Family Ministry & Religious Education Outreach

Special Bi-Weekly Summer News & Invitations

July 10, 2025

Dear Friends,

Are you traveling this summer? It seems like everyone is on the move! On Sundays I hear lots of stories from individuals and families recounting camping trips, family reunions, international flights and more! Even our ministers have been traveling in recent weeks.

For now, I am happy to stay home, traveling vicariously through all of you who are exploring our region, jetting around the globe, and all the destinations in-between. Traveling via the pages of a good book is also a nice way to have an adventure on a hot summer afternoon in the hammock. From that place in my yard I am also watching the birds and bugs in my garden. They are busy traveling and visiting too. The honeybees are engaged this very minute in their sacred and ancient pilgrimage, gathering what they need to sustain their hives through the winter months. I guess that's what everybody is doing in their own way: compiling memories and experiences over the summer that give us new energy to take throughout our year. I hope that you are finding what you need this summer, even though sometimes we all find ourselves traveling through things that are not pleasant or what we would choose. I like the idea that we are all journeying together, even when we are apart. May we all get safely where we need to go!

If you do happen to be in town tomorrow (Friday, July 11), I invite you to buzz by our Family Dinner potluck that starts at 5:30 pm (more details below). And if you are looking for an opportunity to travel and connect with our UUSS community this August, I am reminding you to sign up ASAP for All Ages Camp from August 1-3. There's still lots of time for fun and connection this summer and I hope we can enjoy it together!

Blessings to you, wherever life leads,

Crystal

Religious Education Coordinator at UUSS

CrystalFountain@uuss.org

P.S.-- Remember to come to Sunday service! Rev. Roger's Question Box service is this Sunday, July 13. In this annual favorite service, you are invited to ask a question about UU theologies and values, spiritual practice, religious traditions and history, our church, the state of the world, or Rev. Roger’s life and times. Please ask just one question per person. Submit yours by Friday midnight to roger@uuss.org or stuff it in the Question Box on Sunday. Snail mail entries are welcome if they arrive by Friday. See you on Sunday!

Stay after for the Newcomer's Orientation Tour (meet at the Greeter's table after service)

A Few Extra Resources...about travel!

"Sankofa, Ghana: A Spiritual Journey Home," by James Gray and Jeff Riedler from UU World, Spring 2014

Rick Steves's book, Travel as a Political Act and the discussion about it from NPR in 2018

Sustainable Tourism from UNESCO, a website about the meaning and message of sustainable tourism and opportunities to explore

Please scroll to the bottom for a recurring section for more about talking to children about difficult subjects, like what they see in the news.

Family Dinner Potluck

Friday, July 11 at 5:30 pm!

Come and share a meal with our warm and friendly, intergenerational community! Bring a dish to share or just bring yourself, there's always plenty of food. We plan to eat at 6 and clean up by 7:30. Meet us in the main welcome hall. No sign up required!

You are invited! Bring family and friends!

Contact Crystal with questions.

Parents of Preschoolers (PoP) Group

This is a group of connection for adults who are providing care to preschool aged children (toddler up to 6 years old). Please click on the button below to indicate your particular interests and availability.

Help us schedule an evening (after bedtime) Zoom meeting for centering and connection

Meetings will be scheduled soon--look for an email invitation

**Click Here for Parents of Preschoolers Group Interest Form**

Click Here To Submit Your 2025-2026 Stewardship Pledge

Watch parents and UUSS members Courtney O'Neill, Janet Lopes and Eric Gudz talk about their commitment to UUSS and why their families pledge.

Religious Education is looking for Sunday morning volunteers!

Will you serve as a:

Nursery Helper (experience with young children preferred)
RE Classroom Helper (elementary or youth group)
OWL Teacher for 2025-26 (not scheduled during service - includes training)

Volunteers working with children at UUSS must be at least 18 years old, willing to complete a background check, and known to the UUSS congregation for a year or more.

Your service for even one Sunday a month would be helpful to our program!

Please contact CrystalFountain@uuss.org for more information!

Please Register Here for Religious Education Programs

Whether you are new to RE, or you are a returning family, please register with your current information.

All ages of babies, children and youth who will be in any program from the Nursery to SHYG, should register. Thank you for your participation!

