Watch live streaming video from peacedaytv at livestream.com
Friday, September 21, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
RE starts September 16
Our full RE schedule starts tomorrow! Everyone begins in the Great Hall. We will have a teacher dedication and then senior youth, 7th&8th grade OWL, and 5th &6th grade go to their classes and meeting rooms.
Grades preK thru 4 will celebrate International Day of Peace, together, in the dining room. We gather outside to rededicate our Peace Pole and finish with a healthy snack.
Parents of 7th and 8th graders can attend a parent orientation for Our Whole Lives (OWL) beginning at 12 noon in Waters House. Pizza and salad will be served.
Senior youth interested in the trip to Guatemala should plan to attend the informational session with a parent. Meeting will be held in the Emerson room.
Grades preK thru 4 will celebrate International Day of Peace, together, in the dining room. We gather outside to rededicate our Peace Pole and finish with a healthy snack.
Parents of 7th and 8th graders can attend a parent orientation for Our Whole Lives (OWL) beginning at 12 noon in Waters House. Pizza and salad will be served.
Senior youth interested in the trip to Guatemala should plan to attend the informational session with a parent. Meeting will be held in the Emerson room.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Fall 2012 Religious Education programs for children and youth
Religious Education
programs start September 16 !
Creating Home: Pre K/ Kindergarten (ages 4 -6)
In Creating Home children explore the deep sense of sacredness, the beauty of hospitality, and the gift of loving relationships that a home can represent. As they actively explore the concept of home, they create a community home in their meeting space. They learn to identify their Unitarian Universalist congregation as a home. The program introduces children to Unitarian Universalist heritage, including rituals, songs, and traditions of our faith, and stories about Unitarian Universalists whose words, songs, and deeds have helped to shape the faith home that participants share. You can view the full curriculum here.
Keepers of the Earth: Grades 1 and 2 (6 to 8 year olds)
Keepers of the Earth is a Unitarian Universalist religious education program that comes from a curriculum of stories and environmental activities created by local Native American storyteller Joesph Bruchac and Michael Caduto. Keepers of the Earth allows children to explore spirituality in the natural world. Children will spend part of each class time outdoors (unless there is severe weather) and should come dressed to explore outside.
Toolbox of Faith: Grades 3 and 4 (8-10 year olds)
Toolbox of Faith invites third and fourth- grade participants to reflect on the qualities of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Qualities such as such as integrity, courage, and love, are tools they can use in living their lives and building their own faith. Each session uses a tool as a metaphor for an important quality of our faith such as reflection (symbolized by a mirror), flexibility (duct tape), and justice (a flashlight). You can view the full curriculum here.
Riddle and Mystery: Grade 5 and 6 (10-12 year olds)
The goal of Riddle and Mystery is to assist fifth and sixth- graders in their own search for understanding. Riddle and Mystery aims to teach participants to accept, appreciate and celebrate mystery, ambiguity and contradiction as part of human life and the starting points of religion. Together with their adult leaders, the class will create their own news studio and videotape and edit a news show. Their time together will involve both concrete and abstract work as they create the set, learn to use equipment, and consider the importance of questioning thought to Unitarian Universalist faith and its value in personal and communal life. You can view the full curriculum here.
Our Whole Lives for grades 5 and 6 : Winter of 2013. There will be an 8-week Our Whole Lives (OWL) program offered to the class as part of our FUSS RE vision of fostering healthy community by teaching sexual health together with ethical values. A parent orientation is required and there will be an information session in the late fall/early winter.
Our Whole Lives (OWL): Grades 7 and 8 (12-14 year olds)
OWL is a year -long healthy sexuality program offered by trained facilitators from our FUSS community. OWL offers positive, comprehensive, and age-appropriate sexual educational programming. This program fosters the development of sexual health and ethical values as it nurtures the worth and dignity of all participants. It fosters equitable, healthy relationships through values-clarification activities, teaching communication and decision-making skills. Children are encouraged to value themselves and act on their values throughout their whole lives.
