EXPERILEARN

by Cindy Beal

ex·per·i·ment  noun

1. a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc.: a chemical experiment; a teaching experiment; an experiment in living.

learn  verb

3. to gain (a habit, mannerism, etc.) by experience, exposure to example, or the like; acquire.

 We often watch young children learn the principles of structural design by building large contraptions with legos or marble runs or erector sets.  They learn that a “super boom picker upper” is too big when it causes the whole design to tip over. They learn that the protruding boom can be balanced with an opposite protruding boom.  Much of the learning comes from the parts that fail to perform as anticipated.

 We tell them to Try Another Way – maximize the things that worked, learn from their mistakes, make a modification, and try again.

 There are, of course, more variables in education and congregational life than the few different types of tinker toys, but the principle is the same.  In education, we call this the action-reflection cycle.  Teach,  reflect, modify, teach again.

 Last year, in response to consistent conversational feedback from parents and teachers, we started thinking about a number of  modifications and experiments we could try in Religious Education to increase our experiences of mystery and wonder, our experiences of community.  If we really believe that Lifespan Faith Formation is about Community, Covenant, and Curriculum/Content, and that we are all learners – adults and children alike - then we might be more intentional about how we focus on community and covenant/relationships.  Our children are in a different world – they don't need to memorize the Four Noble Truths as part of the Sources of our Unitarian Universalist faith, they can look them up on their hand-held.  They need opportunities to engage one another and the adults around them in inquiry, meaning-making, sharing, listening, reflecting about the “Content.”

 Somehow, by the time we were done thinking out-of-the-box, we'd committed to all of the ideas on the table.

 We are increasing the integration and activity level of the middle school experience and integrating the students into multigenerational worships.  We are creating a more experiential 9:15 class structure in grades 2-5. Rev. Janet and I have worked to coordinate worship and RE content/experience for most Sundays of the year, and this year I was able to integrate the Story Questions that Philosophy professor and USNF member Tom Wartenberg provides to give us a link between the story in worship and the RE experience and home into the actual lessons in some classes. We are sending six people to be trained to teach the Middle and High School Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Curriculum.  Chanda O'Donnell de Ramirez, our youth director, is taking a Seminary level online course in Youth Ministry which should help us imagine how we can broaden our ministry with youth.

I have no doubt that these will be, not simply experiments, but “experilearns.”  We will have exciting successes we want to replicate, celebrate and share.  We will also learn things as they don't work out as we anticipated – there will be the human factor, the realities of our space configuration, and no doubt many other variables I can't predict.  So we will learn from these, and when necessary, Try Another Way.

 We will also engage in an intentional experience of listening and wondering together as adults.  You will all be invited to participate in listening circle type conversations where your hopes, dreams, imagination and passion will take center stage.

 Here is a core question that will weave throughout the year: In this day and age, so different from when most of us were children, what experiences are we in this congregation uniquely qualified to provide for our children, youth, and adults.? And we will continue to reflect back to you, because we know we are a gathered people with many passions, callings and gifts to share.

So, Welcome Back, and tell me, what experiences are you uniquely qualified to provide with us for our congregation's children, youth, and adults? The RE Council, Janet and I can't wait to find out!

This Sunday, May 15th at 10 am, the children will begin in worship, then join together in the Social Room to decide what social justice and social action projects that the children in the RE Program will support next year. Children and Youth are going to present information about and lead activities about each organization on the slate to teach all about the choices before the vote.

The slate includes Heifer International,  The Northampton Survival Center, The Northampton Interfaith Cot Shelter, The Standing on the Side of Love Campaign, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and UNICEF.

In addition, we will learn a little about "congregational polity and covenant" and the responsibility of governing a congregation for the benefit of all.

Rev. Anthony David writes,

Fifth UU Belief: The best way to support the soul’s growth over time in community is through covenant, not creed.
Covenant vs. creed reflects a disagreement on how best to organize healthy spiritual communities. Some communities say that everyone believing the same things is the best way to organize (that’s creedalism). Unitarian Universalists, on the other hand, say that we should emphasize something very different, namely, people promising to behave well towards each other, as they share the spiritual journey together (that’s covenant). 

WHO CAN VOTE? All children and youth of any age who are registered in our Religious Education Program are eligible to vote.  

We begin together in worship @10 am.

Separate children’s activities will begin at approx. 10:25 and will continue uninterrupted through to the end of the (adult) Annual Meeting, to which all are invited.

Substantial fun and healthy food and drink will be provided for all children in attendance.

** The Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence is an inclusive and welcoming intergenerational congregation of diverse spiritual beliefs and practices.
Our mission is to build a caring community where children and adults can safely learn and grow, where we are supported and challenged on life journeys, called to service and our higher selves, and inspired to better our world. **

Faith Formation and Fun

by Cindy Beal, Director of Religious Education

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of being part of the day-long Clara Barton District Middle School Youth Rally.  Over a hundred of us – 85 sixth through eighth graders and 20 adults – gathered for worship, workshops, play, and getting to know one another.  It reminded me, again, of the wonderful and often surprising possibilities and gifts of religious community.