Click Here to Register for RE

Sunday Mornings with UUSS

COVID policy:

Masks Recommended but not Required- read more

Join us for Worship Services in person or on Zoom Zoom links here

Service time 10:30 a.m.

Did you miss a service? You can find links to past services here .

Visit the UUSS Website

Half of all offerings this month will go to benefit our community partner for July:

Mercy Pedalers

To donate now at the UUSS website, click here.

"May generosity bless our world. May gratitude nourish our spirits."

Sunday Morning Programs

Please join us Sunday, July 13 for Silent Meditation in the Fahs Room starting at 9:30am

Childcare is available in Room 11 for before service programs.

Childcare--The Nursery (Rm 11) welcomes infants 6m+ through age 5 for staff-supervised, self-directed play, snacks, and fun with friends. Don't forget to sign in and indicate allergy information when you arrive at Room 11. Please access through the main entrance and not from the parking lot.

Regular RE Sunday morning programming is taking a break for the summer:

Soul Kids -- K-5th grade

Junior High Youth Group (JHYG) Grades 6-8

Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) Grades 9-12

All groups will return in September!

During the summer, all ages of kids and youth are invited to join us for JETPIG Summer Arts on Sunday mornings through the end of August. JETPIG Summer Arts focuses on creative and artistic ways to explore our shared UU values (abbreviated as JETPIG): Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence and Generosity, with LOVE at the center! A variety of adult volunteers (who all have connections to various UUSS community and social justice efforts) will lead art activities over the summer ranging from fabric and paper crafts to puppetry and even gardening.

Participants please have guardians sign in at the RE table on Sunday morning and start in service!

Join the Newcomer's Orientation tour each 2nd Sunday after service. Meet us at the Greeter's table in the Welcome Hall. The next tour is: this Sunday, July 13.

Every 4^th Sunday before service, Rev. Lucy offers Embodied Practices for Stressful times. Gather for gentle movement, breathing, stretching and other practices to help calm our nervous systems. Next meeting:

9:30 am, Sunday, July 27. Childcare is available in Room 11.

Exploring UUism meets after service on the 4th Sunday

The Exploring UU classes are a way for newcomers and long-timers to learn about Unitarian Universalism. There are four rotating topics: Social Justice, Values and Beliefs, History and Theology, and Faith. Each class includes a presentation and group discussion.

Next meeting:

Noon, Sunday, July 27.

We hope to see you there! Childcare is available in Room 11.

Second Tuesday Forum:

Religious History and New Perspectives

Second Tuesday Forum: Aug. 12, 7:00 pm

Targeting Transgender Americans: An Attack on Democracy

viewing & discussion of a lecture from General Assembly

Join Rev. Roger and our recent UUA Assembly delegates to learn about the points raised by the award-winning journalist and podcaster Imara Jones. She explained to an audience of 3,000 UUs how the current administration's attacks on trans people and migrants are an early step in its plan to dismantle democratic institutions and revoke rights for other groups--and civil

liberties for us all. We were struck by her personal passion, compelling facts, and call to recognize the ongoing danger.

Join us in the Fahs Classroom or at uuss.org/online

Tuesday, August 12, 7:00-8:30 pm. Invite your friends!

All Ages Camp

returns to Camp Norge August 1-3, 2025

Individuals, couples and families are invited to join us for tent, RV and cabin camping, songs by the campfire, hikes, arts and crafts and so much more! Day passes will be available.

**Click Here for more info and

to access the link to register for Camp!**

Send questions to camp@uuss.org

Resources for Talking to Kids About the News or Other Difficult Topics

From UNICEF: How to Talk to Your Children About Conflict and War

Something Bad Happened: A Kid's Guide to Learning about Events in the News by Dawn Huebner, PhD. This helpful and accessible guide, written by a UUSS member is available to borrow from the RE office and the Sacramento Public Library. It is available to purchase at major retail sites.

Counseling Support for LGBTQ+ Young People from The Trevor Project

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has mental health resources for young people and families

From the UUA website: "Supporting Children in the Face of Disaster or Trauma", by Tracey L. Hurd, PhD.

Click to read the week's Bluesheet

UUSS Mission

We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.

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