Mail to info@muuf.org

The Importance of Our Whole Lives and Comprehensive Sexuality Education

by

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education program designed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information about sexual health, identity, and relationships. OWL helps people make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health, behavior, and relationships throughout their lives. 

The world is changing rapidly, and we are navigating a complicated landscape regarding people’s understanding of sex, sexuality, and relationships. So comprehensive sexuality education is more important than ever before. Unfortunately, many schools do not provide adequate instruction on these topics, and the available resources often provide outdated or incomplete information. [Read more…]

Children in the Sunday Service

by

We encourage children to remain in the entire service. There is a benefit to their presence

In the meantime, as we move to one service, I acknowledge that it is difficult for some children to sit still in service and focus (and if we are honest, it can be difficult for many adults as well). While children are engaged best when they are directly present in the service (sitting closer to the front also keeps them more engaged), we want to give them some activities to keep their fidgety hands occupied. So we are making “Quiet Activity Bags”. These will have items for children to draw with, quiet games, and devices to allow them to fidget without too much distraction to those around them. The Library is also equipped with activities for children and a live stream of the service.

Here are two other religious professionals sharing their thoughts on children and youth in service.

Unitarian Universalist Religious Educator Kim Sweeny wrote a great article exploring the history and future of religious education called The Death of Sunday School. Here is an excerpt: 

For most UU congregations, moving to whole congregation worship would be a substantial shift. In many of our congregations, there might be some reluctance or anxiety in even considering it. Unitarian Universalism is one of the few denominations in the United States that assumes that children cannot and should not be in weekly worship with adults for an hour. The Unitarian Universalist Association’s 2005 Commission on Appraisal report found that “the way UUs raise our children seems to prepare them for something completely different than what Unitarian Universalism actually offers. This suggests that UUs should change one or the other (or both).” Without experiencing worship with the whole congregation, UU children and youth cannot learn how to be in a sanctuary, let alone benefit from the spiritual practice of congregational worship. They cannot see adults modeling moments of silence or stewardship, caring deeply for one another with expressions of joy and sorrow, singing the songs of our faith, or sharing in the ministry of worship.

If the above alone is not enough, here are twelve more reasons to welcome children in church (Slightly adapted from 12 Reasons to Welcome Kids in Church + Tips for Actually Doing It):

  1. Children are people too: When we welcome kids in church, we acknowledge that they are important humans and community members in the present, not just in the future.
  2. A kid-friendly church is a parent-friendly church: When we welcome children, we are making their caregivers feel welcome too.
  3. Children learn by participating: When we welcome kids, we invite them to experience the sacred in community with adults.
  4. Kids can handle sermons: When we involve children in church, we expose them to deep, important ideas.
  5. It’s good for everyone: When we include kids in church, we all get to practice being more generous with each other.
  6. It makes services better: When we plan for children to be involved, we plan better, richer services.
  7. Kids have lots to offer: When we welcome children, they are able to contribute their time and skills.
  8. It makes us stronger: When we welcome kids in church, we strengthen relationships across generations.
  9. It can improve preaching: When we include children in church, our preachers are prompted to do a better job for everyone and make sermons more accessible to all.
  10. Adults don’t miss out: When kids are part of the church service, adults don’t have to choose between worshipping and leading or attending kids’ programs.
  11. It helps young people bridge the gap: When we include people in services from a young age, they have a less jolting transition in adolescence.
  12. It models welcome: When we welcome kids in church, we demonstrate how welcome everyone is.

Rabbi Aaron Alexander reflects on the benefits of Children in the worship service for the entire congregation. 

 

Why a Journal

by

Welcome to our first issue of the Fellowship Quarterly! We’re using a journal format for topics and issues better communicated in longer articles and a format more comfortable for reading. Examples of the articles in this first issue of the Quarterly include one from Rev. Joel on forming the Ministerial Search Committee, one from Nick Wallwork on the importance of the OWL curricula in UU congregations, and an update from the Deeper Roots Wider Wings campaign that includes the latest on the planned new wing.   

The Fellowship Quarterly is available both in print and online. We hope you will feel well informed in a time when the Fellowship is so remarkably busy.

