Are you on Facebook?

Did you know that our congregation has a Facebook page? You can visit our page here: http://www.facebook.com/firstubaltimore
If you "like" us, we can keep you posted about special events right on your Facebook wall. Join the conversation!

RE Begins Sept. 19; Youth Group Profile

An exciting new year of Religious Education for Children and Youth will begin soon. Over the next several weeks, our RE-Connect blog will be profiling each of the groups and classes for children and youth.


Youth Group — Youth in grades 7 and up are welcome to join this group, which meets in our Youth room, upstairs, during worship services each Sunday. Programming for youth is guided by the youth themselves, in partnership with talented and dedicated youth advisors, Andre Mendes, Alice Lium and Bess Lewis. Activities may include discussion, values-focusing role-playing game, musical instrument making, or other youth-chosen options. All youth are welcome!


Other classes for children and youth include:

Nursery (infants and toddlers)
Sprouts (2-4 year olds)
Maiasaurs (PreKindergarten-Kindergarten)
Explorers (1st-3rd grades)
Questers (4th-6th grades)


We look forward to your children and youth joining us this Fall!

Newest Congregational Study/Action Issue: "Immigration as a moral issue"

The Unitarian Universalist General Assembly of 2010 has approved a new Congregational Study/Action Issue: "Immigration as a Moral Issue." From uua.org:

"Migration of people—driven by economic, social, political and environmental factors—is taking place around the world. Millions are currently in transit, in refugee camps, in detention centers, or living and working in places without full legal status and without access to social services or protection of civil rights.

"The dignity of all the world's peoples is core to Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles and values. Given the justice-oriented nature of UU faith, UUs are called to be leaders in the struggle for immigrant and refugee rights, and to view immigration not only as a legal issue but also moral issue."

For more about this, visit the Study/Action issue page here (link: http://secure2.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/152647.shtml) and stay tuned to this blog for how our congregation will be involved in this important work.

RE for Children And Youth Begins Sept. 19

An exciting new year of Religious Education for Children and Youth will begin soon. Over the next several weeks, our RE-Connect blog will be profiling each of the groups and classes for children and youth.

Sprouts — Our Sprouts class for two through four year olds will be located in our first floor classrooms, in the room nearest the kitchen. This class is led by volunteers, Stephannie Weikert, Caitlin Cross-Barnet and Michael Cross-Barnet as well as our paid child care provider, Kim Wolf. Our little Sprouts play with play-doh, color, sing songs together, make feasts at the play kitchen and generally learn how to be a small community together through play and sharing. Parents and guardians are always welcome to visit class with their children.

Other classes for children and youth include:
Nursery (infants and toddlers)
Maiasaurs (PreKindergarten - Kindergarten)
Explorers (1st- 3rd grades)
Questers (4th- 6th grades)
Youth Group (7th grade and up)

We look forward to your children joining us this Fall!

Summer is Here!

School's out and the thermometer is spiking—the seasons have changed in Baltimore and we've moved into Summer mode at First Unitarian.

Throughout the Summer, childcare will be available during worship services. As there is no "Time for All Ages," during Summer services, adults can bring their children to the first floor classrooms before worship begins. Service will start at 11:00 this Sunday, June 27. Starting July 4*, worship will begin at 10:00 am in the Pratt Parish Hall, which will continue throughout the summer. In September, services will return to 11 am in the sanctuary. 

Childcare, led by Kim Wolf, will feature crafts, snacks and free play. If you are planning to attend services this Summer, please contact Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Becky Brooks, to sign up for one or more Sundays to assist with childcare. You can also sign up in person at church on the schedule posted on the bulletin board outside the classroom. A good rule of thumb would be to sign up to assist one Sunday for every three you would like to attend. 

Religious Education classes for all ages will begin again on September 19.

Have a great summer!

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*Please note that July 4 is the only known Sunday when there will be no childcare in order for our childcare provider, Kim Wolf, to have the weekend off. Families are welcome to take advantage of the classrooms during service, but adults should remain with their children to supervise play.

Religious Education PTA Inaugural meeting, Sun. June 6, 12:30 pm

Did you always want to be involved in children's religious education? Do you have questions about curricula choices or class room set up? Do you want to have input into annual events such as the Halloween Party, Christmas Pageant and Mystery Buddies? If so, we have just the event for you!

The Religious Education Committee for Children and Youth has decided to try a new idea: a PTA for Religious Education. This group is open to all members and friends of First Unitarian Church whether you have kids in the program or not. We welcome parents, teachers, friends, youth, children and interested members or friends of the congregation.

We will have our first meeting on Sunday June 6 at 12:30 pm in the downstairs classrooms.

On the agenda:
• Curricula for next year
• Which kids will be in which classes
• Plans for the Fall when our Director of Lifespan RE is on family leave
• There will be an opportunity to get your questions answered and to volunteer for all aspects of the program.

PIZZA Lunch will be provided for all those who want to attend! Childcare will be provided in the upstairs classrooms with lunch provided for the kids too.

All Church Picnic this Saturday!

I hope you'll join us for our all church picnic this Saturday, June 5 from noon to 4:00 pm at the Swann Pavilion of Druid Hill park. Bring a dish to share, your whole family and any outdoor games you like to play. The Swann Pavilion is a great location, right next to a swing set and a playground, with lots of seating for everyone.

Come on down!