The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Religious Education News & Announcements

April, 2008

From Our DRE

I’ve been thinking a lot about transitions lately. Many changes are on the horizon within my family — my own upcoming wedding, cousins’ new babies, my grandmother’s failing health. And this is a time of great change within our church community, too — moving into the cottage, heading into the next phase of our building program, Judith’s upcoming retirement. And we know that changes come, whether we will them or not. We’re all familiar with the old adage — the only thing constant is change (except from vending machines). But change isn’t easy, even when we choose it, even when the change is a good one. And especially when, as happens more often, the picture is not so black and white, and the change is a more complex mix of positive and negative, exciting and painful. Sometimes, I know, the ground feels shaky. Sometimes we fear we’re not up to the challenges.

But it also requires no great leap, I’m sure, for us to recognize that with change also comes great opport unity for growth and rebirth. It feels entirely appropriate to me that we find ourselves at this crossroads in our journey as a community in the springtime, just as we are celebrating Easter, Passover, and the greening of the earth. In March, on Easter Sunday, our Religious Exploration program celebrated the spring holidays in the cottage, which is itself a powerful symbol of renewal. We were mindful of this as we gathered together in worship in a place that others once called home, its beautiful new walls built upon the bones of its former life.

The future is open, friends. And our church is a strong and caring place, made sacred by the gifts of love and service that you bring to it. Let us spend the coming months celebrating the richness of the past years, and looking with eagerness toward our future.

Announcement

Please join us in welcoming a brand new member of our staff, Liz Greenfield. Liz will be working with the youngest members of our community in our nursery program, and will also be providing childcare for church meetings and events. Liz, a UU herself, has a great deal of experience working with young children, including having worked at a nursery school that specialized in serving children with autism and other special needs. Liz recently moved to California and returned last September from two years in West Africa with the Peace Corps. We are very impressed with Liz’s warmth and skill and are delighted to have her with us.

— Catherine Farmer

RE Shining Star -- Cindee Hallinan

When I think of Cindee, I think of her beauty (both inner and outer) and her lovely welcoming smile. Cindee’s kind ways have made her a great teacher in our RE program. She has worked with lucky children in programs spanning Preschool to Coming of Age, and currently she is a YRUU advisor. Cindee has demonstrated her wide range of teaching skills working with our preschoolers for several years, being part of the Coming of Age team for a year (and is serving as a mentor to a current Coming of Ager), and now supporting our high school youth in YRUU. She has done a fabulous job at each level, giving her all to the task at hand, being committed to both the children and the other teachers.

Cindee and her family — husband, Dave (“the great man standing behind her, without whom she could accomplish nothing”), daughter, Chloe, who is now in 5th grade, and son, Owen, 2nd grade — joined our church community in 2002 (Dave thinks). Cindee jumped right into helping in RE and has been a giving participant ever since.

Cindee has an active home life. She enjoys playing the piano, is a talented seamstress, and has a new passion for skiing. She and Dave recently skied in Taos. In her work life Cindee is a substitute teacher at UES (what is UES?) and she works as a costumer on TV commercials.We are all so grateful that Cindee finds time to give her talents to our youth in YRUU and that she has contributed to our kids in so many ways over the years. Thank you, Cindee — you are a shining star.

— Margot Page

March, 2008

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education for K-1st Grades

This spring we will be offering the Kindergarten-1st grade level of our church’s comprehensive human sexuality education program, Our Whole Lives. OWL is a positive, age-appropriate curriculum whose four primary goals are: to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information; to increase self-esteem and understand relationships with and responsibilities toward others; to develop interpersonal skills including communication, decision making, and problem solving, and to teach responsibility for personal health and safety. The OWL Grades K–1 curriculum is based on specific values related to human sexuality. It nurtures the worth and dignity of every participant. It fosters loving, equitable, and healthy relationships and counters injustices such as homophobia, stereotyping, and sexism. Children are encouraged to value themselves and act on their values throughout their lives. The elementary age program is based on the philosophy that parents and religious communities can form a meaningful partnership for positive responsible sexuality education, and, recognizing that parents are the most important sexuality educators of their children, it also focuses on providing resources that help parents talk about sexuality with their children. Parents, mark your calendars now for Sunday, March 9, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for our mandatory parent orientation for all who are interested in enrolling their children in the course. The class itself will run for six consecutive weeks starting later in the spring. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Catherine Farmer at the church office.

Youth Heritage Trip to Boston July 2 Through July 6

Organized youth trips to Boston are a tradition in many UU congregations. While building community, the youth get a chance to visit important UU sites and build a sense of our UU heritage. Judith Meyer will be the tour guide for our high school group, YRUU, this summer as we do just that. Plans are underway and it looks like an exciting adventure together.

We will stay at the Pickett and Eliot House — the UUA’s bed and breakfast, which is directly behind the UUA headquarters on Beacon Hill in downtown Boston. From there we plan to take a tour of the UUA offices, celebrate 4th of July with the rest of Boston, attend a Sunday service at one of the downtown churches, and just explore. (Unfortunately, the Red Sox won’t be in town.)

We need your help with this ambitious project. Fundraising has already begun with calendar sales and a few lunches so far. It’s a good start, but we will need more to cover some of the cost. Can you help with a direct donation? Maybe have some spare miles we could use? Any and all support is appreciated. More fundraising is planned in the coming months — just keep checking for announcements and look for us in Forbes Hall. Contact Karen Patch or come by the YRUU room in the cottage if you can help us out. Thank you for your support of our youth.

Let's Welcome Wendy Wegner

Please join us in welcoming a brand new member of our staff, Wendy Wegner. She joins us as our preschool RE teacher, a new position that will provide our preschoolers with high quality, consistent programming on Sunday mornings. Wendy, who is a writer by vocation, comes to us with extensive experience working with young children. She is CPR and First Aid certified, and also has training in developmental play processes, team building, and child development. In her professional experience, Wendy has worked as a nanny, and as an educator and mentor for elementary and middle school students in classroom, tutoring, and camp settings. Wendy brings a warmth and enthusiasm to her work that is contagious, and I know that our preschool classes will thrive under her leadership. Wendy, we are so glad to have you with us. Welcome to UUCCSM!

February, 2008

From Our Director of Religious Education

Stories are powerful. We in the RE (Religious Education) program know that sharing stories with our children is a wonderful way to share our history and our values, our dreams, and our challenges as Unitarian Universalists. We know that telling stories to people of all ages engages their creativity and encourages them to draw their own conclusions about life’s big questions. And we know that developing a pool of shared stories brings communities closer together.

We are embarking on a new adventure in our elementary RE classes this spring with two curricula that we’re very excited about: “Spirit Play” for kindergarten through 2nd grades, and “Toolbox of Faith” for upper elementary grades. Spirit Play is grounded in the sharing of sacred stories from many faith traditions as well as from our own history. Each week we’ll explore a new story in a format that includes tactile materials and small props that provide visual cues along with the telling. These materials will help anchor the children in the story so that they can continue to explore its meaning as they work with the props themselves or choose art materials to use in responding to the story. The Toolbox of Faith curriculum was developed with our active 3rd through 5th graders in mind, and uses a physical “tool” each week, along with an accompanying story, to help us reflect on qualities of our Unitarian Universalist faith, such as integrity, courage, and love, as tools they can use in living their own lives and in building their own UU faith. Each of the sessions uses an actual tool as a metaphor for a quality of our faith. For example, these tools include a hammer for justice, duct tape for flexibility, and a mirror for reflection.

It won’t be long until it’s time for us to start our curriculum planning for the 2008–2009 church year, and so I have a question for all of you: which stories were most memorable or valuable to you in your own childhood — to you now as an adult? What are the stories you think we should make sure to share with the young people in our RE classes?

— Catherine Farmer

RE Shining Star: Ian Dodd

Ian Dodd, our R.E. Shining Star for February, has the hands of a worker and the mind of a philosopher. Currently Ian’s hands are blackened by the dye he’s used to color our bathroom concrete countertop. As he works on his concrete, woodworking, and photography, he often listens to some mind-expanding podcast. As Karl Lisovsky, one of his fellow Coming of Age leaders, put it, “Ian is information-hungry and knowledge-generous. He wants to see a better world emerge and has an unwavering faith in the role of bias-free knowledge to uncover truth and avenues to that truth.”

His interest and inquiry drew him to Coming of Age as a guest speaker on secular Buddhism three years ago as our daughter, Rachael, journeyed through the class. Ian was asked to join the team by Karl and Jennifer and is currently working with his second group of Coming of Agers along with Karl and Marcy Muray. All three of his fellow teachers commented on Ian’s generosity, willingness to listen to the students and shape lessons around their interests, and his talent for writing and speaking. Marcy commented that Ian has the ability to inspire a sense of wonder in the Coming of Agers because he can talk about many things ranging from spirituality to philosophy to social justice to quantum physics, and he has an adventurous spirit. All three said that Ian’s intellectual curiosity, his willingness to pull his weight, but not push his agenda, and his desire to do what’s best for the group in a principled way make working with him a good experience because he is a wonderful colleague.

Did you all know that the Coming of Age teachers make a commitment to each other to be at most of the classes? It’s a good thing that they all respect and like each other because they spend lots of time together. When Ian isn’t at church he can be found as a cameraman on a TV show (when there’s no strike), being a wonderful dad to his two kids, and a great life partner. Thank you, Ian, for dedicating part of your life to our Coming of Age students.

— Margot Page

January, 2008

From Our DRE

January: new beginning, new hope, new year — a time for looking forward, a time for making plans. How many of us have made New Year’s resolutions? And how many have made resolutions that we really expect to be able to keep? A substitute ritual that tickles my fancy is borrowed from Robert Fulghum — he wrote that one year, rather than making resolutions for the year to come, he instead backdated a list of things he had accomplished during the year as resolutions from the previous January.

I’ve found that this practice, which at first glance seems entirely silly, can be something quite lovely instead. No more lists of resolutions destined only to make one feel vaguely guilty at the end of the year for having failed to fully realize them. Now we can celebrate our successes in a way that encourages us to expect to accomplish great things in the year to come. And that’s the way to begin a year — why not tinker with tradition?

UUCCSM’s New Year’s RE solutions, 2007:

1. Staff the RE program with more than 50 amazing volunteers.

2. Minister to our children and youth by providing meaningful classroom, social justice, worship, and social experiences.

3. Put on three intergenerational Sunday services in our new and improved story-based format (Lessons of Loss, RE Sunday, Day of the Dead) in order to worship together as one UU community of all ages.

4. Complete construction on the cottage and begin officially moving into our new RE space.

5. Put on a big celebratory Holiday Pageant in December, with more music than ever before, honoring both the Winter Solstice and Christmas, replete with our beloved Friendly Beasts and itty bitty Wise People on their Camels.

6. Spend the year laughing and learning and growing together.

(Add more of your own!)

That’s a 100% success ratio — Congratulations, UUCCSM! As 2008 begins, let’s look forward to the many wonderful things that are ahead of us, and start the new year with eagerness and resolve.

— Catherine Farmer

December, 2007

From Our DRE

As the holidays approach each year, I think more and more about what makes a place home. California has been my home for a dozen years now, but still I “go home” to Georgia to visit my family for the holidays. My home at the church has been the little office upstairs for the past four years, but now I’m moving out, into the new space in our newly finished cottage. How long will it be before it feels like home?

This month we’re thinking hard about our building plans as well as how we’ll live in the space that we have for the time being. Everything’s in flux, and as we gradually move our RE program over to the cottage I’m mindful of the importance of creating a welcoming home for the children and youth of our community. This move is a big step in the right direction, and we want to make sure that from the moment our young people step into their new classrooms they know that this is a home that we’ve created just for them. As we get the rooms ready, some of the older classes will begin meeting in the cottage right away, but our preschool and elementary programs will wait to start the new year in their new space, so we have time to get it just right. So this month we’ll be moving furniture, putting up bulletin boards, filling shelves with books and supplies, and decorating the walls in anticipation of our official launch of RE in the cottage at the beginning of January.

We may have some hard decisions to make about our facility in the future, but I know that whatever we decide, this church will continue to be a safe and nurturing home for all of us as we live our liberal religious values both within our own community and out in the larger world. I look forward to the next year, and many more, at home here at UUCCSM with all of you.

Holiday Toy Drive

On Sundays, December 2 and 9, we’ll be collecting toys for the Santa Monica Head Start program’s holiday party. This year we need approximately 35 unisex gifts that are new, unopened, and unwrapped for three- to five-year-olds. This year we’re taking signups so we know how many gifts to expect. Please sign up on November 25 or December 2 at the Head Start table in Forbes Hall during coffee hour, or contact Catherine.

-- Catherine Farmer

December RE Star - Zac Geoffray

Did you know that December RE Shining Star Zac Geoffray represented the Boy Scouts soap-box derby contest on the Jay Leno Show? Well, his car wasn’t the fastest, but it was the most creative. He used a bird theme incorporating a beak and feathers. Because of this creativity his car was chosen above all others. The producers were so impressed by Zac that they invited him back again the following year. WOW! He can now be found cavorting with the youngsters in the kindergarten through second grade class at 9 a.m. His positive disposition, creativity, confidence, and sense of humor serve him well in working with his young students.

Zac is “giving back” to our community in the very class he first attended when his family joined our community 11 years ago. He had enjoyed his experience as an RE student so much that during his Coming of Age year he started assisting in the preschool class. He assisted almost every week for two years. Then Zac taught a wonderful lesson to the K through 2nd grade class on one of the Five Senses last summer. During his class on taste his young charges had a great time touching a plastic tongue and tasting a variety of foods which were sweet, bitter, or salty. The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Zac is a sophomore at Santa Monica High School where he enjoys Latin and Choir classes. He also loves acting and will be performing in SAMOHI’s upcoming production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” He has also performed with the Santa Monica Shakespeare’s productions of “A Comedy of Errors” and “Richard III.” Next summer he will move from volunteering with kids to a paid gig as a teaching assistant at Rustic Canyon Performing Arts Camp, combining two of his loves — kids and theater.

We are grateful for Zac’s work with our children and hope that he will continue. He is a shining star in so many ways.

Friendly Beasts Pageant Update

The Friendly Beasts, preschoolers through 5th graders, will continue their rehearsals of “The Friendly Beasts Song” for the holiday pageant, which occurs December 23 at both services.

Below is the rehearsal schedule:

Dec. 2 and 9 — Preschoolers and K–5 in their classrooms (10 minutes each)

Dec. 16 — Group rehearsal for all at start of RE

Dec. 22 — Saturday dress rehearsal in sanctuary (9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.)

Dec. 23 — Pageant! (both services — please arrive at 8:15 a.m.)

We realize that the pageant day is a long one for the children, so please contact me if you can help by: supervising the children and providing crafts and games for between the services and during most of the second service, when they’ll be in the RE cottage until they sing, bringing food for between the services (small sandwiches, bagels, cream cheese, muffins, crackers, cheese, cut vegetables and fruit, juice, water, etc.), or compiling paper activities (we have packets from previous years that you could build upon) and bagged crayon sets for during the first service.

Ideally, we would like all children to sing at both services on pageant Sunday, but if your child can sing at only one service, please let me know.

Here’s to another great pageant!

-- Kris Langabeer

July, 2007

RE Shining Star: Tom Ahern

Tucked away on the side of our campus, the nursery program is easy to overlook if you’re not the parent of a young child. This month we’re making a bit of a departure from our usual pool of Shining Stars in order to recognize a staff member who has been instrumental in our program for the very youngest members of our community for a very long time: Tom Ahern. Tom, on staff first as an assistant and now a lead nursery caregiver, spends every single Sunday morning with the babies and toddlers in our nursery program, and has done so for many years. He makes sure that the younglings are safe and lovingly cared for in the none-too-ideal office area that makes up our nursery space while we wait for our new building to be constructed. The children respond right away to Tom’s calm, easy-going presence, and it’s clear that he enjoys his time with them, too. For all that you’ve brought to our nursery kids, Tom, thank you!

June, 2007

Summer is almost upon us, believe it or not, and the RE Council and I have been busy planning our program for next fall. And we have a question for all of you: How have you engaged the UU principles lately?

There is no better way to learn and live your UU principles than by learning and teaching with our youth and children. Presenting stories to them and listening to their efforts to interpret and understand can be a wonderful way to explore these issues and concepts for yourself. Without teachers, interesting curriculum is of no value. Over the next few weeks, we will be searching for more “RE Shining Stars” to help us create a vibrant RE program next year with our children and youth.

In our elementary program next year we’ll embark on an exciting new program called “Spirit Play,” grounded in the sharing of core stories of our faith in order to help children make meaning through wondering and art, create a spiritual community, support multiple learning styles and challenges, and create a strong Unitarian Universalist identity. We also will continue to offer the very successful “Neighboring Faiths” comparative religions curriculum for 6th and 7th grades, “Coming of Age” for 8th grade, and our senior high YRUU youth groups at each service.

Think about how sad a place UUCCSM would be without our enthusiastic kids. Consider the wonderful energy there is in an intergenerational community (a model that is increasingly rare). And we need you. To fully staff our fabulous programs, we’re looking for more than 50 members of our congregation to volunteer to teach for one to two Sundays per month.

Think about it. Think about teaching RE. Then visit the RE table in Forbes Hall during coffee hour on Sundays this month to hear about our program in more detail and let us know how you’d like to be involved. Help us bring our vision for RE to life.

— Catherine Farmer

YRUU is looking good for 2008–2009

Can you believe we are already getting excited about next year? Well, we have a lot of reasons to feel that way about next year’s program for our high school youth group, YRUU.

Our beloved advisors Liza Cranis and Chris Brown have been awarded Advisors of the Year for the Pacific Southwest District. Bravo!

We have recruited additional advisors for next year to bring the team up to seven. Welcome aboard to Tom Kafka, Cindee Hallinan, Gretchen Goetz, Karen Patch, and Sarah Gaillot.

District-wide YRUU Advisor Training took place on May 19. This all-day workshop was facilitated by two specially trained leaders (adult and teen) and was open to all congregations in the district. It was a great day to really look at what makes a successful youth program.

We have a great group of teens — full of energy and wonderful ideas. Have a great summer and we’ll see you in September.

— Catherine Farmer

Summer RE at UUCCSM -

The Senses - Preschool–Kindergarten
Join us for a different “sense-sational” celebration each week: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, intuition, and humor.

UU World Travelers - First Grade and Up
Members of the congregation with experience in or an affinity for a particular culture or country are invited to lead our kids in exploring the world with us. We’ll have music, food, games, dances, crafts, languages, costumes, art . . . what would you most enjoy sharing?

Both classes will be staffed by volunteers who will sign up to lead or assist for one Sunday. Grownups, we need your help. Please consider volunteering for one or more Sundays this summer. Signup sheets will be available at the RE table in Forbes Hall. For more information or to sign up, you can also contact DRE Catherine Farmer.

Summer Adult Religious Exploration Offerings

“Building Your Own Theology 3: Ethics,” led by Bernie Silvers, begins June 5 and continues for eight consecutive Tuesdays. Time is 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, contact Bernie

“Soul Work,” a reading and discussion group cosponsored by the Adult Religious Exploration Committee and the Committee on Multiracial Development. “Soul Work” is a compilation of nine papers presented at a three-day meeting on racism and theology sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association in 2001. Read the book (available from our bookstore) and join Leon and Nicole Henderson- MacLennan on three Monday evenings, July 2, 16, and 30 in room 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. To sign up, contact Leon or Nicole

“Soul Food: Writing as a Tool to Stir the Spiritual Soup,” a group exploring writing as a spiritual activity. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 24, July 8, July 22, August 5, and August 19. Emmy Cresciman, convenor, with shared leadership. Contact Emmy to sign up or ask questions.

RE Shining Star - Jennifer Westbay

That star you see rising in the west over 17th Street is our RE Shining Star of the month for June, Jennifer Westbay. Jennifer is often found across the alley from Forbes Hall, upstairs, acting as an adult advisor to the Coming of Age (CoA) group. Last month Jennifer and her two partners saw the culmination of nine months of work as the six young Coming of Agers hosted the Sunday service on May 20 — presenting their personal credos to the UUCCSM congregation and being welcomed into the larger church community.

This is Jennifer’s second year volunteering as a CoA advisor. One of last year’s CoA participants described Jennifer as the glue that held the advisor team together. She juggles an amazing array of organizational details: keeping track of the calendar, making sure notices get e-mailed to everybody, collecting the credos for the CoA service, and putting together their script and the order of service so the girls don’t get lost halfway through. Her real strength is her sense of Unitarian tradition, and she shares her appreciation of Unitarian lore with the youth in CoA. All the while she does this with her indomitable humor and aplomb. Oh, and she’s also been known to bring hot, fresh, homemade banana bread for the snack, a major component of the CoA curriculum.

So this month, look to the west about 8:50 on Sunday mornings to see a shining star rising up the steps to the CoA classroom. That would be this month’s RE Shining Star, Jennifer Westbay.

December, 2006

From Our DRE

“Church,” as Judith says from the pulpit every Sunday morning, “is where we get to practice what it means to be human.” And those aren’t just some pretty words that she says to make us feel good about getting out of bed to come to church — they are a stunningly concise description of what it means to be part of our church community. Church is where we bring our fullest selves and struggle together to live our beliefs fully with one another, practicing how to take them back into the rest of the world with us.

Being an intentional community of people open to all who want to walk this path with us is not light work. Community is where you don’t get to walk away when someone disagrees with you or aggravates you — you’re stuck with them, no matter what. You don’t get to decide who belongs and who doesn’t — everyone who’s here is part of our community. And that’s where we really get to practice being human and practice being our best selves.

Our faith isn’t an easy one if we take it seriously. It calls us to treat the person we like least with the same measure of respect and compassion that we show our best friends. It asks us to stand firm on our ideas and values, but in a way that doesn’t belittle or dehumanize another person for holding a different view. Not an easy task, I know, but of utmost importance — this is the gift that our faith has to offer the world, this is our saving message: our Unitarian heritage that holds that we are all capable of deciding for ourselves what is true and right and our Universalist heritage that teaches that all are equally deserving of justice and compassion.