Why Interim Ministry?

by

Interim Ministry became a specialty after ministers and congregations realized that when a settled ministry ends, the next minister will most likely be either 1) an intentional interim, or 2) an unintentional interim. It just takes time for a congregation to adjust to its changes.

And in those unsettled moments, congregations also have opportunities. Congregations have a chance to understand themselves in new ways, to enhance their strengths and better understand their weaknesses. And from new ways of knowing come opportunities to change to new ways of doing. 

Interim ministries have an inherent level of discomfort in them. Change is discomforting, of course, but an intentional interim ministry puts a return to comfort behind the goals of new understandings and building a congregational consensus on how to change. There’s a payoff for enduring the added discomfort, too: congregations get better at being uncomfortable, and that makes them more resilient and, ironically, makes them places that become, overall, a lot more comfortable and comforting.

There are some predictable aspects of interim ministries. Newsletters, in every congregation I have served, are costly to produce even as the information in them is out of date before it can be published. And the format reflects a pre-internet technology that chokes-off good communication in these times. The few congregations still issuing newsletters have, I’ve observed, hefty endowments. I’m trying out this Quarterly Connection with you since I believe it allows for more reading and thought and is more cost-effective and flexible for communicating about the larger and deeper issues of congregational life.

And, predictable as the sunrise and sunset, it takes two years for a Unitarian Universalist congregation to mount a search for its next called minister. First a congregation must develop more self-awareness about itself. Ministers are wary of congregations lacking self-awareness.

But as an interim I strongly prefer to help a congregation build awareness by building on its strengths – I’ve found long discussions of problems never fix them. As a congregation builds on its strengths, a strong Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) also must be formed (see my other article in this issue of the Quarterly Connection). It takes time for all the shifting of leadership as a congregation forms a strong MSC but must replace leaders in other parts of congregational life.

And then the search itself begins with the MSC talking with the congregation and putting together a portfolio that will attract great ministers. Then the MSC begins the interviews and research of interested ministers, and if the MSC finds a great match, presents that “ministerial candidate” to the congregation just about a year after being elected and two years after it entered its interim.

But some things about interim ministry can’t be pre-planned. Congregations that are truly growing are usually surprised by their new ways of knowing themselves, and because I have a deep faith in the power of congregations to discover their meaning and direction, that requires we share an open heartedness and a sense of adventure. Such discoveries just can’t be planned. They can only be shared together.

I also believe in the power of love, and congregations need to be loved by their minister(s). I believe congregations, like humans and other living beings, have inherent worth and dignity.

And I believe that our congregations can and should serve the many, many people wanting a UU community but who have been pushed away by congregational prejudices. There may be no better time than an interim time to get uncomfortable and look at and change those prejudices.

I’m pleased to be with you in this interim time, and I look forward to learning more about MUUF and helping you discover more about your congregation and what you are called to be together.

Finance Update

by

These are uncertain times, with inflation and other forces increasing prices (and anxiety!) for many of us. While those same forces impact our Fellowship finances, rest assured that our Finance team has been working hard to keep us on course. We’re happy to provide you this update on our overall budget, our Annual Budget Drive, and our Endowment Fund.

Budget:

The MUUF 2022-23 budget is a relatively austere one, with our $632K total budget reflecting an increase of just 1% over the previous year. Katy Julich, the rest of our staff, and our Finance Committee have been working hard to increase revenues and manage expenses. HUGE THANKS are due to our Service Auction team and participating MUUF members who combined to raise over $32,000 this year!

Annual Budget Drive:

The large majority of our budget is funded by you – our members – and we are so very grateful for the 157 pledges made during our Annual Budget Drive (ABD), bringing our pledge total to $464,900. Still, we are currently $36,150 from our ABD goal, the amount we need to fully fund our Fellowship’s staff, activities, and good works this year. If you have not yet pledged, we’ll be reaching out to discuss how we might enlist your support. We look forward to talking with you!

Deeper Roots, Wider Wings and Gateways Update

by ,

There is a lot to report to our community – just pulling into the driveway, glancing at the roof, and walking up the steps into the great hall tells a story of our continuing progress with capital improvements. There is a lot to be grateful for. On February 5, between services, we will celebrate the completion of the ROOF PROJECT. But more is coming, and very soon.

