FIRST UNITARIAN FOCUS

May 2012 RE Program News & Notes

May RE Program Calendar

May	PreK - Kindergarten	1^st-2^nd Grades	3^rd-4^th Grades	5^th-6^th Grades	Youth Group — 7^th– 12^th
	Spirit Play Stories	Moral Tales	Toolbox of Faith	Questing Year	Popcorn Theology
6	Children’s Chapel — May Day led by Eric Johnson	Children’s Chapel — May Day led by Eric Johnson	Children’s Chapel — May Day led by Eric Johnson	Children’s Chapel — May Day led by Eric Johnson	Does not meet
13	Flower Service; Multigenerational	Flower Service; Multigenerational	Flower Service; Multigenerational	Flower Service; Multigenerational	Flower Service; Multigenerational
20	Starfish story	Casey-The-Wonder-Dog Day; social service	Casey-The-Wonder-Dog Day; social service	Casey-The-Wonder-Dog Day; social service	Meets in Labyrinth Room
27	Bead story	Working Together	Resiliency	Life Quests	Meets in Labyrinth Room

Summer Program

May 27 is the last day of our spring religious education program. We take some time off in June and early July and then our summer program begins: Keepers of the Earth, led by Steven Mead for 1^st-6^th graders.

Flower Communion — Celebrate and Join Us May 13th

Bring flowers to share! “The Flower communion service was created by Norbert Capek (1870-1942), who founded the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. He introduced this special service to that church on June 4, 1923. For some time he had felt the need for some symbolic ritual that would bind people more closely together. The format had to be one that would not alienate any who had forsaken other religious traditions. . Therefore, he turned to the native beauty of their countryside for elements of a communion which would be genuine to them. This simple service was the result. It was such a success that it was held yearly just before the summer recess of the church. . .The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make. Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet. Our common bouquet would not be the same without the unique addition of each individual flower, and thus it is with our church community, it would not be the same without each and every one of us. Thus this service is a statement of our community.” — Reginald Zottoli; http://www.uua.org/documents/zottolireginald/flowercommunion.pdf.

Casey-The-Wonder-Dog-Day — May Social Service Activity

Back by popular demand, on May 20 we will be baking dog biscuits and collecting blankets/towels/rugs and pet toys for Hope Animal Rescue in Alton in remembrance of Casey-The-Wonder-Dog. Hope Animal Rescue http://www.hoperescues.com/ All congregants are encouraged to bring in donations anytime between now and May 20. Find Steven Mead and he will take stuff off your hands (we gathered 2-3 cubic yards last year!). Be prepared for a special guest visitor too!

Volunteer to Participate on First Unitarian’s Teaching Ministry Team

One of the vital components that makes First Unitarian a “Special Place,” the RE Program runs only by the dedication of volunteers who teach our children. We have adopted team teaching consisting of four teachers per class. To join our Team is a year-long commitment — about 12 Sundays for the whole year — but you can discontinue during the year if necessary. You are supported by the DRE, the RE Com, your teammates, teacher forums, and quality curriculum and support materials. The advantages of the team teaching approach as we see it are:

· The adults on the team are able to attend worship services one or two Sundays a month and the children get to know more adults and share mutual interests and ideas with them.

· New people can ease into teaching this way, without bearing the full responsibility for the class.

· The team approach can adapt to those people who say they are willing to help, but do not want to lead, or they want to teach only every other Sunday, or just for a month at a time.

· Working with a team is inspiring and builds friendships.

· Can readily accommodate the need to find substitutes so that teachers can go hiking over the weekend, or visit relatives, or go to church without creating a big problem.

· Can readily accommodate one child or a group of children who are demanding too much of the teacher's time and attention — a teammate will be able to deal with this situation without holding up the entire class.

We are especially challenged this coming church year as we prepare to serve 100 children and youth in our program. To accomplish this, we need eight more teachers than we have this year. We will be adding four teachers to our 9:30 Spirit Play offering, and another four as we add a junior high class to our program. Deepen your relationship to one another, to our community, and your faith experience. To volunteer, please contact Steven Mead, Director of Religious Education (DRE).

Steven Mead, DRE

314.239.5694 (cell)

TWO WORSHIP SERVICES: May 6 through May 20 – 9:30 & 11 am

Interest Groups

The ANNA Ds

(Women’s Alliance Group)