Dear RE folks --Here’s a couple of chewy thoughts which I hope you’ll find interesting:
First: Today I was “outed” at the Midweek Meal by a senior church member who thought everyone should know I am the parent of Richard Reed Parry, member of the award-winning band, the Arcade Fire, so I thought I’d tell all of you . . .yep, it’s true, exciting, and rather strange. [thanks to all those who sent congrats].
On the one hand, we all naturally take pleasure in the successes of our children, but on the other hand, I really question our celebrity culture. I keep being amazed by people’s “awe” and wondering why we can’t be as enthusiastic about different achievements or even non-capital-A achievements. For instance, I really love our unsung hero/heroine awards here at UCM. I don’t have a lot of answers to my ponderings, though of course I am proud of the boy who was terrified to audition for music at Canterbury, the Ottawa arts high school, so did creative writing instead . . . And I know I did a lot to nurture his creative spirit, as I see many of you doing as loving parents or partners or buddies here, too. So I salute all of you, sitting perhaps with a homework-overwhelmed or coughing and wheezing child, or a friend who is upset and needs your support. Know that your patience, love, and encouragement DO make significant differences in the world, and that we ALL deserve Grammys!
Second: when I was in Ottawa last week, I did something that I thought would be very challenging and not very pleasant –I went to see my MP, who happens to be the Conservative John Baird whom I dislike, about problems with the new draft Copyright law, as seen from the Writers Union perspective. To my surprise, he was receptive and not only asked intelligent questions, but affirmed the effort I had made to go into the Parliament buildings and meet with him. I think he listened to our points, and I felt energized, in the end, NOT drained by doing my “duty” as a citizen. Apparently, these days, visits count for a heck of a lot (as letters sent electronically mean less and less). So I want to lift up the worth of that simple bit of the political process, and if you are thinking about working on some piece of social/political change yourself, I encourage you to GO SEE your MP!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
from RE family letters sent out before Valentines
[In mid-February I sent out a lot of info around our Mystery Friends' program and how those Friends would be revealed on February 13th, at a special potluck lunch for the entire RE community. We also had many craft materials set up for making valentines, which was a very popular activity!]
Knock-knock!
Who’s there?
Olive…
Olive who?
O-live you!
2/2/11 update re February 13th plans for Mystery Friends’ Lunch
Dear RE families and helpers --so it is Groundhog's Day, and blizzarding outside, with the Year of the Rabbit starting the Chinese NY tomorrow, and this is about Valentines plans! Whew!…
Anticipating Valentine's Day, here's an old rhyme: Somebody loves you, deep and true --if I weren't so bashful, I'd tell you who!
Knock-knock!
Who’s there?
Olive…
Olive who?
O-live you!
2/2/11 update re February 13th plans for Mystery Friends’ Lunch
Dear RE families and helpers --so it is Groundhog's Day, and blizzarding outside, with the Year of the Rabbit starting the Chinese NY tomorrow, and this is about Valentines plans! Whew!…
Anticipating Valentine's Day, here's an old rhyme: Somebody loves you, deep and true --if I weren't so bashful, I'd tell you who!
From the January 26th RE families letter :
Were you here for Diane’s sermon about Superheroes? If so, you saw me flash in as “Super DRE!!,” and here’s a photo [apologies for poor quality --we need photographers for RE, if you are interested!] of me later with some of the Jr Youth who had slept over the night before.
Being the DRE, or Director of Religious Education is a role I enjoy within the limits of my 20 paid hours, but the truth is, we’d like more help to do all we manage to do in RE. You only have to make everything right in the world and stand up for all those who are hurting, wronged or oppressed . . .Joking aside, there are small and bigger tasks you could enjoy doing here, and we’d love to see you! And the mentoring, sharing, supportive relationships Diane spoke of are easy to build as we work together.
Being the DRE, or Director of Religious Education is a role I enjoy within the limits of my 20 paid hours, but the truth is, we’d like more help to do all we manage to do in RE. You only have to make everything right in the world and stand up for all those who are hurting, wronged or oppressed . . .Joking aside, there are small and bigger tasks you could enjoy doing here, and we’d love to see you! And the mentoring, sharing, supportive relationships Diane spoke of are easy to build as we work together.
Of interest : The UUA Bookstore and Skinner House Books are pleased to announce the launch of Skinner House eBooks. For a complete list of Skinner House eBooks and purchasing links, visit the UUA Bookstore website at www.uua.org/bookstore
Blessings on your snowy weeks, Caroline
p.s. I made up this haiku while out skiing briefly in a local park last Sunday evening [then got into a tangle of falling down and couldn't get my skis OFF for at least ten minutes!! Dratted release!!]:
Turquoise evening sky,
dark domes of cold church towers;
frozen sunset hour.
From Families letter for Weds 19th Jan 2011
This Sunday the 23rd is our monthly French RE all-ages group, and we’ve been discussing what we do there a lot. The program is open to 5 through 12 year olds, generally speaking. However, Garden room children aged 3, 4 or 5, unless they are fluent French speakers, will probably prefer a special program in the nursery using our big puppet stage this week.
I have just written my DRE “piece” about our unique French program here at UCM for th next nUUwsletter, and I am including the last two paragraphs below, for those interested in advance of February’s issue. Any feedback about the program –or my thoughts-- that people care to send the RE office is welcome.
