Register your children and youth for Religious Education

Religious Education classes for children and youth are right around the corner, beginning Sept. 27.

Registering for the RE program has never been easier. To fill out the quick and eco-friendly online form, simply click here. You will also find the same link under "Children and Youth RE Links" in the sidebar to the right.

If you prefer to complete a paper form, you will find a downloadable copy by clicking here. Simply complete the form and return it to Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks at church before Sept. 27.

Thank you!

Welcome Home!

Though the stage for our Religious Education Program for Children and Youth looks quiet, behind the scenes, things are humming. We are looking forward to welcoming our new settled minister, Rev. David Carl Olson this Sunday and a month full of exciting new ventures await. For a printable, refrigerator-postable calendar, download a September Events page here.

Here are some highlights for the month:

Sunday, Sept 6,

11:00 am — Worship

Rev. Olson's first Sunday in the pulpit will welcome us back to our usual fall schedule of worship in the sanctuary at 11:00 am. All ages are welcome. Childcare is available in the downstairs classrooms for children who do not wish to remain in worship. Following worship we will enjoy light refreshments as we welcome Rev. Olson to our community.

Sunday, Sept 13,

9:00 am — Family Meeting

Parents and children are invited to learn about our Children's Religious Education program for 2009-10. This will be an opportunity for the whole family to learn about classes, register for the program, take fall photos, make nametags and ask any questions you may have about RE. Childcare will be available for infants and toddlers, but all children are encouraged to attend.

9:30 am — Pancake Breakfast

The Board of Trustees invites the Whole Community to this annual welcome back breakfast in the Parish Hall.

11:00 am — Multi-Generational Worship (Homecoming/Water Communion Service)

To celebrate our annual Water Communion service, bring a bit of water representing your journeys this year, whether inward or outward, metaphorical or physical. Childcare is available, but all children are welcome to attend.

Saturday, Sept 19,

9:00 am — Religious Education Classroom Clean-Up

Work out your enthusiasm for the start of a new church year by coming to help clean up and organize the children's classrooms in time for the start of Religious Education classes next week. There will be tasks of all sorts for ages 8 and up. Clean up has never been this much fun! Bring the whole family!

Sunday, Sept 20,

11:00 am — Multi-Generational Worship (Community Installation of Rev. Olson)

When a new minister arrives, the whole community is asked to make and accept promises as we move into a covenantal relationship with Rev. David. Children, youth and adults will all be asked to participate. Childcare is available, but all children are encouraged to attend. A welcome reception will follow the worship service. There is sure to be cake!

Sunday, Sept 27,

11:00 am — Religious Education Classes Begin!

As has been our practice in recent years, the whole community will gather for worship together in the sanctuary for a Time for All Ages, after which children and youth will be sung to their classes. Our Nursery, Sprouts, Maiasaurs, Explorers and Youth Group will all meet. Parents, please pick up your children from their classrooms at 12:30. Youth will join social hour on their own when their group time ends.

Here's looking forward to another great year! Upcoming events and opportunities include our annual Halloween Party, the introduction of a multi-generational hand chimes choir, a children's Christmas Pageant, an All-Church Talent Show and much, much more! If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to this Blog via email or RSS feed on the sidebar to the right.

See you in church!

Chalice Lighters Sought

Every Sunday in Unitarian Universalist congregations all over the world, we light the chalice to kindle the flame of community. This fall we will be welcoming families with children and youth to light our chalice each Sunday. If your family would like to light the chalice during worship, contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks to schedule a Sunday.

Join the Welcome Team!

by Karla Peterson

Are you looking for a way to strengthen your child's connection to the people at church? Talk to them about whether they would be interested in ushering. My son Owen (8) really enjoyed being an usher this last year. The adult ushers and other members all treated him well and it made him feel important and connected. He especially liked taking the collection.

As it turns out we have openings for both child and adult ushers in the fall schedule. The goal is to have enough people that you only serve once a month. If your child might be shy at first to usher alone, consider volunteering together as a two, three, or four person family.

Please contact Pat Montley for more information or to volunteer.

Kids' Survey now online!

We are always working to make the Religious Education Program for Children better, but we rarely have the chance to hear directly from kids. Though personal conversations are best, I hope families will take the opportunity to spend just a few minutes filling out our online survey.

To take the survey, simply click on this link: Kids' Survey

Younger kids may need some assistance. Please fill out one survey per child (instead of one per family).

Thank you so much for your contribution!

Are you interested in a morning playgroup for your 1-4 year old?

A chance to get out and play with other kids and other toys?

A place to meet up and network with other adults?

Right here in the city (corner of Charles & University)?

With some families from around the world?

And an ESL teacher for recently arriving parents?

With some gentle structure for the transition to school? (play/craft, circle time for singing, snack, play)

Registration is now open for the fall session of the Children of the World Co-Op playgroup. My son Owen attended for more than three years and my son Perry (2) is currently attending three mornings a week with his nanny. We all love the playgroup and the facilitator Karen.

More information and registration forms can be found on the web page: http://www.cotwcoop.org/

—Karla Peterson

Building Social Justice Coalitions Workshop, August 23

The First Unitarian Church of Baltimore is pleased to welcome Rev., Dr. Om Prakash Gilmore to the pulpit on Sunday, August 23. Rev. Gilmore serves as the Director of Racial and Social Justice with the Joseph Priestly District. He will be sharing his sermon "Creating the Beloved Community through Personal and Social Transformation" in the morning at 10:00 am in the Enoch Pratt Parish Hall. Following worship, bag lunches will be available before beginning the workshop:

Removing the Hindrances to Multi-Cultural, Relational Social Justice Coalitions

It is the hope and dream of almost every person who is aware to create a world that is kinder and more beautiful then the one that we are born in or the one that we often read about in history books. To create a better world it is necessary to be able to work in coalitions with people from different races, cultural backgrounds, ethnic groups, and sexual orientations. We find it difficult, sometimes, to work with others without offending or being offended. In this workshop we will explore the inner mechanisms that make it difficult to work with people from other cultures and backgrounds. We will examine the function of the system and how we, as individuals, have the power to override its influences to build inclusive coalitions more efficiently. We will explore the concept of relational, social justice organizing and how study, action, reflection groups can free us from recreating the very systems that we are working to dismantle.

This workshop is free of charge and open to all, no need to register in advance. Childcare is available by request. Contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks.