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.
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