Building Addition in 2023 – Timeline Milestones

What needs to happen for us to start building? When will it begin?

  • January/February – soliciting contractor bids and pricing
  • February – project design info sessions (dates below – please attend.)
  • March – reviewing bids and “value engineering” (negotiating the best price for the most value)
  • April 16 – presenting the scope and budget to the congregation and voting
  • May/June – Break Ground!

The Gateways Task Force has completed the final drawings and documents for the new addition. As you read this, these will be going out for bids. The task force will share details with you, at the following information sessions. This is the final design product!

Building Addition Information Sessions:  To review WHY we are building, HOW we will build, and provide an overview of the final design details, with time for your questions and comments.

  • Sunday, February 19,12:30 pm – 1:30 pm in person / Zoom hybrid – in the Meeting Room
  • Thursday, February 23, 7:00 pm – Zoom only

(One more round of Information sessions will be offered ahead of the April congregational vote, to go over the final costs, budget and terms of the loan the Members will be asked to approve.)

Funding the Project

With over $3.78 million in new funds raised since September 2021, we have the funds to proceed with the project this year. The Board is already applying for a loan to carry us through to project completion in 2024, and through the extended period in 2026 when final pledges are scheduled to come in.

New contributions continue to arrive. Over $50,000 in new pledges were received in the last quarter of 2022, including new and additional gifts from current members, and a generous gift from close friends of a Fellowship member family. The donor family, who are also active Unitarian Universalists were moved by the impact their gift would have in creating our addition. Donations also were received on “Giving Tuesday” and from the Folk Project, which put on a benefit concert that was dedicated to our capital campaign.

As good stewards, the Capital Campaign Team will continue raising funds to complete the construction with little to no long-term debt. Here are some of the things the Capital Campaign Team has underway:

  • Alumni and Friends Outreach: reaching out to alumni and friends, including members who have moved away and adults who grew up at the Fellowship.
  • Applying for multiple grants; two are in process now.
  • Outreach to Partners: The Folk Project is just the first of many Fellowship partners to whom we are also reaching out. We are reviewing what we have accomplished to date and what the addition will mean to them, and developing events and other ways for them to participate in funding the project. In so doing, we continue to build the community we have been dreaming of, centering at our beautiful home.
  • On the eve of groundbreaking, we hope to have an Alumni Reunion.  Not strictly a fundraiser, just to reestablish ties and bring folks together.
  • Down the road –
    • We will have a Members & Friends Ribbon-cutting and celebration once the project is complete, in 2024!
    • We are also considering a Grand Opening Gala.  We would invite Fellowship members, alumni, friends, partners and beyond to key folks in our community, as part of the ongoing fundraising that will continue past groundbreaking.  We know this will be a blast, and hope to turn it into an annual event that may serve to fundraise for social justice efforts once the Fellowship’s building dreams are complete.
    • Your help is needed for all these endeavors!  Come to the Volunteer Fair to find out more.
  • Naming Opportunities still exist for substantial gifts – let us know if you can stretch to this level or know someone who might.

How You Can Help

Take a visit! If you have not been visited by the Deeper Roots team – we would like to meet with you. You can reach us at DRWW@MUUF.ORG. You may be a new member, someone who contributed to earlier campaigns but not to the current, final phase, Moving Forward: This gives us a chance to partner with you in fulfilling our dreams.

Volunteer

Please help with our Alumni and Friends’ Outreach by sharing names and contact information of folks you know who have moved away, or no longer attend regularly. And come to the Volunteer Fair on February 12 to find other ways to help.

The Gateways and Deeper Roots teams feel such a sense of pride in all that has been accomplished. It’s been a long time coming, but our beloved community will see this project all the way to completion. Next year, we can move through the Uhrhane-Wilson Gallery, or perhaps across the courtyard, or directly from the new accessible parking lot, to gather in the Al and Minda Chu Family Hall, and break bread that was made in our new kitchen. Finally, there will be a fully accessible, sustainable space in which all of us may dine together.

May it be so!

