Saturday, March 24, 2012
Religion and the Empathic Society
Video from KarmaTube
I found this 10 minutes video thought provoking and relevant to our Unitarian Universalist values. In this stunningly visual and cohesive ten-minute video, Jeremy Rifkin defines the empathic civilization -- and suggests that if we can imagine that possibility, we can save our species and our planet. "Empathy is grounded in the acknowledgment of death and the celebration of life, and rooting for each other to flourish..."
Monday, March 19, 2012
(WE)RE Standing on the Side of Love!
We had over 55 youth and adults stay for the panel discussion and a really excellent panel of presenters. The Schenectady Gazette covered the earlier event with the youth too!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Late winter happenings...
Hope this late winter-time, and for many a school-vacation break, finds you with time and space to enjoy what is most important to you! FUSS is still busy with opportunities to gather, serve, learn and grow in community.
This Sunday we have religious education classes for children and youth!
This Sunday night, February 26, from 5-7 PM we are showing the film, The Other Side of Immigration. This award-winning film asks why so many Mexicans leave home to work in the United States and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought provoking, the film challenges audiences to imagine more creative and effective immigration policies. The film will be shown in the Great Hall and followed by a discussion. The film is free and open to everyone.
This Sunday we have religious education classes for children and youth!
This Sunday night, February 26, from 5-7 PM we are showing the film, The Other Side of Immigration. This award-winning film asks why so many Mexicans leave home to work in the United States and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought provoking, the film challenges audiences to imagine more creative and effective immigration policies. The film will be shown in the Great Hall and followed by a discussion. The film is free and open to everyone.
Sunday, March 11th, the Trevor Lifeguard Project
is coming! Welcoming Congregation and RE are partnering to host this
workshop for youth in grades 6-12 during regular RE hours. Morning
sessions for youth will be followed by a luncheon and panel discussion
for youth, their parents, and interested allies in the FUSS community.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions with guest professionals
from the greater Capital District, including Chad Putman, Board
President of Rainbow Access Initiative and local coordinator for The
Trevor Project. The luncheon is free; please RSVP to Melissa by March 8th. Look for a fuller description in the March issue of Circles.
Sundae Sunday is coming! Our annual multi-generational event, Sundae Sunday, will take place Sunday, March 18 this year. Senior youth will scoop ice cream to raise money towards their trip to New Orleans.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Happy New Year!
This Sunday, uh, tomorrow, is our young adult worship service. This is our second year offering this service. We will also have a lot of music that will include our youth as well.
The service is titled, Being and Becoming. I am looking forward to hearing what some of our young adults will share during their reflections.
As I thought about it, I think we are always always in that process. No matter what our age, we can change and grow. At some ages it is more transparent than others, like when we're younger. We also all need to learn how to just "be," right here right now. Honestly, I think that's the harder part these days. A lovely book for children and interested adults on this very topic as it relates to our animal pets is, Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats.
As I reflected on this some more, I realized that what I wanted to share during our story for all ages time is not really a story, but a metaphor, about our relationships to each other. It's called Indra's Web.
Our 6/7 class will meet Sunday to plan for their roles the following Sunday, January 15, in the worship service and Children's Chapel.
The rest of our RE classes and senior youth group will resume for 2012 on January 15!
The service is titled, Being and Becoming. I am looking forward to hearing what some of our young adults will share during their reflections.
As I thought about it, I think we are always always in that process. No matter what our age, we can change and grow. At some ages it is more transparent than others, like when we're younger. We also all need to learn how to just "be," right here right now. Honestly, I think that's the harder part these days. A lovely book for children and interested adults on this very topic as it relates to our animal pets is, Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats.
As I reflected on this some more, I realized that what I wanted to share during our story for all ages time is not really a story, but a metaphor, about our relationships to each other. It's called Indra's Web.
Our 6/7 class will meet Sunday to plan for their roles the following Sunday, January 15, in the worship service and Children's Chapel.
The rest of our RE classes and senior youth group will resume for 2012 on January 15!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Advent Spiral
This Saturday from 5-7 PM is our Advent Spiral for children. The Advent Spiral is an opportunity for a quiet ceremony of reverence and love for children during this time of year.
We start with a gathering and potluck. When we begin the ceremony everyone is instructed in how it works. The children hear a story. Then, each child receives and unlit candle and walks, one at a time into a spiral made of evergreen boughs. At the center is a lit candle. The child lights their candle and walks back out, leaving their own lit candle at a place along the spiral. During the time the adults are around the spiral singing to each child as they walk the spiral.
