Children's Chapel this Sunday, Jan. 3

This Sunday, Jan. 3, children in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grades will gather for a Children's Chapel in the downstairs classrooms. We will share our recent milestones, sing together, and explore the topic of our futures together through fun activities.

Thinking about our future and what we'd like church and our lives to be like is a companion to the Going Forward Together congregational conversation after worship this week. Childcare and lunch will be available for this meeting after church.

If you are interested in what our children think about their futures and the direction of our church and would like to help with Children's Chapel during RE this Sunday, contact Becky Brooks to volunteer!

Big Question of the Week

All people everywhere wrestle with the big questions in life.  On the heels of our first ever Big Questions Letter Exchange program, each week we'll propose a "Big Question of the Week" for you to think about, comment on, and talk about with your friends and family and kids.  This week's Big Question:

What do you do when you are fearful about something? How do you cope?

Going Forward Together, Jan. 3, 12:45 pm

Join us on Sunday, January 3, 2010, from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. in Pratt Hall for a congregational conversation about where we want to be as a congregation as we move toward our 200th anniversary and what we need to do to get there. An essential part of our conversation will be status reports on our Campaign for Financial Commitment and our Budget for the first six months of this fiscal year. Childcare and Lunch will be available. ASL interpretation will be available upon request.  

Thank You!

Thanks so much to Peggy Stubbs for donating these wonderful dolls to our Maiasaurs class!

If you are moved this Holiday Season to provide a gift the the Children's Religious Education program at First Unitarian, please consider purchasing a book or musical instrument from our Amazon Wish List. Every donation helps improve our library of resources!

If you would like to consider a gift even more meaningful and long-lasting than a book purchase, speak with Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks, about how you might volunteer within the Religious Education program. We have teaching and assistant positions as well as opportunities like child care Sunday mornings and weekday evenings. If you'd like to volunteer but aren't interested in working directly with the kids, there's a job for you too.  Contact Becky to talk about what kind of job might feed your soul.

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Dec 20 CANCELLED

Sunday, Dec. 20 Christmas Pageant Rehearsals are cancelled due to inclement weather.  Contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks if you have any questions.

Have a fun and safe weekend!

Big Question of the Week

All people everywhere wrestle with the big questions in life.  On the heels of our first ever Big Questions Letter Exchange program, each week we'll propose a "Big Question of the Week" for you to think about, comment on, and talk about with your friends and family and kids.  This week's Big Question:

What "feeds" your emotional wellbeing? What helps you feel good about yourself and about the world?

Our Whole Lives Parent Orientation Sessions this Week

First Unitarian Church of Baltimore is proud to offer the Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education class for 7th-9th graders beginning in January.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a curriculum that helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual behavior and health.  It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health and society and culture.  Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional and social aspects of sexuality.

Parent orientation is crucial to a successful OWL program.  We will be hosting two parent orientation sessions: Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 6-8 pm and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 am to noon.  Youth are not expected to attend the Parent Orientation meeting.

The Our Whole Lives class will be meeting at church on Tuesday evenings, from 6:00 to 7:30, beginning Jan. 5.  This year's OWL faciliators will be Laura Laing, Michael Nutt and Rebecca Wald. Class will meet weekly through June 1 and will include two overnights.

Though there is no cost for participation in the Our Whole Lives program (which is funded by the annual financial commitments of members and friends of First Unitarian), donations will be gratefully received. In addition, families will be asked to provide food for the overnights. 

Contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks for more information.

P.S. For more information about the Our Whole Lives program, see the UUA website: http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/ or this article from the Boston Globe.

Big Question of the Week

All people everywhere wrestle with the big questions in life.  On the heels of our first ever Big Questions Letter Exchange program, each week we'll propose a "Big Question of the Week" for you to think about, comment on, and talk about with your friends and family and kids.  This week's Big Question:

If there something you believe in that you feel like you have to defend?