One adult who attended expressed her initial reluctance to spend time in what she expected to be a Middle School cafeteria-type cluster of groups and sub groups with the usual posturing and jockeying for position.  She was surprised to see that these adolescents came to have fun.  They left their clique identities (jock, gamer, goth, emo, skater, plastic, nerd) behind, and claimed their common identity – Unitarian Universalists.

They made food and recycled jewelry, learned to juggle, and created journals out of old books.  They thundered out a four-part ‘rah rah UU’-type chant, and then quietly centered for collective worship.  She found herself amazed at their energy, cooperation, self-control and commitment.

These young people from 16 different Unitarian Universalist congregations in our district were able to play out our values freely, and be themselves while respecting others in meaningful ways.  At the end I noticed one boy, physically mature, and quite popular with many of the girls at this event, leaving his table.  He had observed a younger, smaller boy who was struggling to fill out his evaluation form, and went over to help.  The older boy didn’t write for his new friend.  Instead, he patiently spelled each word as the younger boy wrote what he wanted to say.

The Middle School Youth Rally reminded me of the importance of our connections to the wider UU movement, and of congregational association.  As congregations, our faith communities have an obligation to each other and to the larger association.  The event was sponsored by the district, supported by our district dues, designed and implemented by religious educators and youth advisors, and implemented with the additional help of parents and other congregation members (including our own Patti B., Karen B-G and Steve C.) from all 16 congregations.

The rally also reminded me of the joy I feel in seeing our children and youth have opportunities to have fun while living the values we try to model for them.  It reminded me again of why I am a Unitarian Universalist religious educator.

Winter Holiday Season.  It's a time of year when we focus a lot on meaning, on generosity, compassion, and love.  It's a time of year when we spend time with close and extended family, often practicing generosity, compassion, and love.  Parents have asked me "How do I talk about my faith, what UU's believe, what we stand for, and what we stand on, with my children?  With my mom?  With my cousin who thinks we're all to the left of nuts?"

I recently came across a blog post by Rev. Anthony David in which he shared his entire "script" for explaining Unitarian Universalism to 4th graders.  Personally, I think it's a dandy explanation for adults as well, as he has added "personal notes" throughout, which is, I think, a euphemism for "notes for adults."  It's well worth a look here.

As you are planning your comings and goings, please be aware of the varied worship schedule for the next few weeks.

DEC. 19th  10 am  Winter Holiday Multigenerational Service, with childcare for 2-6 year olds
DEC. 24th  4 and 7 pm Christmas Eve Services.  The 4 pm service is explicitly family/child friendly
DEC. 26th Sunday morning worship will be our traditional 10 am Hymn Sing. There are no RE classes or preschool care or youth group.

The RE offices will be closed between Dec. 25-Jan 1

JAN 2nd              RE classes resume at 9:15 and 11:00  (COA may have special event, watch your email)

Tom Wartenberg, USNF member, philosophy professor and author of the book Big Ideas for Little Kids is available to talk with teachers or parents about how to use these questions with children.
Tom will lead the service on Oct. 3, with the topic “Teach your children well.”

We will have a Feedback and Conversation Session about this Story Sharing Experiment at 12:30 in the Parlor on Nov. 14th. 
There will be organized activities for children.

Regular RE Classes begin Sunday Sept 19th at 9:15 and 11:00!

NO NUTS! We have become a Tree Nut and Peanut Free RE program.  Please take care to bring snacks that are nut-free.  Other allergies and sensitivities will be noted on the snack sign-up sheets on each door.

We have been joined by a number of new families -- please look around and greet one another. Some families may be "new" to the service you attend, or new to the Society entirely.  Greet people you have seen for years as well!

Our classes that are currently open for new enrollment are 9:15: pre-school, 2/3, 4/5, 6.  11:00: preschool, K/1, 6th and 7th.  This may change as the weeks progress.

To register your child, please go to the social room and speak with the DRE or one of the RE Council members there staffing a welcome table.

TODAY WE BEGIN OUR EXPERIMENT IN OUR
STORY FOR ALL AGES IN WORSHIP & BEYOND

 As you have read elsewhere, we are intentionally integrating the Story For All Ages with the opening of RE Classes, and providing parents with a more concrete opening question for the car ride or lunchtime, and continuing conversation.  These questions will be available on our website.

Today's Story

Discussion Question for Joseph’s Coat:  Envy and Forgiveness

Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors was an object of envy of all his brothers.  They were jealous of his coat, and they were jealous that he was their father’s favorite.  (He didn’t help matters by bragging).  The brothers sold Joseph to the Egyptians, and he