The ceremony comes from the Waldorf tradition. It also fits in well with our Unitarian Universalist belief of a light inside each that can guide us on our own search for truth and meaning. And the light of the chalice that symbolizes our shared community.
It is a lovely ceremony with ancient symbolism for this time of year. Symbolically it is a journey inside, in darkness, an opportunity to receive the light that is within us us, and to carry it out and set this light of ours on a path to light the way.
We start with a gathering and potluck. When we begin the ceremony everyone is instructed in how it works. The children hear a story. Then, each child receives and unlit candle and walks, one at a time into a spiral made of evergreen boughs. At the center is a lit candle. The child lights their candle and walks back out, leaving their own lit candle at a place along the spiral. During the time the adults are around the spiral singing to each child as they walk the spiral.
The ceremony comes from the Waldorf tradition. It also fits in well with our Unitarian Universalist belief of a light inside each that can guide us on our own search for truth and meaning. And the light of the chalice that symbolizes our shared community.
It is a lovely ceremony with ancient symbolism for this time of year. Symbolically it is a journey inside, in darkness, an opportunity to receive the light that is within us us, and to carry it out and set this light of ours on a path to light the way.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Winter Holiday season at FUSS
Please join us for Homemade Holidays this Saturday, December 3, 4-7PM!
It's an all -ages fellowship event of craft and gift making! Create a wreath or swag from evergreens to take home or decorate the church. Make beautiful gifts to share for the holidays and crafts to decorate your home with. Enjoy wassail or hot chocolate. The scents of this time of year are enticing!
$5 to make a wreath or swag. $1/ticket/craft to make a craft at the various craft tables. There's a wrapping station too! Childcare is provided. Bring box, tray or laundry basket to bring your treasures home in. Stay for the Holiday party that follows!
Sunday our festivities continue. Our Coming of Age youth will spend 1/2 the day in retreat at Stillpoint Interfaith Retreat Center exploring contemplative traditions. Our 4th and 5th graders will make cookies during the RE time that they will give serve to the congregation after the service and package up and share with our FUSS family at the Glen Eddy.
Stay for lunch then join us for Holiday Caroling - Sunday, December 4, 1 PM at the Glen Eddy, a retirement community where many from our FUSS family live. All ages welcomed! Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Later in the month is our Advent Spiral Walk for children on Saturday, December 17, 5- 7 PM. Children can experience their own quiet, seasonal ritual! Family potluck @ 5 PM. A story. Then, children can walk a spiral laid out with evergreens and light a candle at the center.
The Mitten Tree is one of our oldest holiday traditions at FUSS. People knit, crochet and purchase hats, mittens and socks we give to two local shelters, Bethesda House & Sojourn House.
We will again support Sojourn House, a second chance home for homeless women with children and pregnant women. Leave new, unwrapped gifts, toys and arts and crafts supplies December 4 thru December 18 @ table in back of the Great Hall. See sidebar for more suggestions.
It's an all -ages fellowship event of craft and gift making! Create a wreath or swag from evergreens to take home or decorate the church. Make beautiful gifts to share for the holidays and crafts to decorate your home with. Enjoy wassail or hot chocolate. The scents of this time of year are enticing!
$5 to make a wreath or swag. $1/ticket/craft to make a craft at the various craft tables. There's a wrapping station too! Childcare is provided. Bring box, tray or laundry basket to bring your treasures home in. Stay for the Holiday party that follows!
Sunday our festivities continue. Our Coming of Age youth will spend 1/2 the day in retreat at Stillpoint Interfaith Retreat Center exploring contemplative traditions. Our 4th and 5th graders will make cookies during the RE time that they will give serve to the congregation after the service and package up and share with our FUSS family at the Glen Eddy.
Stay for lunch then join us for Holiday Caroling - Sunday, December 4, 1 PM at the Glen Eddy, a retirement community where many from our FUSS family live. All ages welcomed! Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Later in the month is our Advent Spiral Walk for children on Saturday, December 17, 5- 7 PM. Children can experience their own quiet, seasonal ritual! Family potluck @ 5 PM. A story. Then, children can walk a spiral laid out with evergreens and light a candle at the center.
The Mitten Tree is one of our oldest holiday traditions at FUSS. People knit, crochet and purchase hats, mittens and socks we give to two local shelters, Bethesda House & Sojourn House.
We will again support Sojourn House, a second chance home for homeless women with children and pregnant women. Leave new, unwrapped gifts, toys and arts and crafts supplies December 4 thru December 18 @ table in back of the Great Hall. See sidebar for more suggestions.
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