This class REQUIRES a parent orientation and signed parental consent. There will be a schedule set by the advisors and handed out at the parent orientation. Because of the nature of the class, drop-ins are not allowed. There will be Sundays when OWL is not offered and the class will engage in other activities that are welcoming to drop-ins.
Senior Youth Group: for grades 9 to 12 (14-18 year olds)
Our youth group meets each Sunday morning beginning at 10:30 AM in the Youth Lounge (the basement of the main building). Our youth group is open to the youth of our congregation and their friends. Our advisors work in collaboration with the youth; all working toward empowering the group to be youth-led and directed. Youth group focuses on five components: social action/justice, worship, activities and fellowship, learning, and leadership opportunity. Members may also participate in district and continental events, including District Youth Conferences (Cons) and the Youth Caucus at General Assembly. Cons are held throughout the year at various UU congregations throughout our district. These weekend youth retreats offer opportunities for friendship and spiritual reflection in addition to workshops, worship, dances, shared meals and communal living.
Creating Home: Pre K/ Kindergarten (ages 4 -6)
In Creating Home children explore the deep sense of sacredness, the beauty of hospitality, and the gift of loving relationships that a home can represent. As they actively explore the concept of home, they create a community home in their meeting space. They learn to identify their Unitarian Universalist congregation as a home. The program introduces children to Unitarian Universalist heritage, including rituals, songs, and traditions of our faith, and stories about Unitarian Universalists whose words, songs, and deeds have helped to shape the faith home that participants share. You can view the full curriculum here.
Keepers of the Earth: Grades 1 and 2 (6 to 8 year olds)
Keepers of the Earth is a Unitarian Universalist religious education program that comes from a curriculum of stories and environmental activities created by local Native American storyteller Joesph Bruchac and Michael Caduto. Keepers of the Earth allows children to explore spirituality in the natural world. Children will spend part of each class time outdoors (unless there is severe weather) and should come dressed to explore outside.
Toolbox of Faith: Grades 3 and 4 (8-10 year olds)
Toolbox of Faith invites third and fourth- grade participants to reflect on the qualities of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Qualities such as such as integrity, courage, and love, are tools they can use in living their lives and building their own faith. Each session uses a tool as a metaphor for an important quality of our faith such as reflection (symbolized by a mirror), flexibility (duct tape), and justice (a flashlight). You can view the full curriculum here.
Riddle and Mystery: Grade 5 and 6 (10-12 year olds)
The goal of Riddle and Mystery is to assist fifth and sixth- graders in their own search for understanding. Riddle and Mystery aims to teach participants to accept, appreciate and celebrate mystery, ambiguity and contradiction as part of human life and the starting points of religion. Together with their adult leaders, the class will create their own news studio and videotape and edit a news show. Their time together will involve both concrete and abstract work as they create the set, learn to use equipment, and consider the importance of questioning thought to Unitarian Universalist faith and its value in personal and communal life. You can view the full curriculum here.
Our Whole Lives for grades 5 and 6 : Winter of 2013. There will be an 8-week Our Whole Lives (OWL) program offered to the class as part of our FUSS RE vision of fostering healthy community by teaching sexual health together with ethical values. A parent orientation is required and there will be an information session in the late fall/early winter.
Our Whole Lives (OWL): Grades 7 and 8 (12-14 year olds)
OWL is a year -long healthy sexuality program offered by trained facilitators from our FUSS community. OWL offers positive, comprehensive, and age-appropriate sexual educational programming. This program fosters the development of sexual health and ethical values as it nurtures the worth and dignity of all participants. It fosters equitable, healthy relationships through values-clarification activities, teaching communication and decision-making skills. Children are encouraged to value themselves and act on their values throughout their whole lives.