Recently we have been finding the Jr Youth prefer to have their separate group rather than the all-ages French class, which has caused us to do some significant “soul-searching.” I want to affirm how important RE Committee feels it is to offer at least this much French at UCM [6 out of 38 Sundays in the “RE year”], and to thank all those who participate and who make it possible.
In addition, I want to underscore the precious opportunities these sessions provide for children to hang out with different ages far more than they are able to at school or (for most, with few if any siblings) at home. It interests me that being in a “big/little brother or sister” relationship seems not only unfamiliar to many, but possibly uncomfortable. After all, we are promoting something that is quite counter-cultural for many of our young people who are generally put in ”segregated” age groups at school. And so I also want to lift up and appreciate the wonderful ways this congregation takes interest in and enjoys our Time for All Ages each week, and our occasional multigenerational services. We are modeling a way of relating across the years that may be unfamiliar for some, but is nonetheless very vital to the well-being of our entire community.
I have just written my DRE “piece” about our unique French program here at UCM for th next nUUwsletter, and I am including the last two paragraphs below, for those interested in advance of February’s issue. Any feedback about the program –or my thoughts-- that people care to send the RE office is welcome.
Recently we have been finding the Jr Youth prefer to have their separate group rather than the all-ages French class, which has caused us to do some significant “soul-searching.” I want to affirm how important RE Committee feels it is to offer at least this much French at UCM [6 out of 38 Sundays in the “RE year”], and to thank all those who participate and who make it possible.
In addition, I want to underscore the precious opportunities these sessions provide for children to hang out with different ages far more than they are able to at school or (for most, with few if any siblings) at home. It interests me that being in a “big/little brother or sister” relationship seems not only unfamiliar to many, but possibly uncomfortable. After all, we are promoting something that is quite counter-cultural for many of our young people who are generally put in ”segregated” age groups at school. And so I also want to lift up and appreciate the wonderful ways this congregation takes interest in and enjoys our Time for All Ages each week, and our occasional multigenerational services. We are modeling a way of relating across the years that may be unfamiliar for some, but is nonetheless very vital to the well-being of our entire community.
From the families letter for Jan 9th
Dear RE folks— here’s a round to start us off well in 2011 (do ask me to sing it for you whenever we meet!)
Ring it in, ring in the new year!
Bells are ringing; bells are ringing.
Peace and love throughout the new year—
Joy, Joy, Joy!
Hope you have had good, satisfying holidays, and here’s an RE update:
Maria Gacesa gave birth to a little boy on December 28th, not long after she played a “perfect” Maria in our Posadas procession. Mom, Dad Anthony Lemke, their daughters Maggie and Lara, and young Dane Ahren himself are all doing well –congrats, everyone!
Swap and Chat, Sunday, January 9, 12:15 - 1:30 pm, Senior Youth RoomDo you have outgrown infant and children's clothing? Are you looking for bigger sizes in infant and children's clothing? Do you have baby equipment and perhaps toys that are sitting around? Well, this event is for you. Clothing and equipment can be dropped off in advance and left at the metal clothing rack found on the lower R.E. level at the bottom of the stairwell. Leftover items will be given to a local charity. [At the same time, Krin Haglund and Chris Sweetnam-Holmes (parents of baby Ole) would like to discuss the possibility of starting a babysitting/child care swap with interested parents.] Light refreshments will be provided and child care will be available in the nursery. This event is organized by the Membership Committee and the Religious Education program. For more information, please contact me or Krin Haglund at 514-562-8122.
DON’T FORGET SLPPERS OR INDOOR SHOES TO GO WITH THE WEATHER OUTDOORS. We put the children’s outdoor boots in a blue bin by their room doors so that if there is a fire (or fire drill), the children can go straight outside and the leaders bring the bins, so they can put their boots on out there. Please help us facilitate this.
Ring it in, ring in the new year!
Bells are ringing; bells are ringing.
Peace and love throughout the new year—
Joy, Joy, Joy!
Hope you have had good, satisfying holidays, and here’s an RE update:
Maria Gacesa gave birth to a little boy on December 28th, not long after she played a “perfect” Maria in our Posadas procession. Mom, Dad Anthony Lemke, their daughters Maggie and Lara, and young Dane Ahren himself are all doing well –congrats, everyone!
Swap and Chat, Sunday, January 9, 12:15 - 1:30 pm, Senior Youth RoomDo you have outgrown infant and children's clothing? Are you looking for bigger sizes in infant and children's clothing? Do you have baby equipment and perhaps toys that are sitting around? Well, this event is for you. Clothing and equipment can be dropped off in advance and left at the metal clothing rack found on the lower R.E. level at the bottom of the stairwell. Leftover items will be given to a local charity. [At the same time, Krin Haglund and Chris Sweetnam-Holmes (parents of baby Ole) would like to discuss the possibility of starting a babysitting/child care swap with interested parents.] Light refreshments will be provided and child care will be available in the nursery. This event is organized by the Membership Committee and the Religious Education program. For more information, please contact me or Krin Haglund at 514-562-8122.
DON’T FORGET SLPPERS OR INDOOR SHOES TO GO WITH THE WEATHER OUTDOORS. We put the children’s outdoor boots in a blue bin by their room doors so that if there is a fire (or fire drill), the children can go straight outside and the leaders bring the bins, so they can put their boots on out there. Please help us facilitate this.
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