Our church community is where we practice this faith on a smaller scale, living it as fully as we can together. Our church is where we come together when life is at its best, and at its worst. At its best, we create together the world we’d like to see, and at its worst, we support one another through the hard times. The most transcendent times are those when the two arrive hand in hand.

This January our entire church community will participate in our first-ever Intergenerational Winter Intensive program, Lessons of Loss, a month-long UU curriculum in five levels that offers developmentally appropriate opportunities for children, youth, and adults to develop skills, and therefore confidence, in helping themselves and others respond to change and loss, voice fears and questions about loss, and learn how the UU principles provide guidance in understanding loss and supporting the grieving process. Adults are invited to participate in the four-week adult RE component, facilitated by Leon Henderson and Judith Meyer, to be held on Thursday evenings in January. Sign ups begin this month at coffee hour.

— Catherine Farmer

Friendly Beasts Pageant Update

“Friendly Beasts” pageant update The Friendly Beasts, preschoolers through 5th graders, will continue their rehearsals of “The Friendly Beasts Song” for the holiday pageant, which occurs December 17 at both services.

Below is the rehearsal schedule:

Dec. 3 — Preschoolers to K-5 in their classrooms (10 minutes each)
Dec. 10 — Group rehearsal in mural room for all at start of RE
Dec. 16 — Saturday dress rehearsal in sanctuary (9:30 to 10:15 a.m.)
Dec. 17 — Pageant (both services; please arrive at 8:15 a.m.)

We realize that the pageant day is a long one for the children, so please contact me if you can help by:

• supervising the children and providing crafts and games (especially between services and during the second service, when they’ll be in the mural room until they sing),

• bringing food for between the services (small sandwiches, bagels, cream cheese, muffins, crackers, cheese, cut vegetables and fruit, juice, etc.), or

• compiling paper activities (we have packets from previous years that you could build upon) and bagged crayon sets for during the first service.

Ideally, we would like all children to sing at both services on pageant Sunday, but if your child can sing at only one service, please let me know.

Here’s to another great pageant.

— Kris Langabeer

RE Shining Star: Francois Bar

This month we recognize François Bar as our RE Shining Star. François, who came to us from the Palo Alto UU congregation, jumped right in upon arriving at UUCCSM in 2003 and signed up as one of our “Our Whole Lives” sexuality education teachers, and has been one of our most dedicated volunteers ever since, teaching OWL every year. He has led almost every level of the course we offer, moving from class to class to teach wherever we needed him most, making a commitment to our program that is above and beyond what we usually ask of our volunteers. Francois brings a special blend of sensitivity, humor, and warmth that makes him especially suited to be an OWL teacher. We are lucky to have him with us. Three cheers for François.

November, 2006

From Our DRE

On the afternoon of December 10 (time TBD) in Forbes Hall we’ll be holding a conversation with our whole church community on assessing our congregation’s ministry to and with youth. I hope that you will all join us.

Earlier this year, the UU Association completed a large-scale survey of youth, undertaken to determine how they regard their church communities. An article about the survey published at UUWorld.org notes that “91 percent said they feel welcome at worship services, 89 percent said they were treated respectfully, and 87 percent said their opinions were valued. But only 53 percent felt that the congregation was their spiritual home.” Jesse Jaeger, UUA Youth Programs director, noted, “The fact they feel welcome does not necessarily mean they are being fed.”

It’s time for us here at UUCCSM to take a look at how we’re serving our own youth, time to talk with one another about what we’re doing well, and what we could be doing better. With a youth population that has increased nearly tenfold in the last four years, it is time for us to articulate a strong vision for the future of our youth programs. Is our church providing a spiritual home for our youth?

Embedded in this conversation is an even larger question, though, one that I’d like to invite each of you to consider over the next month: What is a spiritual home? Is our church your spiritual home, and if not, what would make it so? What is it that connects you to our church community, and what would make that connection stronger?

I think that this is a worthy exercise for all of us, this search for the center of our faith, for an articulation of where home is. A church community that is home for its members is a community that fully serves the needs of and celebrates the gifts of every person who walks through the doors. What would that look like, here at UUCCSM? For you? For our youth? For all of us?

— Catherine Farmer

RE Shining Star - Jacki Paddock

This month we honor Jacki Paddock as our RE Shining Star. Jacki has been teaching our 9 a.m. preschool class for many years, and her experience as well as her enthusiasm for spending time with our younglings couldn’t be more evident or more appreciated. She has also served as a mentor for new teachers joining the ranks, most recently supporting her son Jordan as he has moved from serving as classroom assistant to becoming a fullfledged teacher.

Jacki has also been a strong advocate for our youth programs, serving on our Youth Activities Committee, engaging youth in social justice projects, and even donating some of her lovely jewelry creations for our youth to sell in fundraisers. Jacki’s commitment to our faith has also inspired her to attend the UU Association’s annual General Assembly for the last several years and she always returns brimming with new ideas and energy for what we could be doing here at UUCCSM. For all of these things and more, Jacki is a natural choice for RE Shining Star. Three cheers for Jacki.

Friendly Beasts are Coming

Once again, our preschool through elementary- aged children will sing “The Friendly Beasts” song at our holiday pageant on Sunday, December 17, at both services.

As in years past, all involved children will sing the first and last verses of the song. Small groups of children will sing the middle five verses dressed in a costume appropriate to the animal speaking in that verse (brown donkey, red and white cow, dog, dove, and mouse).

We have a few costumes from previous pageants, but parents are encouraged to create their child’s costume (don’t panic—we have easy suggestions). Older kids who don’t want to dress as an animal but do want to sing are welcome to be shepherds.

The children pick which animal they want to be, but generally, the preschoolers sing the mice verse.

Religious Exploration teachers, please note: I will lead Sunday rehearsals (about 10 minutes long) that occur in the RE classrooms during both services. Below is the rehearsal schedule:

Nov. 12 — Preschoolers: at start of class
Nov. 19 — Preschoolers: at start of class K-5: 10 minutes each classroom
Nov. 26 — Preschoolers: 10 minutes during class K-5: 10 minutes during class
Dec. 3 — Preschoolers: 10 minutes during class K-5: 10 minutes during class
Dec. 10 — Group rehearsal in mural room for all at start of RE
Dec. 16 — Morning dress rehearsal in sanctuary from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
Dec. 17 — Pageant (both services)

Call or e-mail me with questions. I look forward to working with your friendly beasts once again this year.

— Kris Langabeer

October, 2006

From Our DRE

Here we are, starting another church year together. And what a year it will be. With construction on our building project finally beginning, this will be a year of obvious change and transition, but our building isn’t the only thing that’s changing and growing. Religious Exploration has new programs, new activities, new ways of bringing our vision of beloved community ever more fully to life, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about what this year will bring.

But I’ve also been noticing lately how prone I am to overactivity, and I know I’m not alone. People seem to be even more busy, more stressed, more tired than ever, and it’s important to remember to find a balance between action and reflection, in the life of our church as well as in our personal lives. I’ve been noticing lately that it’s been harder and harder for me to step back from all of the activity and take some time to reflect on what it means to be UU (not just what it means to “do” UU) in my everyday life. And if being UU always means being busy, busy, busy, we run the risk of wearing ourselves out. I suspect that this is even more true for families who must juggle multiple people’s schedules. But we aren’t Unitarian Universalists only on Sundays, and while taking action in the world is a central part of our faith, so too is our own inner journey, and our children and youth (and, let’s face it, we adults too) need to hear that message reinforced at home.

To this end, we’re going to be offering lots of new resources this year to support our families in this effort, and I’d like to share a few of them with you. By the time this newsletter is published, RE parents will already have received the first several of our new weekly “RE Updates” e-mail bulletins, which will include “Home Links” ideas and reflections for bringing UU home, as well as lots of additional information about what’s happening in RE. All who are interested in receiving the bulletin can sign up by e-mailing me at Catherine@uusm.org. We’re also in the early stages of cataloging our RE department library through an online service that will give all church members access to our books, which will be tagged by subject as well as location, and will be available for loan from the RE department. Take a look at http://www.librarything.com/profile/UUCCSM-RE. What else could we be doing to support your family? I’d love to hear more of your great ideas, and look forward to spending this year putting them into practice.

—In faith,
Catherine Farmer

RE Shining Star: Karl Lisovsky

This month’s RE Shining Star is Karl Lisovsky, nominated by fellow Coming of Age (COA) teachers Jennifer Westbay and Cindee Hallinan. They wrote: “From teaching 5th grade RE, to recording RE special events, building and striking RE installations, and being a constant informed and enthusiastic voice supporting our church’s younger generation, Karl has been a model RE teacher. He’s been a church member longer than either of us, and we’ve had the pleasure of seeing up close — and learning from — his experience as well as his enthusiasm in Coming of Age this year. From our first meeting as the COA team, Karl had a wonderful knack for leading us while keeping our team democratic. His lessons were invariably appropriate for the COA year: both serious and engaging. . . . When in May he learned he had to miss Coming of Age Sunday, he said that, though he was sad not to see the students’ service, it was more important to him to have been present for the process as the young people grew toward that important moment. Jennifer and Cindee urged us to honor Karl with the RE Star that he so richly deserves, and we couldn’t agree more — three cheers for Karl!

Walk to Fight Hunger

All are invited to join us for the Westside Food Bank’s Annual 5K Hunger Walk.

When: Sunday, October 29, 2006, at 12:30 p.m. / Walk begins at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Santa Monica High School (Science Quad), 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. The course runs along the beautiful streets and beaches of Santa Monica.

Why: To help fight hunger in our community. Every dollar raised provides seven meals for our most economically fragile neighbors — half of whom are children.

UUCCSM’s involvement is sponsored by the RE program. This walk-a-thon is a fun way to spend the afternoon with friends from our church while helping our less fortunate neighbors right here in our own community. There will be food, drink, entertainment, games, a “moonbounce” for the kids and fabulous raffle prizes. All ages are welcome, including stroller parents and dogs on leashes. Registration forms will be available at church, or you can sign up online at westsidefoodbankca.org. A sandwich lunch will be offered for walkers at the church following the 2nd service, so we can then head out together to join the walk. Parking will be available in the school lot, accessible from the alley between Seventh St. and Lincoln Blvd.

If you can’t walk with us, you can still support our effort by sponsoring a walker. You can do so during coffee hour on Sundays this month, or by visiting our church team’s online donation page at http://www.active.com/donate/westsidefoodbank/uuccsm.

—Catherine Farmer

September, 2006

From Our DRE

Welcome to the 2006–2007 church year. I can hardly believe it’s September already. And what a year it will be for us at UUCCSM. I sense a great deal of energy in our church, as new programs and committees emerge and as we get our building construction underway. This year brings much that is new, and with it comes the chance for us to discover together exciting ways of being together in beloved community.