This class REQUIRES a parent orientation and signed parental consent. There will be a schedule set by the advisors and handed out at the parent orientation. Because of the nature of the class, drop-ins are not allowed. There will be Sundays when OWL is not offered and the class will engage in other activities that are welcoming to drop-ins.
Senior Youth Group: for grades 9 to 12 (14-18 year olds)
Our youth group meets each Sunday morning beginning at 10:30 AM in the Youth Lounge (the basement of the main building). Our youth group is open to the youth of our congregation and their friends. Our advisors work in collaboration with the youth; all working toward empowering the group to be youth-led and directed. Youth group focuses on five components: social action/justice, worship, activities and fellowship, learning, and leadership opportunity. Members may also participate in district and continental events, including District Youth Conferences (Cons) and the Youth Caucus at General Assembly. Cons are held throughout the year at various UU congregations throughout our district. These weekend youth retreats offer opportunities for friendship and spiritual reflection in addition to workshops, worship, dances, shared meals and communal living.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Three Sisters Garden at FUSS
We are growing a Three Sisters Garden in religious education this summer!
The Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) garden originated in this part of the world with the Iroquois or Haudenosaunee (hah-dee-no-show-nee) - "People of the Long house." Three Sisters gardens have been planted by traditional Native American gardeners in many different regions of North America.
The traditional Three Sisters garden forms an ecosystem by creating a community of plants and animals. This system creates a beneficial relationship between the three plants- each plant helps the others grow. There is much wisdom to be gained in doing this work together and considering, from the practical to the philosophical, the aspects of this Three Sisters garden.
Along with the work of maintaining the garden, the class is hearing wisdom stories from the Iroquois peoples, starting with Chief Jake Swamp's, Giving Thanks.
Summer RE is open for ages 5 -10 years, from 10:30 -11:15 AM, Sundays, thru August 26.
The Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) garden originated in this part of the world with the Iroquois or Haudenosaunee (hah-dee-no-show-nee) - "People of the Long house." Three Sisters gardens have been planted by traditional Native American gardeners in many different regions of North America.
The traditional Three Sisters garden forms an ecosystem by creating a community of plants and animals. This system creates a beneficial relationship between the three plants- each plant helps the others grow. There is much wisdom to be gained in doing this work together and considering, from the practical to the philosophical, the aspects of this Three Sisters garden.
Along with the work of maintaining the garden, the class is hearing wisdom stories from the Iroquois peoples, starting with Chief Jake Swamp's, Giving Thanks.
Summer RE is open for ages 5 -10 years, from 10:30 -11:15 AM, Sundays, thru August 26.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The Great Story at Cohoes Falls
This past Sunday our 4th and 5th grade class wrapped up their RE year with a visit to a sacred site: Cohoes Falls.
There they heard the story of The Great Peacemaker who performed a feat of supernatural strength at the falls, and in doing so, convinced the Mohawk people to become the founders of the Iroquois League of Nations or Confederacy.
A portion of the land, across the Mohawk River from where the class stood, has been returned to the Mohawk people only in the past year.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Building our sustainable community
FUSS will host From Scratch Club's FOOD SWAP next Wednesday, May 16 at 7PM!!! Tickets are free but you must have a ticket to participate. Get your ticket here. As I write this there are only 11 tickets remaining!!!
What is a food swap you say?
Food swaps are happening all around the country. This NY Times piece talks about it's beginnings and one person's experience. People get a ticket to participate. There is is no charge to get a ticket, but there's an optional $2 donation at the door. This is not a money-making event. It's a community- building event. It's about learning to exchange what you can make with your neighbors.
What is a food swap you say?
Food swaps are happening all around the country. This NY Times piece talks about it's beginnings and one person's experience. People get a ticket to participate. There is is no charge to get a ticket, but there's an optional $2 donation at the door. This is not a money-making event. It's a community- building event. It's about learning to exchange what you can make with your neighbors.
