Sept-Renewal-Week 1

Dear UU Parents and Guardians, 

Virtual Church Retreat This Weekend!
Join me 6:00-6:45PM Tomorrow (Saturday) for an Online Sunday School Info Session!
This is the link:  https://zoom.us/j/91296869924
I'll simply chat about what you might see this coming year, and you can say hello to other families!

Your family might also be interested in things such as: Family Movie Night with the film "Inside Out", or "Imagination Exercises With Shelly Fowler For All Ages!"
  Check your emails for links to the Zoom Rooms for everything which will come from the main church office. 

REGISTRATION TIME!!!
Please register for the church year if you think you or your family will participate in ANY way this next church year. Let us know how you and your family have been or will want to participate this year - and sign up to potentially receive some goodies from the church for your children!!!

 Here is the link: REGISTRATION

It would be lovely if you could join us for our weekly gatherings! 

Here is what is currently being offered: 
*Sunday School *
Approximately: 30 minute program geared towards K-5 but open to all ages
Sundays at 11am
Please email me for the link

*Middle and HS *
We are joining up with the Omaha youth groups - 
Parent Orientation is highly recommended but not mandatory - 
Wed Sept 16 at 7pm  

The first youth meeting will be Wed Sept 23 at 7pm. They will be creating their covenant, and possibly brainstorming what they want to do this year (if the check-in/covenanting process takes too long they'll do the brainstorming session the following week).  

Please email me for the link

We will also be offering a moderated Discord (app) group with details to come later as well. 

*Parent and Guardian Chat: *
The chance for parents and guardians to just get together and chat
Every other Thursday 8pm and every other Wednesday noon

 Wednesday 9/9 Noon
      Link: https://zoom.us/j/474526337     Password: lovemykids      

Thursday 9/17 8pm
     Link: https://zoom.us/j/866583131     Password: lovemykids 
 
NEW! Family Spotlight! 

In an effort for us to remember seeing faces, and to get to know one another better, I am going to spotlight one family each month in our church newsletter. 

Sign up HERE to participate

Videos This Week: 
Story with Miss Chelsea (Water Communion Theme): https://youtu.be/aIxFJjyVulw
Story with Miss Heather: https://youtu.be/O4Z0tTsjDRM
Music with Miss Molly: https://youtu.be/9NesTBBrIF8

NEW THIS MONTH!
September Theme: Renewal

I will be exploring the possible use of the UUA curricula - 'Chalice Home' and 'Soulful Home' in addition to the Worship 'Core Packets' potentially. 
This is a trial to see how it may fit for our families this year. I'd love to hear what you think! 

This first week is a dive into the Soul Matters curriculum and has your family get started with what you'll need to do church at home: a chalice, an altar, a bowl for joys and sorrows, etc. 
Getting Started: Collect the Building Blocks for Your Chalice Home

These are reflections, writings, and activities from the creators of the Soul Matters packets for Religious Education. Our worship theme for the month is 'Renewal' and we will be following that theme for families as well. This week features poet Ross Gay and thoughts on 'Tending Joy and Praciticing Delight' - also, the notion of how sometimes what our souls need is to embrace doing 'nothing'. 
Here are the excerpts which I thought you may enjoy:   

On the Porch - Raising a Child of Renewal Together and Discussion Questions

I also found this, and thought it was incredibly spot-on for this time and thought I'd share it with you all: 
Meditation for Parents: Efficiency by Victoria Safford