DRWW

Shari Loe , co-chair

Franklin Heller, co-chair

Helene Ferm, Gateways Liaison

Paul Ferm, Board Liaison

Kathy Solu

Gateways Task Force

Steve Parker, Chair

Helene Ferm

George Hays

David Horst

Sandra Persichetti

Toby Tyler

Candice Donaldson, Stewardship Trustee

John Solu, Finance Liaison

Barbara Stasiak

The Committee on Ministry – Mission Statement

by

The Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Committee on Ministry (COM) has the mission of promoting right relations within the Fellowship and monitoring the congregational and spiritual health of the Fellowship. The Committee works with individuals or groups when they have a concern, problem or complaint, encouraging resolution of the issues by promoting direct and constructive communication with all concerned parties.

While the Board is active in organizing and carrying out the executive functions of the Fellowship as well as developing policy, COM is an advisory body seeking to understand the interaction between the mission and the ministry and on advising the Board of any observations regarding those interactions. Ministries are the various committees and the areas of operation such as Religious Education, Sunday Services, and other programs.

COM works to insure all the groups and individuals at the Fellowship practice right relations. Arbitrating disputes between individuals or groups is a key responsibility, as such disputes may affect the health of our community and its ministries. While making every effort to maintain confidentiality, COM will explore any issues to bring individuals or groups back into right relations.

Current COM members are Paul Snellgrove, Susie Harris, Tom Moran, Brooke Donaldson, Dan Cohen, Tanya Van Order, and the minister, Joel Miller (ex-officio), who meet monthly to evaluate the health of our ministries and our practice of right relations.

Because COM needs to be open, reflective and responsive to the many ministries in the Fellowship and to all of our congregants, especially when it comes to our practice of right relations, we in COM accept and try our best to meet this obligation.

If you have questions or concerns about COM or the health of the Fellowship please reach out to one of the committee members.

Hospitality

by

Do you have a little extra time to make a big difference in our weekly coffee hour? Coffee hour is such an important time on Sundays to reconnect with friends and meet new people! We have started getting grocery store deliveries for the basics. We are looking for a coffee hour facilitator – an individual or team that can help keep track of what we have and what we need and to work with our Administrator Katy Julich in order to make orders and know who would support the staff as needed on Sunday mornings. Perhaps you have inspirations or ideas for coffee hour! This is your chance!

Reach out to Carrie Davis at membership@muuf.org for more info.

What is The Network and Why Should I Care?

by

A network is a group or a system of interconnected people or things that interact to exchange information. Using that definition there are many formal and informal networks at the Fellowship. Networks are important in our personal and professional lives as they help us create long-term mutually beneficial relationships. The formal MUUF Network facilitates communications among leaders of committees recognized or appointed by the Board of Trustees and the staff that supports them. In other words the Network is a place to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. 

One of the most important functions of the Network is to keep the congregation informed about ways they can be involved. We are jumping into the new year with a volunteer fair on February 12. At this fair you can find out what committees are doing and how you can help. Whether you are able to give an hour, a day, a week or more there is sure to be a way you can be more deeply involved with our sacred community. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and satisfaction while helping our congregation live our principles. We are looking forward to working with you as part of our network of volunteers.

Our Endowment Fund: Exciting News!

by

The Endowment Fund was created in 1994 to ensure the long-term success of the Fellowship. Since then, members’ gifts and bequests have us well on the way to building a mature fund to realize that goal.

Our current fund balance of $457,177 reflects prudent investing by the UUA Common Endowment Fund that has kept our balance relatively stable during recent market volatility.

We’re excited to share the news that the “PR Jumpstart” project was selected by the Fellowship Board to receive the $12,000 Endowment disbursement approved by the congregation in 2021. These funds will be used to engage a professional marketing consultant to develop messaging, templates and tools that we will use to proactively promote the Fellowship to our community, supporting our vision toward:

  • ​”becoming a large, well-recognized, diverse, vibrant, active congregation”
  • ​”sharing the joys of Unitarian Universalism and its moral philosophies”
  • “expanding and diversifying our membership”

Thanks to Dan Reidy for envisioning and proposing this exciting project, and to all those who submitted proposals for consideration. We so appreciate your interest in making our Fellowship the best it can be!

