Welcome to Unitarian Universalist Society East
Sunday Services at 9:00 and 11:00
Director's Corner
Emmy's Friday Update
For Sunday January 12th
Greetings CYM Families & Friends!
THIS SUNDAY after CYM programming, we will hold our mid-year stakeholders meeting of the CYM program. It will be offered hybrid, in-person and online, to hopefully accommodate different schedules and needs. I’m looking at a 12:30 start time in the Children’s Chapel. So even if you’re driving home or on the road to the next activity - I encourage you to log in and listen and participate as you are able! The agenda will be to do a general check-in about how the year is going so far; to give some pointers to current teachers; hear any feedback you all would like to share; and whatever else seems needed. (Feel free to send questions, feedback, or any desired agenda items ahead of time.) Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93167390951
NEXT SUNDAY, is our third Sunday of the month and therefore our monthly CYM potluck after programming (open to all), as well as Junior Youth Group and Intergenerational Affirmation at 1 PM.
Here’s what’s happening in Children & Youth Ministry on Sunday, January 12, 2024:
@11 AM
Sunday Service: “Telling Our Stories” - According to author Madeleine L’Engle, “Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, and more loving.” In this service we explore how telling our own stories and listening to the stories of others can foster the healing, authenticity, understanding, and connection we need so much right now. Coordinators: Paula Baker & Gina Campellone
Nursery: Childcare is available in our Nursery on the Garden Level at 11 AM for children 3 and under. Care is provided by two regular childcare staff including our Nursery Coordinator Molly, our Nursery Assistant Lilly-Rose. Our nursery staff have grown up at UUSE, and are equipped with loads of experience, patience, and creativity to keep our youngest UUs safe and engaged. Families are always welcome to tour and stay in the nursery at any time.
Children and Youth Ministry Groups:
Children and Youth in 1st-8th grade will join their families in the Sanctuary for the beginning of worship every Sunday. (If you are prepping for teaching or need to stay with a little one during this time, we will look after your child in the Sanctuary.) Please look for youth name tags on the Main Level. Students will be dismissed from the Sanctuary to the Garden Level for programming after a Time For All Ages.
Spirit Play (Pre-K/Kindergarten): “To Be A Drum” - Spirit Play children will go directly to class at 11 AM for the day’s lesson. This Sunday, our students will hear a story from the African-American tradition. The tale’s message shares that all people are connected by the earth’s heartbeat and are called to be drums for freedom.
Spirituality & Religion (Grades 1-5): “Meditation” - This Sunday our students will learn about meditation as a spiritual practice from guest Anne Vaughn. This will also be a day to catch up on any sacred book pages students haven’t completed. If your child went home with a small fabric bag a bit ago, they are invited to bring them back to class with any items or notes they may have collected. (Feel free to reach out if you have any questions on this.)
Anti-Racism (Grades 6-8): “Resistance” - The middle school class will continue to work on art contributions for an upcoming service centered around the social justice practice of protest. Rev Josh will visit the class to talk about his journey in getting involved with social justice and anti-racism work.
UUSE Happenings:
The Live Auction and Saucy Competition is on January 25 at 5 PM!
This is a fun multi-generational event and you are more than welcome to bring the whole family! This year we're having a sauce competition so there will be plenty of choices for dinner--from exotic to good ol' pasta with butter.
Kids can join the upstairs activities but there will also be fun, supervised games and crafts and a movie down on the garden level if the grown-ups get to be too much. So that we have enough sitters available, please RSVP to Auction@uuse.org.
There will also be a Kids Bid Table with items for ONLY KIDS to bid on. Bids start at $1 and we'll have buy it now prices set at $3, $5 and $10. Things like crafts, small games, little and fun things. If you have anything to donate to this table, please let Jennifer Klee know at Action@uuse.org. Thanks!
How Can You Help in CYM?
Please consider dropping off some snacks to stock our CYM pantry! If you haven’t volunteered yet this year, its a great way to fulfill that monthly ask! As we are all well aware, the cost of food has risen over the fast few years, and this is another way to support CYM! THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far!!! Here’s a list of suggested snacks:
Goldfish crackers
Cheese sticks
Clementines
Granola bars
Popcorn
Yogurt tubes
Kale or sweet potato chips
Tortilla chips
Frozen fruit popsicles
Dried apricots
Veggies and dip
Apples
Chex mix
Muffins
Or whatever you think our kiddos would like!
With Love and Gratitude,
Emmy Galbraith
Cell: (860)576-7889
CYM Committee Members:
Desiree Holian-Borgnis, Chair
Michelle Spadaccini
Paula Baker
Sudha Sevin
Committee email: uusecym@uuse.org
Angela Attardo, CYM Program Assistant
Director of Children and Youth Ministry's Monthly Column for January
Winter
Some years I think a lot about the return of the light, the encouragement gained from added minutes of sunlight day by day. After years of bargaining with seasonal depression and finally making peace with (that part of) my human experience, I’ve been able to get comfortable in the warm, cozy dark - that room inside myself.
When fear is resting I’m able to look around that room and see what’s in there. It’s small and dark with dirt floors and a cast iron cook stove like the one I grew up with. A kettle steams and a rocking chair invites sitting. I’m wearing an apron my mother lovingly picked out for me. The pockets hold herbs planted in the spring, encouraged in the summer, and harvested in the autumn. The herbs have to be held still to be useful now. Intentional hands and a seasoned mind transform them once more, into medicine.
A cold wind whistles across the door and clouds block rays of light trying to reach me in the dark room. A recent storm invites me to pull on my boots and grab my shovel to clear a path, should I need it. I clear it but I don’t plan on going anywhere. I sit in the room adorned with garland and stocked with books. Some to read and some with empty pages to write on. My beloved cat curls up on the rug in front of the stove.
Telltales of Spring and Summer rest in mason jars lining the room. A quilt stitched together by grandmothers lays across a humble bed. I wrap a shawl tighter across my shoulders. A faint smile dances across my face while my eyes are open but out of focus. Daydreams blend with memories and I sit and watch it play.
This is just right, just how it’s supposed to be. Not forced, not rushed out the door, the curtains allowed to keep cover of the windows. I am not missing something out there nor inside me. This room is meant to be lived in. Stillness is a sacred part of being alive. Darkness is the heart of winter’s embrace. May we dwell in peace, in this time of natural rest.
Emmy Galbraith (she/her/hers)
Director of Children and Youth Ministry