Religious Education News
Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton

RE Mission
Our religious education program works
to create an accepting environment that empowers children and youth to explore their spirituality, celebrate diversity, and live our Unitarian Universalist values.
Family Ministry
  We believe that families play a vital role in furthering this empowerment to explore and live our UU values. We are excited to support our families by offering ideas from the UUA's Tapestry of Faith program as well as graces and thought provoking questions related to the topics introduced during Sunday religious education classes. We hope you find this new initiative enjoyable and spiritually fulfilling for your whole family.
In RE Next Week
Our children and youth will be spending extra time in worship to learn about white supremacy and then start rehearsing for RE Sunday.  After worship, the Coming of Age youth will be preparing for the trip to Boston. 
RE Committee
Wil Rivers, Chair 
Todd Moe, Council Liaison 
David Bradford
Arthur Freeheart
Sally Hoose
Esther Katz
Rhonda Rodriguez
Anna Sorensen
Jenn Whittaker 
For the Week of May 14, 2017
A Table Grace:
O divine source of love, we thank you for the countless ways you make yourself known to us.
O deep lap, we feel supported by your firm strength under us. Yielding yet solid, you are utterly reliable; you will never let us down.
O all-embracing arms, you hold us warmly against your comforting self. In the rhythmic cycles of your body we feel the steady heartbeat of everlasting life.
O sweet breath, you lift our hair and caress our skin. Yours is the breath of kindness; you dry our tears, you whisper solace in the night.
O beautiful, familiar face, your loveliness is constant though your expression changes with climate, age and season. Were we to sleep for a thousand years and awake in an unknown place, still we would know that we are at home in you.
Praise and thanks to you, divine source of comfort, of pleasure, of knowledge and of peace. May we always remember, with every breath and gesture, that we are loved, we are loved, we are loved. Amen.
By Judy Welles
A Chalice Lighting:
We light this chalice for mothers and mothering;
to celebrate those who have taken on the task of nurturing a young one-baby, child, or youth-into adulthood;
to celebrate those who have nourished the light of truth and compassion in growing minds and hearts;
to celebrate those who have committed time, money, energy to the growth of others in this world.
We light this chalice to celebrate and hold dear this flame of love.
By Claudene (Deane) Oliva  
Spirit Play heard the story "The Five Little Fiends", about the interconnected web of life and taking care of the earth.
Family Discussion - During a shared meal, discuss what would happen if you had the power to take the sun out of the sky and make it yours. 
Family Game - Form two teams for a friendly green competition. Set a timer for a 15 minutes and then race to list all the environmentally friendly items or practices you can find in your home.
Our Caring Community explored the idea of embodiment in movement and faith.  They discussed how all bodies are different and our bodies are our home.
Family Discussion - Over a shared meal, discuss how you embody or live out one or more of our seven principles.
Family Fun - Try Laughter Yoga.  Click here to learn 20 different exercises.
Maker Space brainstormed ideas for their part of RE Sunday and made final revisions to their website. 
Family Discussion - During a shared meal, discuss how you have used brainstorming in your family to make a decision.  
Family Fun - Play a game of Cooperative Musical Chairs. This game is played like regular Musical Chairs, except that when you take away chairs, no one is out and everyone tries to find a way for all the people to fit on the remaining chairs. To make it more cooperative make sure everyone has a chance to suggest ways to best arrange the people. Gently make note of when you are working cooperatively and when not. 
Coming of Age debriefed their worship service and joined youth group to make plans for next year. 
Family Discussion - Over a shared meal, discuss a goal the family would like to achieve together this coming summer. 
Youth Group debriefed their year and made plans with the COA youth for next year.   
Family Discussion - During a shared meal, discuss a goal the family would like to achieve together this coming summer. 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Carol Zimmerman at dre@uucantonny.org or 315-386-2498.