

It’s already time to begin preparing for the Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm! We welcome folks of all ages to participate. If you are interested in being in front of people or helping behind the scenes, sign up here. If more than one person in your family wants to be involved, please send different forms for each person if possible. The sign-up form includes possible rehearsal dates.

Update for RE for week of 10/27/24

RENews:

PreK-5th Graders participated in the first Children’s Chapel of the year. We explored the theme of Listening to Nature by making rain together and listening to a theatrical story. Our younger children played animal sound bingo and the older elementary children sat by the firepit and made soundmaps. Everyone ended the morning on the deeply loved ERUUF playground together.

In Crossing Paths (6-8th grade), we introduced Christianity and had a lively discussion about the wide diversity of beliefs and practices it encompasses. Both Youth Groups had pizza and snacks and played games. Coming of Age youth had their first official session, exploring the communities we belong to and the impact they have on our lives.

Thank you to all the volunteers and families that made this past Sunday possible!

Important Youth Group update: Youth Groups will now be meeting from 12:30-1:30pm. High School still meets every Sunday, and Middle School still meets every first and third Sunday.

Photos from the morning can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update for RE for week of 10/20/24

RENews:

On Sunday, PreK & Elementary Students continue their exploration of the spiritual practice of deep listening. Our 8th/9th Grade OWL youth were joined by LGTBQ+ community members to share their experiences of gender expression and sexual identity. Thank you so much to the panelists for sharing with our youth! Our 5th/6th Grade OWL youth covered feelings and attraction.

Crossing Paths middle schoolers discussed last week’s visit to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh and made their own chalices. The High School Youth Group had a relaxed meeting with pizza and music.

Thank you to all the volunteers, families, children, and youth for participating in RE events at ERUUF this past week.

Important Youth Group update: Youth Groups will now be meeting from 12:30-1:30pm. High School still meets every Sunday, and Middle School still meets every first and third Sunday.

Photos from the morning can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update for RE for week of 10/13/24

RENews:

This past weekend was a full and fun one for children, youth, and families at ERUUF. Saturday evening was our annual All Ages Halloween party complete with a great magic show by David Sokal, fun games, a delicious potluck, a haunted trail and laboratory, and time for both Middle School and High School Youth Groups. Many thanks to Cara Lewis, Dave Chilton, Katie Barnhill, James Lewis, and Devin Chilton for leading this fantastic event. Additional thank yous to all the volunteers, families, children, and youth that made the evening possible!

Photos from the Halloween Party can be found here.

On Sunday, PreK & Elementary Students began exploring the theme of deep listening, OWL classes met, MSYG gathered, and our 9th & 10th graders participated in the Coming of Age Orientation. The Crossing Paths Middle Schoolers visited the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, attended service, and visited with their Middle Schoolers before heading back to ERUUF. Thank you to all the volunteers, families, children, and youth that participated in this very full weekend!

Photos from the morning can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

Update for RE for week of 9/29/24

RENews:

After the Volunteer Dedication in the service (where we bless and thank our amazing teachers, advisors, and volunteers.) Children and youth handed each volunteer a rose as a small token of our appreciation for all their efforts. The children and youth of ERUUF enjoyed another fun morning together exploring the spiritual practice of invitation through games, stories, and bonding activities.

Our middle schoolers in the Crossing Paths program learned about our 8 Practices of Welcoming in preparation for our first off-campus visit: the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh! Middle School Youth Group had a bountiful sandwich bar (thanks for your help, guardians!) and played games for a special 2-hour “fun day.” High School Youth Group had a relaxed hangout with board games and conversations about our Lock-In coming up this Saturday.

Photos from the morning can be found here.

 

 

 

Update for RE for week of 9/22/24

RENews:

RE had another wonderful Sunday, amidst the lively and festive atmosphere of the Connections Fair. PreK and elementary students continued to explore the spiritual practice of invitation by thinking about how we want to be in community with each other when we gather.  Class covenants were co-created by and the time together finished by flying decorated paper airplanes off the bridge into the newly updated playground. 

Our middle schoolers in the Crossing Paths program learned about water communion and religious pluralism. Rev. Jim stopped in to answer questions and share some UU history. Instead of meeting formally, HSYG explored the Connections Fair!

Special thanks to Arco Williams for so thoughtfully organizing and creating the RE Connections Fair Booth! Special thanks to Cara Lewis, Celena Urquia, and Galen Jackson for helping with the RE and OWL booths! 

We hope to see you at ERUUF this Sunday!

Photos from the morning can be found here.

 

 

 

Update for RE for week of 9/15/24

RENews:

Children, youth, and families gathered this Sunday to begin the 2024-25 ERUUF RE offerings.  PreK & elementary students explored the theme of invitation as a spritual practice and gathered in their age based class for the first time since the spring.  There was much excitement over the new play structure in our playground!  OWL classes continued this Sunday with the 5th/6th graders covering Images in Pop Culture and the 8th/9th graders covering Sexual Orientation.

Our middle schoolers and their parents attended the Crossing Paths Orientation to learn about the opportunities they will have this year to learn more about UUism and other faith traditions.  The Sunday gathering ended with both, Middle School and High School Youth Group having a pizza lunch together, and then connecting in their own spaces. 

Thank you to all the volunteers, youth, children, and families that made the beginning of the program year so vibrant and exciting.  We are so grateful for each of you!

RE is also looking for a couple volunteers to take individual photographs of children and youth during the first few weeks of RE.  We will use these photographs to help our Volunteers learn the children and youth’s names.  If you are interested, please let Melissa Smith know.  

Photos from the morning can be found here.

 

 

 

 

Update for RE for week of 9/8/24

RENews:

This past Sunday, our children and youth celebrated the last day of all ages summer RE with chalk painting and popsicles. We begin our focus on the spiritual practice of invitation by creating welcoming messages on the sidewalks of ERUUF with handmade recycled chalk paint. This Sunday we will begin our age level RE classes. We hope that we see you and your family there!

RE is also looking for a couple volunteers to take individual photographs of children and youth during the first few weeks of RE. We will use these photographs to help our Volunteers learn the children and youth’s names. If you are interested, please let Melissa Smith know.

Photos from the morning can be found here.

We are excited to host our Crossing Paths orientation for 6-8th grade youth this Sunday! Youth should bring one parent with them so parents are informed of our field trips for the year. Please come directly to the CARE building at 11am and meet us in Room 4/5.

Youth Groups (Grades 6-12) begin this Sunday! We will meet after second service from 12:45 pm-1:45 pm. Middle School Youth Group will meet in Room 4/5, and High School Youth Group will meet in Room 7.