I’m also very excited about what this year brings for our educational ministry to children and youth. As part of our continuing UU Principles focus in our children’s programs, our elementary classes this fall will be exploring our Sixth Principle, “The Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All,” with a concentration on social justice and commitment to action that is particularly apt in our world today. Then in January our entire church community will participate in our first-ever Intergenerational Winter Intensive program, Lessons of Loss, a month-long UU curriculum in five levels that offers developmentally appropriate opportunities for children, youth, and adults to develop skills, and therefore confidence, in helping themselves and others respond to change and loss, voice fears and questions about loss, and learn how the UU principles provide guidance in understanding loss and supporting the grieving process. In February we’ll return to our regular classroom RE program, this time exploring our Seventh Principle, “The Interdependent Web of All Existence of Which We Are a Part.”

Our youth program also continues to grow and evolve, as we enter into our second year of offering high school programming at both 9 and 11. Youth and advisors will be working together to create our vision for UUCCSM’s ministry to and with youth.

Meanwhile, our preschoolers will be learning about their UU religious community, engaging in sharing with others, and exploring a sense of belonging through the “Chalice Children” curriculum. And in our continuing “Neighboring Faiths” class for sixth and seventh graders, we’ll learn about, and then visit, a different religion’s place of worship each month. And this year’s eighth graders will be encouraged to explore and articulate their personal beliefs within the context of our Unitarian Universalist faith, in our Coming of Age program.

The first day of RE will be on Ingathering Sunday, September 10. We’ll be conducting RE registration on August 27 and September 3; please make sure to register ALL children and youth— babies in the nursery through high school—for this year’s program. I look forward to getting our new year started; I can tell already that it’s going to be a fabulous one.

— Catherine Farmer

RE Shining Star - Tom Hamilton

This month we honor Tom Hamilton as our RE Shining Star. Tom has been one of our most dedicated volunteers in the RE program over the past several years. Tom, a lifelong UU, whose son, Baxter, was in his Kindergarten– second grade RE class over the past year, brings a wealth of experience and commitment to Unitarian Universalism and to our program. We are lucky to have him with us.

In addition to volunteering as a classroom teacher, Tom has led summer RE lessons, opened his home for RE volunteer events, and serves on the church’s Pulpit Committee. But above all, it is Tom’s openness in sharing his perspective as well as his passion for developing the very highest level of quality in our programs that led us to select Tom as the RE Shining Star for September.

Three cheers for Tom!

Adult Religious Exploration

Sign-ups for Adult RE Courses

Sign-ups for our fall offerings will begin September 17 at the Adult RE table in Forbes Hall during coffee hour. The table will be staffed by members of the Adult RE Committee who are eager to introduce themselves and answer any questions you have about our program for this year.

For more information about the courses being offered, see Judith's column this month.

Adult RE Ingathering

The Adult RE Committee is sponsoring an ingathering of all who are considering leading Adult RE courses, at UUCCSM on Saturday, September 16. This gathering is for those who have volunteered to lead classes or workshops this year as well as any who are interested in learning more about facilitating a course in a UU setting. Those with a great deal of experience to share are especially encouraged to attend. We’ll have a chance to get to know one another as well as develop skills and share tips for successful leadership. Mark your calendars now; details to be announced in the weekly order of service and e-mail announcements.

July, 2006

RE Shining Star: Janet Goodwin

This month, we honor Janet Goodwin as our RE Shining Star. Janet has just completed a two-year term as the Chair of the RE Council, and we are very sorry to see her go. Janet’s warmth and generosity of spirit make her a joy to work with, and through her leadership in the last two years the RE program has blossomed. But Janet is eager to get back to what she loves best — teaching in the RE classroom. And how could we begrudge her that? Janet is one of our most seasoned and skilled RE teachers, and next year’s Explorers class will be lucky to have her on the team. Over the years, Janet has taught elementary classes, assisted in Neighboring Faiths, facilitated RE Council meetings, served as an RE Greeter, helped with innumerable RE events, all while continuing her volunteer work with another of UUCCSM’s most valuable programs, Faith in Action. And until this month, it has been Janet herself who has penned our monthly RE Shining Star recognition, and her shoes are hard to fill; if the writing style now is somewhat lacking, it certainly does not reflect the level of esteem we hold for this month’s Shining Star, for Janet is one of our most shining examples of RE leadership. Three cheers for Janet!

— Catherine Farmer

June, 2006

From Our DRE

Summer is almost upon us, believe it or not, and the RE Council and I have been busy planning our program for next fall. Next year, RE kids up through 5th grade will be exploring the sixth and seventh UU Principles — the “Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All” and “The Interdependent Web of All Existence of Which We Are a Part.” We also will offer, for the third year, the “Neighboring Faiths” comparative religions curriculum for 6th and 7th grades, “Coming of Age” for 8th grade and our senior high YRUU youth groups at each service.

Now we have a question for all of you: how have you engaged the UU principles lately? Could there be a better way to learn and live your UU principles than by teaching and learning with our youth and children? Presenting stories to them and listening to their efforts to interpret and understand can be a wonderful way to explore these the principles for yourself. Over the next few weeks, we will be searching for more “RE Shining Stars” to help us create a vibrant RE program next year with our children and youth. To fully staff our fabulous programs, we’re looking for more than 50 members of our congregation to volunteer to teach for one to two Sundays per month.

Think about how sad a place UUCCSM would be without our enthusiastic kids. Consider the wonderful energy there is in an intergenerational community — a model that is increasingly rare. And we need you.

Think about it. Think about teaching RE. Without teachers, interesting curriculum is of no value. Then visit the RE table in Forbes Hall during coffee hour on Sundays this month to hear about our program in more detail and let us know how you’d like to be involved. Help us bring our vision for RE to life.

Summer RE at UUCCSM

SUMMER OF SEUSS
Preschool to Kindergarten — Children in this class will be exploring a different Dr. Seuss story each week, with activities, games, crafts and snacks to match!

THE SENSES
First Grade and Up — Join us for a different “sense-sational” celebration each week: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, intuition and humor!

All classes will be staffed by volunteers who will sign up to lead or assist for one Sunday. Grownups, we need your help! Do you have a favorite Seuss story or a great idea for how to celebrate one of the senses or just want to join the fun? Please consider helping out for one or more Sundays this summer. Signup sheets will be available at the RE table in Forbes Hall. For more information or to sign up, contact me at Catherine@uusm.org

— Catherine Farmer

RE Star: Linda Van Ligten

I imagine that many of you have already met Linda Van Ligten, since she has volunteered in almost every capacity imaginable. She has been an RE teacher for a decade, since her own daughter, Alyssa, was in kindergarten. She has taught nearly every age level, and in the comfort and safety of her care kids always feel at home.

In the interest of helping to create a dynamic vision of RE, she has served for several years on the RE Council. Recognizing the importance of helping our youth make informed choices about how they experience their sexuality, she volunteered early on for training to become a teacher in our OWL program (“Our Whole Lives”). For the past five or six years, she has taught OWL to kindergarten/ 1st grade and 4th & 5th grade kids (she is currently teaching both in the regular RE 11 a.m. preschool class as well as the K/1 OWL class). During the first year of “Way Cool Sunday School,” when we added the Social Justice curriculum, Linda was part of the team helping our kids to envision the role they can play in understanding and helping the wider community we live in.

Linda has also put her faith in action by volunteering many holidays at Turning Point shelter. She has served as camp nurse at many de Benneville camps for kids. She is currently a member of the Nominating Committee. She even helps her husband, Greg Wood, when he needs an ushering partner. Truly the volunteer that keeps on giving, Linda Van Ligten is the consummate advocate for others, especially our youth. When a job needs doing, Linda is often the “go-to” person. For the myriad ways she gives to our children and to our community, we honor her this month as our RE Star. Linda, you rock!

— Janet Goodwin

May, 2006

From Our DRE

Spring is here, and summer is right around the bend. Is it just me or has this year gone by incredibly quickly? How can it be May already? This is always the busiest time of year for the RE program, when we’re simultaneously wrapping up the year in our classrooms, putting together our Coming of Age and RE Sunday services, recognizing the graduating high school seniors in a special Bridging Ceremony, and planning and recruiting for our summer RE programs, as well as creating the structure and vision for next year’s RE program to be kicked off in September. Whew! That’s a lot to have going on all at once, but I love being part of a church community that is so vibrant, so very active.

This month, though, in our children’s RE program, we’re taking a break from all the busyness and will spend the full month doing our first-ever “Arts Intensive” program. Children will be invited to explore their spirituality through the arts in a variety of different ways with lots of options to choose from each week.

From May 7 to 21 kids in our elementary classes will come together in the blue bungalow to make wonderful art together with the help of UUCCSM’s Wednesday night Covenant Group I and Judy Schonebaum, our children’s choir director. Kids will be invited to work with clay, create a canvas banner, make a wonderful collage, explore painting, or make a joyful noise together through song and rhythm. Choose one and stick with it for the month, or sample them all; the month promises to be fun for everyone!

Then, on May 28th, we’ll all work together on a very special surprise project to be unveiled at our RE Sunday service in June. What will it be? The only way to find out is to come on the 28th and take part!

A schedule for the month will be included in the Order of Service each week during the month, and will be mailed to all families with children in RE. We’re also looking for a few more people to sign up to assist for one Sunday each during the month. For more information or to volunteer, please contact me at Catherinedre@yahoo.com.

— Catherine Farmer,
Director of Religious Education

YRUU Service in April

On April 2, the members of the church high school group provided their annual service.

Course Will Help People 21 to 35 Express What they Believe as UUs

What do you do once you say you’re a UU? Talking about a non-creedal liberal religion can be difficult, but it’s worth the effort.

A four-week class will help you deepen your understanding of our faith and sharpen your ability to describe it to others. The focus of this curriculum is on practicing how and what to say in various settings when you might be called upon to declare yourself religiously or illuminate some angle on this liberal religious movement that has touched and changed so many lives for the better. Such moments are precious opportunities to shed light on your path and perhaps grow a happy awareness in someone else about the rich “living tradition” we share.

Too often in response to the question, “What do UUs believe?” we reply with the negative: “We don’t believe this. We don’t believe that.” There is much we do affirm and we need to be clear in espousing those affirmations. Many of us struggle to adequately describe our religion to others.

This course provides inspiration and resources, plus the opportunity for meaningful connection to fellow young adult UUs. We will meet for four Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m., from May 7 to June 4. (We will not meet on May 28.) Catherine Farmer will be facilitating. Please call her at the church office to sign up. Don’t delay — the group is limited to the first 12 who sign up.

RE Star for May: Robert Simon

This month, we honor Robert Simon as our RE star. If you have attended the winter pageant in the last several years, you have witnessed the procession of the three tiny wise men on their well-appointed camels. Now an annual attraction, the very first group of camels included Robert, in full camel regalia, gently carrying a young child “wise man” — not yet his own — on his shoulders. At that same pageant, he also read Langston Hughes’ poem about the black Wise Man.

Several years ago Robert was approached about volunteering as an OWL teacher. (OWL is the Our Whole Lives sexuality education curriculum.) He said “yes” right away and traveled to Portland, OR, for the training. Since then, Robert has taught OWL to at least eight different groups of children at all levels — kindergarten/1st grade, 5th/6th grade, and 8th/9th grade. In 2003 Robert also served as an advisor in our 8th grade Coming of Age class, helping them to craft their credos and discover their identity as UUs.