I have for a number of years watched
the movement towards sustainability and regionalization grow across
the country and in this area. I have been impressed with an online
site that started two years ago called, From
Scratch Club (FSC.) As they describe
themselves, they are about "making food matter." Their
reach is deep and broad in the Capital District and their website has
grown to become a presence in the area. Their values are values many
UU's hold dear. An article recently appeared in the Times
Union about them.
During this same time, I have sought to
create meaningful, community opportunities around sustainability here
at FUSS. For the past two years I have considered ways to create
community doing things together, like canning or making cheese
or sauerkraut. From Scratch Club seemed a perfect venue for this.
They do not have locations in Schenectady while their locations in
Saratoga and Troy have been very popular. They are
launching DIY cooking schools too! So I reached out to the FSC founder and suggested FUSS as a
possible place to host some Schenectady events.
And she agreed! So, join us in building local community, trading goods you make or grow yourself May 16, July 18 and September 19.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
FUSS Collaborative Easter Egg Hunt
This from our illustrious RE Easter committee!
This year we are conducting a COLLABORATIVE Egg Hunt based upon many of our seven principles! Please review these with your child prior to Sunday.
1. Each person is important. (Everyone is part of our community)
2. Be kind in all you do. (Find eggs for each other)
3. We're free to learn together. (Have fun)
4. We search for what is true. (Equality matters)
5. All people need a voice. (and some eggs)
6. Build a fair and peaceful world. (Be fair, help each other and everyone will feel good)
7. We care for Earth's lifeboat. (Make sure to pick up all those plastic eggs)
Here is how the Egg Hunt will work: After the Sunday worship service, children “Preschool” through “Coming of Age” (this would include Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and those kids in the “Coming of Age” group) should report to the Hall between the Kitchen and Dining Room.
Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will line up on the Dining Room side of the Hall (please refer to signs). 4th, 5th, 6th, and older will line up on the Kitchen side of the Hall (please refer to signs). We will PAIR older and younger students in groups of TWO. Each person will be given a specific count of eggs that they may find and the TWO must work together to find both of their specified number TOGETHER. Find ONE egg for the youngest kid FIRST then you may alternate finding eggs for each other! BOTH kids must participate.
Once EVERYONE has their number of eggs please return to the back patio near the doors to:
1. Open eggs
2. Return the plastic eggs
3. AND receive a BONUS prize!
If there are any concerns or special requests regarding your children’s needs, please contact our Egg Hunt Leaders, Roz Dahl or Lara Turney. Thanks for your cooperation!
This year we are conducting a COLLABORATIVE Egg Hunt based upon many of our seven principles! Please review these with your child prior to Sunday.
1. Each person is important. (Everyone is part of our community)
2. Be kind in all you do. (Find eggs for each other)
3. We're free to learn together. (Have fun)
4. We search for what is true. (Equality matters)
5. All people need a voice. (and some eggs)
6. Build a fair and peaceful world. (Be fair, help each other and everyone will feel good)
7. We care for Earth's lifeboat. (Make sure to pick up all those plastic eggs)
Here is how the Egg Hunt will work: After the Sunday worship service, children “Preschool” through “Coming of Age” (this would include Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and those kids in the “Coming of Age” group) should report to the Hall between the Kitchen and Dining Room.
Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will line up on the Dining Room side of the Hall (please refer to signs). 4th, 5th, 6th, and older will line up on the Kitchen side of the Hall (please refer to signs). We will PAIR older and younger students in groups of TWO. Each person will be given a specific count of eggs that they may find and the TWO must work together to find both of their specified number TOGETHER. Find ONE egg for the youngest kid FIRST then you may alternate finding eggs for each other! BOTH kids must participate.
Once EVERYONE has their number of eggs please return to the back patio near the doors to:
1. Open eggs
2. Return the plastic eggs
3. AND receive a BONUS prize!
If there are any concerns or special requests regarding your children’s needs, please contact our Egg Hunt Leaders, Roz Dahl or Lara Turney. Thanks for your cooperation!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)