Please keep our Endowment in mind as you make your own long-term financial plans and honor significant events and people in your life. A small contribution when a child has a graduation, a family member or friend’s milestone birthday or anniversary is reached, or any life transition occurs all help our Endowment grow.

If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to a member of the Endowment Committee (Janet Horst, Barb Pecca, John Solu or Jerry Weinstein).

Taste makes waste: How to reduce food waste at home

by

The science experiment lurking in the back of your refrigerator is identifiable only by Chinese food take-out cartons, that stalk of now-limp celery in the crisper, or the block of overaged cheese sporting a fine, green mold. All contribute to the 119 billion pounds of food waste per year in the U.S., with about 39 percent of said waste generated from our homes.

According to the hunger-relief program FeedingAmerica.org, this translates to 42 billion pounds of residential food waste. More than 34 million people continue to go hungry, while 40 percent of all food in the U.S.—a total of $408B worth—is tossed in the trash.

As Unitarian Universalists, we are deeply committed to social and environmental justice. Reducing food waste accomplishes both and may reap some surprising rewards.

As members of GEM, we have compiled a list of resources and tips to help with food waste reduction. A win for the Earth, a win for your fridge, and a win for our food bank allies.

  • Plate it forward: Encourage guests to take home leftovers.
  • Aim to freeze: That oven-fresh recipe that serves 12 in a household of just two would make for a great heat-and-eat meal a few weeks from now, while packing for vacation.
  • Spoilage alert: To delay spoilage of refrigerated semi-liquid food, (i.e. spaghetti sauce, salsa, apple sauce, etc.) close the container as tightly as possible and then turn it upside down. The contents will move to the bottom and slow the entry of air into the container. Place the container in a small bowl to catch possible leakage.
  • Recalculate your plate: That same oven-fresh recipe that serves 12 can be cut to size thanks to whisk.com, which provides a recipe converter that scales ingredients up or down.
  • Innovate your plate: A fridge full of misfits could make a winner of a dinner, courtesy of oven.com. The Web site, also available as an app, will convert random ingredients into palatable fool-proof apportioned recipes.
  • Get the most from compost: The salad’s been prepped, and the fruit basket has been carved— but you’re not done yet. Before fast-tracking those stems and peels to a landfill, let nature do her handiwork through backyard composting. This reduces greenhouse emissions, and the end product serves the Earth as a low-emissions fertilizer. 
  • Put it in the (food) bank: Feeding America is a network of food banks that assists the food insecure nationwide. Individual donations of untouched food go a long way in keeping families fed. Find a local food bank here: https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
  • For more tips:
    • FoodSafety.gov provides food safety information .
    • usda.gov/foodwaste/activities

Composting is a great way to turn plant-based food scraps into organic, low-emission fertilizer.

How the Search for a Minister Works in UU Congregations

by

The Morristown UU Fellowship begins it search for its next “called” minister next Summer after it has selected a Ministerial Search Committee. In preparation for the search, the congregation must select the members of its Ministerial Search Committee.

The overall process of finding and calling your next minister is described in the Settlement Handbook (click here to read it) published by the Transitions Department of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association). From years of experience, our search committees, ministers, and UUA staff have refined this process. It works well for our congregations. This is a brief outline of how the congregation will select the Ministerial Search Committee by next June.

A congregation in search for its next settled minister needs a strong Ministerial Search Committee (MSC). A strong MSC will:

  1. Represent the entire congregation.
  2. Be trusted by the congregation.
  3. Understand the changing nature of the congregation.
  4. Establish a good process for itself, for the Fellowship, and for the ministers it interviews.