In all that he does, Robert has been an incredibly warm and nurturing presence in our children’s lives. His kind and gentle ways, his generous spirit, and his love of children have endeared him to all who know him. Congratulations, Robert.

April, 2006

From Our Director of Religious Education

What is the core message of our faith? I know that it’s a big question to ask, and one that we’re not always particularly good at answering. We UUs often seem to have a much easier time articulating what we don’t believe than what we do believe. We don’t hand you your beliefs when you walk in the door. We don’t expect you just to take our word for it. But there’s more to us than that.

I’ve been involved with a fair number of UU churches over the years, and it seems to me that those with the most successful programs are ones that have a clear sense of why they do what they do. And I’ve been impressed with the clarity of our congregation’s vision for Religious Education (RE), but I think that it’s time once again for us to say it out loud to one another.

So I ask you: if the members of our church took away just one message from their time at UUCCSM, what would you want it to be? What one thing, for you, is the most important element of our faith?

In preparing for last month’s Children’s RE Visioning meeting, I created an illustration of what this might be for each grade level of our programming, if each child could learn just one thing from her or his experience in RE (or two or three things, because I just couldn’t help it):

• Preschool — I am loved; church is a family.
• K to 2 — Church is a place where we ask questions about the world and about life, and work together to come up with answers; church is a family.
• 3 to 5 — Being UU matters; I can make the world better.
• 6 to 7 — All varieties of religious expression have value; I can search for what resonates with me.
• 8 — I am of age to claim my identity as a UU; I can think about and articulate what I believe right now (even though it will continue to develop as I learn and grow throughout life), and our church community will celebrate it with me.
• 9 to 12 — Being UU means being in authentic community; the way we live in the world and the way we treat one another matters. I have a lot to give to our faith and to the world.

If every child and youth (and adult, for that matter) in our church walked away on Sunday having learned just these things, then I’d consider our program wildly successful. I think we’re doing a great job at this already; here’s to continuing to do it ever better in the time to come.

— Catherine Farmer, Director of Religious Education

RE Star: Amelia Harati

This month’s RE star has the distinction of being our youngest honoree at the same time as being the longest-serving one (practically her entire life). Just 16 years old and in 11th grade at LACES (Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies), Amelia Harati has participated in RE from pre-school through YRUU, from being a friendly beast to completing Coming of Age and becoming a full-fledged member of the church.

Amelia’s service to RE began early when she would assist her mom, Karen Patch, during Karen’s tenure as RE chair. More recently, she has led a summer class on the Renaissance, is a facilitator at both YRUU services, and has served almost two years on the RE Council.

Amelia is willing to spend hours discussing policy, events and our shared vision for RE, a vision that is immeasurably enriched through her valuable point of view. As a council member, Amelia led part of the teacher orientation, providing unique insight into the needs and desires of our youth. She is also a stellar representative of our congregation beyond our church. She is a huge de Benneville fan and has attended numerous camps and been a counselor in training.

A self-confessed “UU geek,” Amelia has served as dean of a district conference for YRUU, attended General Assembly twice, and is on staff for YRUU at the next two GA meetings. In events large and small, Amelia can be counted upon for her helping hand, her open mind, and her loving heart. For her intense passion, joyful enthusiasm, and deep commitment, we honor Amelia as this month’s RE star. Way to go, Amelia!

Help Our Children Enjoy Art

The RE program for May plans to focus on artistic expression and creativity. If you create art or have an appreciation for art, we welcome your help and inspiration in the RE classes during May. Volunteer for one service or all of them, whatever your fancy.

Please contact Paulette Katz for further information.

Our Church's Youth Programs are Going Full Speed Ahead

Many of you saw our teens selling food after services earlier this year. They sold sandwiches and bagels in December and January, then in February had Valentine’s Day bake sale with beautiful jewelry by Jacki Paddock. (Thanks, Jacki, for your generous donation.) You may have wondered what was up.

The answer is, plenty. We have a wonderful, active program for our teens that is growing each year. On Sunday mornings our 8th graders meet for Coming of Age, where they prepare for their important May service (a Sunday not to miss). During both services, we also have YRUU (Young Religious UU) for teens in 9th through 12th grades in which they are involved with a variety of youth-led activities. These programs are supported by the Youth Activities Committee (YAC), which plans monthly fun events for the teens to get together and create community. The money raised by the food sales has helped us with these events.

We kicked off the year with a potluck, which was followed by a series of home parties on Friday nights. We also had rock climbing in January plus our big road trip to Las Vegas in February. Thirteen teens and three adults drove to Las Vegas and stayed at the UU church there. Their small YRUU program was thrilled to have us with them, and we had a blast hanging out with them and seeing the town.

Upcoming events include more home parties, the Secret Pals party in March and maybe a teen cabin at de Benneville in June. These activities are possible thanks to the support of parents and other adult members who know how important it is to have a safe community for our teens. Thank you from all of our teens.

—Karen Patch

March, 2006

From the Desk of the DRE

What is the children’s RE program all about, anyway? We’re now two thirds of the way through our church year; it’s time for us to start planning for the next one, and the RE Council and I have some big questions for you. How is what we’re doing working for your family? What would you like us to offer in the future? What brought you and your children to our church, and what keeps you here?

Over the past couple of years we’ve been adjusting our programs and trying new things. I’m proud of the program we’re offering. We’re asking the “big questions,” not because we think things aren’t going well. They are. But it’s important that we stay in touch with the whole congregation’s desires and dreams for our programs, and so we’re coming to you to start the conversation.

I have a particular bias as a religious professional, and it is this: all parts of our church community are at their most successful when interrelated, and the children’s RE program is not separate from the whole life of the church. RE isn’t just something we do to occupy the kids’ time so the adults can have church. I know you all know that, but I also worry that it is easy to become so caught up in the inner workings of the program that we isolate ourselves, and that our connections to the whole church become less obvious. So I’m continually looking for ways to break us out of our RE shell and invite the whole church in.

To this end the RE Council and I invite you to join us on Sunday, March 19, at 10 and 12 after each service for a visioning meeting for the children’s RE at UUCCSM. This is a counterpart to the adult programs visioning meeting held on February 21. Whether or not you’re a parent or volunteer in the RE program, we need to hear from you. What are the most important elements of our educational ministry to the youngest members of our community?

What does RE mean to us?

• RE is where we create a community for our children to explore our seven UU principles.
• RE is a supportive, loving setting where children’s authentic selves are nurtured and celebrated.
• RE is a community where our children can be safe and have fun.
• RE is_______________________.

What does RE mean to you?

Share your vision on Sunday, March 19, and help us turn the meaning into action.

— Catherine Farmer

RE Star of the Month: Bob Dietz

This month’s RE star of the month is Bob Dietz. As an RE volunteer, Bob has long been an advisor in our 11 a.m. YRUU program, where his calm and caring nature have made him a hit with our senior high youth.

In addition to the many hours he has logged in the RE program, Bob contributes to the church community in other ways. Starting several years ago as Dean Voegtlen’s able assistant, Bob carries on our tradition as head pancake flipper for the popular Dining for Dollars pancake breakfast. In his effort to remember and honor Dean (the original pancake chef), Bob calls the event “Dean and Bob’s Pancake Breakfast.” One of his innovations a few years back was to bring in an electric skillet so that kids could make their own pancakes (a rousing success).

In addition, Bob has taken on another of Dean’s signature activities by leading the dam building at our annual de Benneville Pines church weekend. Bob, like many of us, understood and appreciated Dean’s incredible gifts to the church community and especially his love of children. For all the ways that Bob quietly supports our youth and keeps traditions alive, we honor him this month. We are sure Dean would approve.

Coming-of-Agers Meet Their Mentors

This school year’s eighth-graders are getting ready to present themselves to the congregation at their springtime Coming of Age ceremony, and attended a “Meet the Mentors” brunch on Sunday, January 22.

February, 2006

February RE Star - Michele Prichard

Social justice has long been one of Michele Prichard’s passions. Remember how hard she worked on the campaign to achieve a living wage and to improve the working conditions for hotel workers? Michele has shared this deep social commitment and conscience with the RE program in a variety of ways.

Several years ago, Michele became the first social justice chair in the new Way Cool format, planning and leading monthly RE classes on social justice issues. This past fall, Michele gathered materials that taught the kids about UNICEF and why we hold a carnival each Halloween to raise money for it. This January, our social justice month, Michele designed and led sessions at both services on helping the homeless.

How many of us joined the church so that our kids could be part of a socially conscious and involved community? Well, thanks to Michele Prichard, our kids are learning what it means to help your neighbor who may be less fortunate than you. In addition to being warm, funny and sweet, Michele is an incredible listener — take a moment to see how the kids respond to her.

For all the loving kindness she exhibits, for the resources she provides and for the faith she truly puts “in action,” we honor her this month. Way to go, Michele!

January Social Justice Event

In January the religious exploration children participated in the social justice program launched this month. All the elementary classes met together to participate in a project related to homelessness. On January 15 they made lunch to sell after the services to raise money for a microwave oven to be donated to Turning Point Shelter, a transitional home for formerly homeless people, a program of the Ocean Park Community Center.

January, 2006

From the Desk of the DRE

Recently I’ve been following a very interesting discussion on a UURE e-mail list about how and why social justice is done in churches. The focus of the discussion has primarily been on the structure of social justice programs, something that we already do very well at UUCCSM. I have been continually impressed with the work of the Faith in Action Commission. I do think, though, that the discussion is relevant to how we articulate the reasons for doing social justice work to the children and youth in our religious exploration programs. One danger, according to some, is that we don’t always know why we’re doing what we do, and that sometimes churches can fall into “charity mode,” doing social action for the purpose of looking good in the community or so that we can feel good about ourselves.

So why do we do social justice in RE? To instill a sense in our children that what we do matters, that as Unitarian Universalists it’s important not only to do the thinking — deciding for ourselves what we believe and being respectful of the beliefs of others — but also the doing — taking action to put our beliefs into practice. No one else is going to save the world for us; it’s up to us to do it ourselves. In RE classes we don’t teach our children that there’s a better, happier world waiting for them after this life is over; some UUs believe that and some don’t. What we do teach is that, whatever happens next, what is most important is what we do with the world we’re living in right now. This is one thing that we UUs agree about.

To this end, the RE program is spending the month of January doing our first-ever “Social Justice Intensive” program. From January 8 to 29 kids in our elementary classes will come together to participate in a different project each week, all organized around our central theme for the month, homelessness. Our congregation has a long history of supporting community organizations, such as the Westside Food Bank, that are providing support and resources for those who are homeless or in danger of becoming so. We are excited to be partnering with Ocean Park Community Center, a network of shelters and services for low-income and homeless people in Santa Monica, for this month’s activities.

A schedule for the month will be included in the Order of Service each week, and will be mailed to all families with children in RE. We’re also looking for a few more people to sign up to assist for one Sunday during the month. For more information or to volunteer, please contact me.

— Catherine Farmer, Director of Religious Education

January RE Star: Nels Hansen

This month we honor Nels Hansen as our RE star. You might have seen him serving coffee, but three years ago Nels also began teaching the 4th and 5th graders at the 11 a.m. service. They eagerly welcomed his gentle kindness and good-natured disposition.