To select the members of the seven-member Ministerial Search Committee, the Board of Trustees begins this process by working with other congregational leaders to contact you, the members, youth members, and active friends of the Fellowship. Each leader making calls will ask you to nominate up to three people you think would serve will on the MSC (self-nominations are allowed). It’s essential for a strong MSC that anyone nominated have the following qualities: 

  1. Nominees will serve the interests of the congregation as a whole above any subgroup – so, for example, someone with an agenda (“I’m making sure the next minister is not like/is exactly like Rev. Miller”!) will not serve well on an MSC; 
  2. Nominees must understand the demands and time required to serve on a search committee. Search committee members will read the Settlement Handbook, complete their work, and attend every meeting. The time commitment requires roughly 8 hours a week of meetings and work from July to mid-November, 2023, then from January 2 until early April, 2024, and for 8 days in late April/early May. In addition to the 8 weekly hours, this commitment also includes a complete commitment to three weekends in February and March of 2024.
  3. Nominees are committed to maintain confidentiality, seek consensus, and mustbe able to work well on a team.
  4. Nominees will be capable of both self-assertion and compromise.
  5. Nominees are aware of what the Morristown UU Fellowship is like at its best, at its worst, and on an average day.

Each caller will explain the importance of these qualities and then will ask for nominations. Each member, youth, and active friend can offer up to 3 nominees. Callers then send these nominations to a data-manager. The data manager will send the top 12-14 names to the Board. The Board will then contact this group of nominees, asking them if they will accept the nomination.

The nominees who agree to run will be presented to the congregation. At a special meeting of the congregation in April, Voting Members of the congregation will each vote for 4 nominees. Absentee Ballots will be available by advance request to members who cannot attend that day. 

The four nominees receiving the most votes are automatically elected to the Ministerial Search Committee. The Board will then appoint the final 3 nominees to serve on the MSC, working to assure a balance of age, gender, sexual orientation, active years at MUUF, and other diversities. No one else, including the members of the Search Committee, will know who was elected and who was appointed. 

The Ministerial Search Committee will be presented to the congregation the Sunday after the special meeting of the congregations. At that point, the MSC will be trained for its work by the UUA and then begin its work. If you have questions or thoughts about any part of this, including serving on the MSC, Rev. Joel would be pleased to answer your questions – email him at jmiller@muuf.org.

Congregations can learn a lot about themselves in a search. And by finding a minister with the right skills, talents, longing, and calling, you and the minister you next call will begin an exciting new chapter of ministry together.

Children and Youth Programs The Rest of the Year

by

As we move into May and warm weather is ahead of us, the program year is coming to an end. But that doesn’t mean we are slowing down. We have a couple of exciting weekends coming up. 

May 12th (This Sunday) – Mother’s Day

  • There is regular RE (Sprit Play, Holidays and Holy-days, Love & Help, and Beginnings. 9:00-10:00 am. 
  • There will be no events after the service so we can all celebrate our moms. 

May 19th: Our last day of Regular RE. Sprit Play, Holidays and Holy-days, & Love & Help. 

  • Our Love & Help students will facilitate a vote for the recipient of our Sunday Plate as they practice their 5th principle (The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process…). Everyone will be able to vote before the service. 
  • The Beginnings will have an extended session through noon, that will include an early lunch and Special Guests Brooke and Candice Donaldson.
  • After the service, Green Earth Ministry will lead kids and adults in planting wildflowers around our building.

May 26th – Memorial Day Weekend

  • NO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Enjoy trips, bbqs or the time off. 

June 2nd – Bridging, Teacher Appreciation, and Annual Meeting

  • There are no regular RE classes except Beginnings. They will meet at 9:00am in their normal classroom (303). 
  • During the Service we will celebrate our Bridgers…those youth who are graduating High School and bridging into another stage of our congregation moving form childhood to adulthood. We will participate in a ritual marking this life transition. 
  • Nick will also being leading the service that day. And we will recognize and thank the dedicated volunteers who are so intricate to our Children and Youth Education Program. We will hear stories form children and adults from the excitement of this past year. 
  • During the meeting, childcare will be provided in room 204. 

June 9th – Beginning and Annual Picnic

  • During the Service our Beginnings class will present the TFAA sharing with us what they have been discussing in class and their understanding of our 8 Principles.
  • Following the Service we have our annual year end picnic. Stay tuned from information about that in the coming weeks. 

June 16th

  • The first day of our Summer Schedule. Service will start at 10:00am. 
  • Children and Youth Faith Formation activities will take place periodically through the summer. Keep an eye out for those events.