Last spring, Nels found out that the 6th and 7th grade group was visiting other religious services in the area as part of their curriculum. Out of personal interest, Nels decided to join these field trips, an experience that inspired him to move to the 9 a.m. service simply to have the opportunity to teach this “Neighboring Faiths” curriculum.

Why does Nels teach RE? For many of our RE teachers, it’s because they have children in the RE program and they want to “do their share” or maybe they want to be one of their own children’s teachers. Other volunteers, like Nels, have no children in RE yet have generously volunteered their time and energy for the benefit of all our kids. For his unselfish commitment to RE, his desire to expand his own knowledge along with the kids, and his amazingly cheerful countenance, we salute Nels Hansen. Way to go, Nels!

Interweave Has Ppicnic for 5th to 7th Grades

A joint picnic and hike for 5th through 7th graders, their families, and Interweave (our church’s group for bisexuals, gays, lesbians, and/or transgenders and friends) will occur Sunday, January 15, at 1 p.m. at Malibu’s Charmlee Wilderness Park. Charmlee Park is located at 2577 S. Encinal Canyon Road, about a 40- minute drive from church, north on PCH, and then about four miles up the canyon road. Park information is available at (310) 457-7247. This will be a bring-your-own picnic lunch. Tables are available near the parking lot, and after lunch we’ll walk to the ocean overlook, which provides an A-1 view. For those not up to the hike, it’s very pleasant just sitting at the picnic area and enjoying the view and the quiet. Also, there’s a nature center, which should be open. There is a $3 fee to park, and you need exactly $3 (unless you want to donate more) because you have to fill out a ticket envelope and put the money in an iron ranger. Please contact Kris Langabeer or Debbie Menzies with questions.

Cast of the 2005 Friendly Beasts Pageant

December, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

Hurry, hurry, hurry! The holidays are almost upon us, it’s almost the end of the year, and there’s so much to get done, there’s no time to sit around doing nothing.

Don’t we all feel this way sometimes? Our pageant this year, in fact, features someone like that, someone who was so busy with little things that she missed out on something big. I’m certainly guilty of “busy-think” myself, especially this year for some reason. And it’s an exhausting way to live.

So I’m taking some time this month to take a few deep breaths, literally and figuratively, and remember how to slow down, how to appreciate the time that I have. (And our friend Befana will make some discoveries of her own in our holiday pageant in a few weeks.) A lovely poem by Gunilla Norris that I encountered recently speaks of each moment as a threshold moment, in an unending series of moments. Norris writes, “Help me appreciate how awesome this is/ How many are the chances to be really alive/ . . . to be aware of the enormous dimension we live within.” Yes! We are engaged, in every moment, in the act of becoming—what will we choose to be? How will this moment help us become who we will be tomorrow? May we not be so focused on what is coming that we forget that the only opportunity for action comes in the present, moment by moment, as it arrives.

May we all find much time for joy (and rest) in this holiday season.

— Catherine Farmer

Friendly Beasts Information is Updated

The Friendly Beasts, preschoolers through fifth graders, will continue their rehearsals of “The Friendly Beasts Song” for the holiday pageant, which will occur December 18 at both services. The rehearsal schedule:

Dec. 4: K–5—beginning of RE Worship Sunday; preschoolers after worship rehearsal

Dec. 11: Group rehearsal in mural room for all at beginning of RE

Dec. 17: Saturday dress rehearsal in sanctuary (9:30 a.m. to around 10:15 a.m.)

Dec. 18: Pageant! (both services; please arrive at 8:15 a.m.)

We realize that pageant day is a long one for the children, so please contact me (klangabeer@mednet.ucla.edu) if you can help by:

• Supervising the children and providing crafts and games (especially between services and during the second service, when they’ll be in the mural room until they sing),
• Bringing food for between the services (small sandwiches, bagels, cream cheese, muffins, crackers, cheese, cut vegetables and fruit, juice, etc.), or
• Compiling paper activities (we have packets from previous years that you could build upon) and bagged crayon sets for during the first service.

Ideally, we would like all children to sing at both services on pageant Sunday, but if your child can sing at only one service, please let me know. Here’s to another great pageant.

— Kris Langabeer

Our RE Star for December: Mel Horan

The RE program has benefited enormously from the talents of Mel Horan, this month’s RE star. If you’ve ever attended the UNICEF carnival, you have seen some of Mel’s artistic handiwork—Mel created the many booths we use during our Halloween fundraiser. Several years ago, following careful research, Mel also spearheaded the effort to acquire the wonderful play structure in our side yard (and trust us, it was a MAJOR improvement for our little ones).

As a classroom teacher, Mel has led the 11 a.m. kindergarten/first grade class assisted by his son, Tycho. In addition, Mel put enormous time and energy into the Coming of Age program as an advisor this past year. In many fun, silly, and warmhearted ways, Mel has always shown a deep love and respect for children. Of all his many gifts, perhaps the best is this ability to truly understand life from the point of view of a young person.

For this and for all he has given to RE, we honor Mel this month (and he makes a mean pizza, too!)

November, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

Years ago, a friend gave me a scrap of paper bearing a fortune he told me he’d found in a restaurant fortune cookie. It said: “Optimism: a cheerful frame of mind that enables a tea kettle to sing though in hot water up to its nose.” Though it was more a definition than a fortune, I kept it, and have recently found myself returning to the same sentiment, though in slightly different form: “A great part of the art of living lies in learning how to scramble gracefully.”

Who can say but that the greatest educational moments arrive unexpectedly? I’ve learned this over and over again working in religious education. An activity in a Sunday RE lesson isn’t working quite the way we wanted? Great – let’s find something better, in 10 seconds or less. Got a whole lesson planned and ready, and a kid comes in with something really important on her mind that she needs to share with the group? Fine – let’s put the lesson on hold for now and build a new one around the more immediate topic at hand. This is certainly not to say that it’s OK to dispense with planning – you might end up in hot water far past your nose if you did that – but it does mean that it’s a good idea to be able to think on your feet when the need arises.

One of the great things about Unitarian Universalism is that it’s all right not to have all the answers. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s better than having all the answers. If a child asks you a theological question that catches you unprepared, it’s fine to say that you don’t know but have some ideas to share, and it’s always great to ask the child what he or she thinks. You’ll probably be amazed by what you hear. And that’s what religious education is all about – engaging children and youth (and adults too) in finding out for themselves who they are and why they’re here, or in other words, finding their own faith and then living it. Isn’t that why we’re all here? Remember, religious education spans a lifetime. I hope I never feel that I’ve figured it all out – retaining a childlike sense of wonder at all the new things the world has to offer is something I take very seriously. My list of things to learn grows and grows, and that’s just the way I want it.

My second favorite fortune cookie reads: “You will be greatly admired by your pears.” Who needs fame and fortune when you’ve got the produce vote? I pull that one out again when I feel I’m beginning to take myself too seriously; as another friend used to say, “Fruit is always funny!”

— Catherine Farmer

"Friendly Beasts" Rehearsal Schedule

Once again, our preschool through elementary-aged children will sing “The Friendly Beasts” song at our holiday pageant on Sunday, December 18, at both services.

As in years past, all involved children will sing the first and last verses of the song. Small groups of children will sing the middle five verses, dressed in a costume appropriate to the animal speaking in that verse (brown donkey, red and white cow, dog, dove, and mouse).

We have a few costumes from previous pageants, but parents are encouraged to create their child’s costume (don’t panic—we have easy suggestions). Older kids who don’t want to dress as an animal but do want to sing are welcome to be shepherds.

The children pick which animal they want to be, but generally, the preschoolers sing the mice verse.

Religious Exploration teachers, please note: I will lead Sunday rehearsals (about 10 minutes long) that will occur in the RE classrooms during both services. Below is the rehearsal schedule:

Nov. 13 - Preschooler at RE beginning
Nov. 20 - Preschoolers at RE beginning K-5 10 minutes each classroom
Nov. 28 - Preschoolers 10 minutes during class K-5 10 minutes during class
Dec. 4 - K-5 beginning of RE Worship Sunday Preschoolers after Worship rehearsal
Dec. 11 - Group rehearsal in mural room for all at RE beginning
Dec. 17 - Morning dress rehearsal in sanctuary from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Dec. 18 - Pageant! (both services)

Call or e-mail me with questions. I look forward to working with your friendly beasts once again this year.

— Kris Langabeer

Our RE Star for November: Karen Canady

Mom’s lasagna? Delectable desserts? Karen Canady has hosted some of the yummiest Dining for Dollars events ever. However, this month we honor her for her many contributions to RE. As a dedicated parent to Adam and Noah, Karen volunteered early on to become an RE classroom teacher and for a number of years has teamed up with Beverly Alison in the second and third grade 9 a.m. class. This past winter and spring she also generously spent her Sunday afternoons teaching junior high OWL, the 14- week UU sexuality education course for 13 and 14 year olds, arguably one of the most valuable educational endeavors of the RE program. For her quiet and confident manner, her dedication to our kids, and her volunteer spirit, we have chosen Karen Canady as this month’s RE star.

October, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

In the RE teacher orientation on September 10, we spent some time talking about what it means to create a radically welcoming classroom: a classroom where every teacher, every child, every person in the room feels deeply committed to creating a welcoming, supportive place for all who enter. A subset of the conversation centered around ways we create an intentionally welcoming environment for children with special needs, which is important in its own right. But the larger question is the one that most tickles my fancy. I sense that if we did this well, the other would fall into place as a matter of course. So how do we create a classroom (a program, a church, a world …) in which everyone, regardless of their particular needs, their learning styles, their quirks, their likes and dislikes, is celebrated as a uniquely valuable member of the group? What are the ways we welcome people when they first arrive that invite them to become members of the group, and what do we do to foster the commitment of every individual to sustain that welcome throughout the year?

We Unitarian Universalists, particularly on the Unitarian side of our heritage, have placed particular emphasis on reason and individual freedom of belief and practice, sometimes at the expense of recognizing our individual role in the creation of caring community. But it seems to me that the community is what is most central. We could be exercising our individual freedom of belief and practice at home, but what makes us Unitarian Universalists is that we’ve recognized the value in being part of a community of people who hold these values in common. And I sense that the pendulum is beginning to swing in that direction, that more and more UUs in our church and beyond are beginning to recognize the value of creating a radical welcome in all areas of church life.

It calls for a culture shift, certainly. I look forward, for example, to the day when no visitor (or longtime member, for that matter) stands alone at coffee hour, waiting for someone to say “Hi.” It means inspiring every member of the congregation to feel viscerally that he or she has a personal stake in creating a community that welcomes everyone. It means fostering a deep awareness on the part of every member of where the circle has been drawn, and how to invite those left out of the circle to join in. I consider this our calling, as Unitarian Universalists in a world that tells people, in so many ways, that they aren’t good enough to be part of the group. Join us in creating the beloved community.