Moving Inside

by

I’ve been at the Fellowship as The director of lifespan religious education since July. But it’s only been in the last two months that I have been able to begin to work directly with our children, youth, and their families. And every moment has been a blessing. It is lovely to watch the children play on our new playground equipment, to hear the passion and conviction of our youth, and to hear the stories of our families.

Last month I attended a couple of festivals and met new people interested in the Fellowship. I have also been in contact with several new families interested in the work we do and the values we teach, particularly for their children.

Getting to know new families (new to the Fellowship and old to the Fellowship but new to me) takes some time. And in the chaos of the beginning of a worship service or the end of Sunday morning RE classes, I haven’t been able to meet as many of you as I would like (I would like to meet all of you). So we scheduled a parent meeting on November 21st after the 9:30 service. I hope that all of you who have their children currently registered for RE classes can make it. But I would also like to meet some of you who have not sent your children this year. I would love to hear from all of you how best we can teach your children and help you.

I also want to let everyone know that we will continue outside for Sunday morning RE classes through November. As we have seen in the past two months, November looks warmer than usual. However, there may be a need to change our plans due to the weather. Our priority is outside. The creation we have on our six acres is beautiful, particularly this time of year. So remember to send your children dressed in layers, and we will try to keep them moving and their blood circulating on those chillier mornings.

Religious education for children in December is still being decided. With the changes in weather, covid vaccines, and changing educational necessities, we are still moving month to month. I hope that come January, and we will have a brand new program whose plan includes a little more certainty. But before we move inside, I ask that our parents of children and youth take time to complete this survey.

Speaking of moving inside in January, we are also creating a robust offering of adult programs. We are planning classes on Unitarian universalism, the enneagram, expanding our meditation practices, and many more.

Soon our current (and last year’s) uncertainty Will be behind us and making way for more uncertainties. But together, we will move forward teaching our children, encouraging our youth, and learning from each other.

Summer 2022

by

As I sat down to plan out my summer, I instantly became overwhelmed by the sheer amount of activities and trips we have planned. After two summers of caution under the pandemic, we seem to be making up for lost time. There are camps and vacations and parties. It is exhausting to think about. 

Acknowledging that many families find themselves in the same spots, we have planned Children’s RE Activities for the summer that will be simple, yet impactful. We have two groups of volunteers leading activities and then I will be leading a few activities. 

We will start off the summer this Sunday with the first of our “Banned Books Story Time.” As many of you know, there are important books that are being banned around the country. It just so happens that these books often coincide with some of our UU values. So the first book will be “Antiracist Baby” written by Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky. We will use the book as a jumping-off point to discuss what it means to be anti-racist and how we, even as kids can work to become anti-racist. We will read the book and engage in a couple of active learning activities. 

The second installment of the “Banned Book Story Time” will be a couple of weeks later featuring “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole. It was this past year’s most banned book. We will look at the many ways families come together. Not all families have a Mom and Dad, but some have two moms or two dads, some have one mom or dad, some have parents that do fall into the gender binary, some are born to families and some are adopted. No matter how a family is created, it is all equally a family. We will again read the book and learn through some hands-on activities. 

This summer will also feature a class led by Candice and Brooke Donaldson. They will discuss that way those without sight engage in the world around them. They will hear firsthand from Candice, who has lost her sight, and Brooke who has worked at the Seeing Eye here in Morristown. They will meet a seeing-eye dog, learn some brail by using a brail type-writer, among other activities. 

Finally, the Davis Family will lead a day of art. Children will use their creativity to create visual works of art. 

These classes are designed for children 3-11 years old. They will take place from 10-11am. The Schedule for July is as follows:

  • July 4th – Banned Books Story Time – Antiracist Baby
  • July 10th – NO RE – Children are invited to stay for Alison’s Odyssey Program
  • July 17th – Learning about the Visually Impaired
  • July 24th – Banned Books Story Time – And Tango Makes Three
  • July 31st – Art

August dates are still being planned. Updates to come soon. 

Please note that during the summer, we will not have our paid childcare provider in the nursery. However, the service will be streaming in the library and there will be some activities for our young children there for both parent and child to view the service. 

Skip to content