— Catherine Farmer

Our RE Star for October: Pam Teplitz

This month we honor a truly tireless volunteer, Pam Teplitz. Pam and her family have been members since 1990 and she has helped in countless ways during that time. She taught in RE for many, many years while both her sons, Daniel and Jordan, were growing up. She continues to help by arranging the monthly trips for 6th to 7th grade classes to other houses of worship as part of Our Neighboring Faiths curriculum. As a graphic designer, she has given that professional look to the monthly flyers for the youth events for years. She is always ready with something for a potluck dinner, ideas for a better program, pouring coffee, or being part of the newsletter team. She is quietly, behind the scenes, helping out. For this, we give our heartfelt thanks and make her RE Star of the month.

— Karen Patch

Third Annual Graham Jarvis Talent Show Features RE Students

Our Third Annual Graham Jarvis Talent Show on August 28 featured guitarist Tom Troccoli and and young people from our RE classes who showcased their talents in dancing, gymnastics, singing, magic, and piano...and raised $37 for the capital campaign fund. The talent show is named in honor of Graham Jarvis, longtime church member and actor (in among other shows, “Mary Hartman”) who taught RE preschool classes for many years and mentored many children and young people. He died three years ago. Graham was the first church school teacher of Ian Postel, who took these photos. Graham and Ian stayed friends for years, and Ian helps behind the scenes at the talent shows.

— Photos by Ian Postel

September, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

Welcome to the 2005-2006 church year. I can hardly believe it's September already. Time for the new year—more so at this time of year than in January, for many of us. And what a year it will be for us at UUCCSM. As Judith heads off for her sabbatical, we'll welcome Jim Grant as our weekend minister for the rest of 2005, and all signs point to beginning our building program well before the next church year rolls around. This year brings much that is new, and with it comes the chance for us to discover together new and exciting ways of being together, of doing church.

I'm also very excited about what this new year brings for our educational ministry to children and youth. As part of our continuing UU Principles focus in our children's programs, our elementary classes this fall will be exploring our Fourth Principle, "Free and responsible search for truth and meaning," in classes and on Worship Sundays together. Then in January we’ll kick off our brand new "winter intensive" program, Social Justice Month. In February, we'll return to our classroom and worship rotation, this time exploring our Fifth Principle, "The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process." And then in May, we'll head into our "spring intensive," Arts Month. This is the first year we're trying out this format, with a whole month each dedicated to Social Justice and the Arts. And I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Our church's high school program is expanding also, as we continue our very successful 11 a.m. YRUU youth group, and our monthly Youth Activities Committeesponsored social events, and add a new current-and-religious-issues-based program at 9 a.m. on Sundays.

Meanwhile, our preschoolers will be learning to honor themselves, their religious community, nature and cultures from around the world through the "We Are Many, We Are One" curriculum. In our continuing "Neighboring Faiths" class for sixth and seventh graders, we'll learn about, and then visit, a different religion's place of worship each month. This year's eighth graders will be encouraged to explore and articulate their personal beliefs within the context of our Unitarian Universalist faith in our Coming of Age program.

The first day of RE classes for 2005-06 will fall on Ingathering Sunday, September 11. We’ll begin RE registration on September 4; please make sure to register ALL children, youth, and babies in the nursery through high-schoolers, for this year's program.

Happy New Year!

— Catherine Farmer

Our RE Star: Joanie Wilk

This month we honor our resident master storyteller, Joanie Wilk. For a number of years, Joanie has provided solid support in our RE classes as well as during Worship and Social Justice Sundays. In fact, Joanie has quite possibly logged more hours in RE than almost any other volunteer. She assists in the activities and is a wonderful warm presence for our children. In addition to her storytelling skills, she has led yoga classes and provided childcare during church events. For the past few years at Camp de Benneville Pines, Joanie has organized the children (even the youngest) into an impressive act during the annual talent show at our June church weekend. For her ready smile, her warmth, her volunteer spirit and her willingness to jump in and be goofy with the kids, we honor her this month.

August, 2005

RE Shining Star: Stanley Johnson

Stanley Johnston, this month’s RE star, has taught a variety of ages in the RE program at 9 a.m., including an innovative seventh grade class which captured the kids’ interest by exploring spiritual messages from a popular TV show, "The Simpsons." Stanley is also a longtime member of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education team and was one of the teachers in our first OWL class for eighth and ninth graders. The kids continued to meet for many months after the curriculum was finished, simply because they felt the group experience was so valuable. Stanley is one of those people who genuinely loves our kids and seems to find and nurture their best selves. For the gentle, kind, and warm man he is, we honor him this month.

July, 2005

RE Shining Star: Liza Cranis

From the youngest of our children in the Superfriends class (3 to 5 year olds) to the oldest in YRUU (senior high school), kids of all ages know that Liza Cranis has been an incredibly dedicated RE teacher. One of Liza’s greatest strengths is the way she identifies so closely with the age group she’s working with. Her offbeat humor (remember the wonderful Halloween cow costume with an udder?) and her warm and nurturing acceptance make her a hit with all ages. Whether decorating the classroom in a bright and cheerful way, writing a monthly newsletter to each child in the class, or listening really carefully to what you have to say, Liza has a knack for making each young person feel special. For the many ways Liza makes all of us in RE feel special, we honor her this month as our R E Shining Star.

RE Sunday

Religious Exploration Sunday was on June 5. Each grade level participated, giving the congregation an insight to its program. The morning concluded with a ceremony and thanks for the volunteers.

June, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

Summer is so close—I can almost feel the warm summer breezes, the hot summer sun beating down on me. But wait: There is still so much to think about before summer really arrives. The RE Council and I have been busy planning our program for next fall. And we have a question for all of you: Have you had a chance to explore the UU principles lately?

It just so happens that kids in RE will be exploring the fourth and fifth UU Principles next year—the “Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning” and “The Right of Conscience and the Use of the Democratic Process.” We also will offer, for the second year, the “Neighboring Faiths” comparative religions curriculum for 6th and 7th grades, “Coming of Age” for 8th grade, and our senior high YRUU youth group at 11 a.m., as well as a new addition to our youth program, a contemporary issues-based class offered at 9 a.m.

There is no better way to learn and live your UU principles than by learning with and teaching our youth and children. Presenting stories to them and listening to their efforts to interpret and understand can be a wonderful way to explore these issues and concepts for yourself. Without teachers, interesting curriculum is of no value. Over the next few weeks, we will be searching for more “RE Shining Stars” to help us create a vibrant RE program next year with our children and youth.

Think about how sad a place UUCCSM would be without our enthusiastic kids. Consider the wonderful energy there is in an intergenerational community (a model that is increasingly rare). Feel the warm arms of a child wrapped around you in a hug.

And we need you. To fully staff our fabulous programs, we’re looking for more than 50 members of our congregation to volunteer to teach for one to two Sundays per month, for the months of September to December and February to April. Teachers will have a break in January and May when we offer our new month-long “intensive” programs; namely, Social Justice in January and the Arts in May.

Think about it. Think about teaching RE. Then visit the RE table in Forbes Hall during coffee hour on Sundays this month to hear about our program in more detail and let us know how you’d like to be involved. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

— Catherine Farmer

RE Star for June: Celia Goetz

What makes a good RE teacher? Age and experience, you say? Five years ago, Celia Goetz was an eighth grader. That year, she and her brother, Noel, both volunteered to assist in the 11 a.m. kindergarten/ first grade class. Faithfully bringing juice and snacks and helping out with class activities, Celia and Noel became role models of youth participation in our church.

The following year, Celia and Noel became fullfledged members of the RE team, planning and leading their own lessons. As Noel grew busier in high school, Celia teamed up with her mother, Gretchen, and moved to the pre-school class. Celia’s smile, warmth, and nurturing ways have provided a welcoming first experience for the three-and-four-year-old RE children. Sad to say, Celia is graduating soon from Santa Monica High School and is heading off to UC Berkeley. We wish her well but will miss her quiet and stable presence in RE.

Congratulations and good luck, Celia!

May, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

We’ve just finished our program planning for next year in RE, and it looks great! I’m just so tickled with what we’ve planned that I decided I can’t wait to tell you about it.

Similar to our format last year, our focus will be on two of our Principles during the year, and will include lessons from published UU curricula, as well as from a rich variety of outside sources. For the first half of the year, we’ll explore the fourth Principle, “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” and then we’ll shift to the fifth Principle, “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process.”

We will maintain the first Sunday of the month as Worship Sunday. We hope to integrate the children’s choir into Worship Sundays as song and celebration leaders, and each classroom will be in charge of one Worship Sunday during the year, starting with the oldest kids first (after, of course, the kickoff Worship Sunday which the adults organize and lead), with our fabulous children’s choir director available to provide support and resources.

During the remaining three Sundays per month, our Classroom Sundays will provide additional time for smaller age-specific classes to be together. Lessons will focus on Principles, and each will now include specific ideas for how to integrate the arts and social justice projects as well as tactile and active learning into the day’s plan.

Then comes the most exciting new part of our program — intensives. In January, instead of continuing our worship to classroom rotation, we will have a month-long Social Justice focus; members of the congregation with passion for and experience in various aspects of social justice work will be invited to create single or multi-week action projects for our program. Each week during the month, kids will have four or five projects to choose from, allowing us to really get indepth as we engage the kids in “putting hands and feet” on our UU Principles.

From February to April, we’ll go back to our worship– classroom rotation, for the second half of our program. But in May we’ll have our second intensive — Arts month. It’s the same concept as in January, only this time we recruit members to offer various arts projects to the kids: music, dance, painting, acting, videography, crafts, movement — you name it. The kids will choose which they want to take part in each week, and we’ll spend the whole month exploring our spirituality through making art together.

We’ve got a lot planned for the RE program next year, and we’re in the market for volunteers. Join us as we continue to celebrate “being you and being UU” with our children and youth.

— Catherine Farmer

Ross Altman Sings to RE Classes of Moses and Slavery

On April 3, folksinger Ross Altman brought his guitar, banjo, harmonica, and “SongFighter” presence upstairs to our First Sunday Children’s Worship. He gave an exciting explanation of how Moses saved his people from Pharaoh, and the children sang with him the rousing, “O, Mary, Don’t You Weep.” He told how this ancient tale has inspired many people, including Southern slaves who were led by Harriet Tubman and others to cross not the Red Sea but the Ohio River on the Underground Railroad. Ross then shared the mournful, “Let My People Go.” He pointed to images in our UU history mural in Room 4 to help him weave the story of freedom.

— Joyce Holmen

RE Star for May: Beverly Alison

One reason our RE kids love Beverly Alison so much is that they think she’s one of them. She greets and welcomes each new child with a warmth and affection that makes them glow. She’s not afraid to wear bunny ears, and if you’ve ever had the good fortune to visit her house, you might have seen the racks of dress-up clothes in her garage. Beverly is a very special person — her political activism, her community work, her willingness to host and/or cater events and provide lovely decorations — she is like the “Energizer Bunny,” always reaching out to someone in need.

Beverly has taught RE at the 9 a.m. service for over a decade and has been instrumental in all of our winter pageants. She is endlessly creative in her teaching ideas and shares them willingly with other teachers. We have many things to learn from Beverly, but it is her heart that has touched us the most.

April, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

In UU circles, “ritual” sometimes seems as if it has become a bad word. But it doesn’t need to be. I think that we, as Unitarian Universalists, have tended to associate ritual with dogma, and have lost something in the process of letting go of old ways and other faiths.

In my extended family, when we gather for meals, we always pause for a prayer before we eat. And though the theology in the prayer sometimes makes me squirm, I have always appreciated the practice of being mindful, in community, when we eat together. In some UU families, this means holding hands and sharing something that each person is thankful for that day. Or having a short meditation over words that remind us of the many people who made the meal possible. Lately I’m enamored with the idea of lighting a chalice at the table, and saying something like “May the food we eat help us build up strength to change the world.”

In RE classes, we like to bookend our lessons with classroom rituals that help us focus on our UU principles: light a chalice, say our covenant or sing a song, check in with one another and share something good that happened or something that illustrated one of the principles in our lives this week.

At the end of class time, we share a snack together, and a closing such as a “pass the squeeze” circle, or a reminder to take what we’ve learned out into the world with us. But for all that we do in our hour on Sunday mornings, how much stronger is our kids’ RE experience when it mirrors what is happening at home?

Our principle for the rest of this church year is Principle #3: Acceptance and encouragement to spiritual growth. Parents, as the primary religious educators of your kids, what can you do to reinforce this focus in your home life? I invite you (as well as all the rest of us who don’t have children at home) to create some rituals of your own that you enjoy. Sing a song together, create a bedtime meditation, light a chalice and say the principles, start a family spiritual practice, do a project in the community that engages you in acceptance of people’s differences. Practice mindfulness before heading out to school and work in the mornings by saying together, “May I enter this day with clear thoughts, wise words, kind heart.”

My guess is that many of you already incorporate lots of meaningful rituals into your family lives. In that case, I invite you to think about what you do that is distinctly UU: what can you do to help your kids feel connected, on a daily basis, to their identity as Unitarian Universalists?

—Catherine Farmer

What's it Like to Be a Teen at UUCCSM?
An Interview with Emily Hero

How long have you been coming to our church?
I started in seventh grade and I’m in the eleventh grade now at Santa Monica High School. My mom started coming at first; then I joined her, then my younger sister, Madeline, started coming, too. That first year we did Neighboring Faiths, which is really great. You get to learn about different faiths and visit the churches, mosques, and synagogues. I really like learning about different cultures. I also did Coming of Age and we then started the current YRUU group. YRUU hadn’t been around for a long time, but now it is really big.

What do you enjoy about the church?
This is really a community based on trust and working together. I like seeing my friends and feeling that community. YRUU is really fun and exciting. Right now we are getting ready to do a worship service in April. We also have rap sessions and take on different service projects.

Is this really different from school?
Oh, yes, at school we don’t get to do projects together like this. Here we can have fun working on something, see the results, and have people enjoy it. Because YRUU is basically youth-run, I have worked on my leadership skills. I’ve learned you have to delegate and have everyone involved. Otherwise, you’ll go crazy. Plus, the end result is better this way.

Has YRUU changed in the last four years?
We’ve grown a lot from the original three or four teens. Now because we are much larger, there are new pressures. We are doing more, like the book drive for Sojourn House, getting to the food sort at Westside Food Bank, doing a children’s worship service and the haunted house at Halloween. We also did the Graham Jarvis Talent Show last summer, which was a lot of fun, too. Hopefully, we can keep getting better at balancing fun and activities. That is not always easy, and I think that is what we still need to work on.

—Karen Patch

Our RE Star for April

Peggy Kharraz has worn many hats in our congregation — working with Dining for Dollars, signing up folks for the church’s Camp de Benneville Pines weekend, just to mention a couple — but it is her service to Religious Education that has made her this month’s RE star. Peggy has been teaching RE since her own children were in it a number of years ago.

This year she is teaching the 9 a.m. sixth and seventh grade class, Neighboring Faiths, in which they are learning about other faith traditions and visiting many religious services in the local area. Because only two teachers volunteered to teach this group, Peggy and her co-teacher, Amy Giles, teach every single Sunday. In addition, Peggy is currently a Coming of Age mentor to Jordan Paddock.

Despite her many years of teaching RE and three years of mentoring Coming of Agers, Peggy still bubbles over with enthusiasm for the kids and the curriculum. Her warmth, smile, and genuine joy in what she does shines through to all who meet her. For all these reasons, we honor her this month. Congratulations, Peggy.

RE Group Visits a Mosque and Learns Beliefs of Islam

On Sunday March 13, sixth and seventh graders from our Religious Education classes journeyed to downtown L.A., across from USC and Exposition Park, to visit the Masjid Omar mosque, part of their continuing exploration of world religious faith traditions. This was their sixth visit to other religious communities, having already attended Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, Quaker, and AME services.

We were met at the mosque by Daser F. Dakhil, Director, Community Development and External Affairs for the Omar Ibn Al Khatab Foundation, associated with the mosque. After removing our shoes, we were lead into the expansive sanctuary that was mostly devoid of furniture and wall decoration. The women and girls, respectful of the Muslim tradition, wore head scarves when they went into the sanctuary.

The room was filled with natural light from floor-toceiling windows on three sides and from windows that circled the dome.

Mr. Dakhil was joined in the sanctuary by a calligrapher and an Imam who worked at the mosque. These three men came from Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. Mr. Dakhil described the congregation for Friday noon services as a little United Nations.

As the group sat on the blue rug delineated by long yellow lines, Mr. Dakhil described some of the beliefs of Islam, including the belief in one God, that the prophet Mohammed was not divine, that Islam recognized Jesus as a prophet, and that Islam does not believe the idea of original sin as portrayed by Eve or Adam. Men and women, Mr. Dakhil said, all have part of the divine in them. While he was talking another group, including children, sat on the floor in the middle of the sanctuary learning and reciting verses from the Quran.

The Imam demonstrated the call to prayer for the group and then when it came time for the Muslims’ time of prayer, our group moved to a comer and watched as men lined up in front of the Imam with the women and children gathered in the back behind a rope. The Imam, like a cantor, sang out the prayer, and the men, women, and children alternately stood and prostrated themselves before God. The dome, acting as an amplifier, brought the musical voice to everyone in the sanctuary.

Later the group was led up to the roof to see the dome from the outside and to see the surrounding area from 50 feet up. We then went to the basement recreation room and saw pictures of the religious interfaith outreach the mosque performs. While there, each person in the group had his or her name written in Arabic. Before leaving, we were treated to cookies and juice.

—Nels Hanson

March, 2005

March RE Star: Chris Brown

Chris Brown rocks! Have you seen his infamous rock star Halloween costume? Or perhaps been spooked by him in the bloody tub in the Haunted House at the UNICEF carnival? This month’s RE shining star serves as one of the advisors of our highly successful Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) program.

RE parents marvel at the dedication of this non-parent, who does RE out of a love for working with children and youth. Before settling in with YRUU, Chris taught both pre-school and K–1 children at the 11 a.m. service and also worked with the first Way Cool worship team. Of course, Chris does come with an illustrious pedigree — his mother, the Rev. Jean Brown, is minister of religious education at the Universalist Church of West Hartford, CT, the church where he grew up. We feel blessed to have his silliness, his enthusiasm, his warmth and his incredible hard work. Thanks, Chris.

Our DRE Heartily Welcomes New Nursery Caregiver Team

Please join me in welcoming our new nursery team, Lori Davis (left in photo) and Tamara Harati (right). Lori is a preschool teacher with two children of her own, a 16-year-old and a five-year-old. She is warm and welcoming to children and parents alike, and brings a depth of experience to the program that we are lucky to find.

Tamara, who grew up right here at UUCCSM in our RE program, has spent many years as a babysitter and her experience also includes working at Gymboree, so she is no stranger to keeping up with energetic kids. She also brings a deep grounding in Unitarian Universalism as well as in the history and culture of our own congregation that will be a great asset to the nursery program.

Both Lori and Tamara have jumped right in, and already have lots of great ideas for improving the nursery space to make it more kid-friendly, and are quickly getting to know the youngest members of our community. Parents of infants and toddlers, make sure to come by on Sunday morning and check out the new program. Lori and Tamara are here every Sunday, along with our nursery assistants, Tom Ahern and Adrienne Silsbee (who alternate Sundays). Once again, welcome, Lori and Tamara.

— Catherine Farmer

March 20 Party for RE Teachers and Committee

RE teachers and committee members, mark your calendars. You and your family are invited to a party in your honor, hosted by Bronwen Jones and Tom Hamilton at their home in Culver City. So set aside Sunday, March 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. Food and drink will be provided. Invitations with more details are coming soon. For more information or to RSVP, please call Bronwen. Thank you for all that you do for our church and for our kids.

What's It Like to Be a Teen at UUCCSM?
An Interview with Jesse Figueroa

How long have you been coming to the church?
I started in sixth grade and I’m in tenth grade now. So that is about five years. Wow, it feels longer.

What made you start coming?
I came with a friend. It was a lot of fun and I kept coming, even though my friend stopped. I really enjoy the people and how everyone is so accepting. They don’t tell you what to believe and take you the way you are. That means a lot to me.

Did you do Coming of Age when you were in eighth grade?
Yes, and I really loved it. I learned a lot during the process, especially writing my credo. It really gave me a chance to think about what I believed in and that is so important. We don’t get a lot of chances to really think about that.

Are you in our high school group,YRUU?
Yes, which I really enjoy, especially being the group’s social-action leader. That is really important to me and I think the youth need to start making an effort to give back to the community. We are old enough now to do something to help.

Has YRUU changed much in the last few years?
We’ve gotten more mature. Before, we didn’t have much of an agenda. Sometimes we’d pull questions from a jar and answer “If” questions. That was fun, but I like it much better this year; we even have an agenda. We’re getting more business done and are able to get beyond just talking about stuff. I also enjoy the fun monthly activities like bowling, which we do with the Coming of Age teens.

Anything you’re looking forward to in YRUU?
I'm always looking forward to doing more social action projects. I'd like to do something with the Tree People, maybe planting trees at a school. That would be good.

— Karen Patch

Feburary, 2005

From the Desk of the DRE

This month our Way Cool Sunday School program shifts its focus to the Third UU Principle, “Acceptance and encouragement to spiritual growth.” From now until the end of the church year in June, children will explore this principle in their classrooms as well as on Worship, Social Justice, and Arts Sundays. I’ve seen the principle written, in more kid-friendly language, as “Accept one another and keep on learning together,” and “Yearn to learn throughout life.” I admire the effort, but I don’t particularly care for either one; it’s difficult to simplify without losing content. The Third Principle’s not just about learning together but about helping one another grow “spiritually.” But what does that mean?

I came across a lovely story recently that I think answers the question. Betsy Spalding was a student minister, teaching in an RE classroom for the first time, and one Sunday a parent shared a story about his son.

“It so happens,” said Spalding, “that there had been an incident of some magnitude that week, involving some colored marking pens, a wall in their home, and Ben. Ben knew that he would have to face his father when he came home from work. And the father was late coming home that evening, so there was plenty of time for Ben’s anxiety to mount. When the dad got home they went straight upstairs to Ben’s room. Before he could find words to s