Children's Religious Education: It Takes a Congregation

At FCB this year, a congregation-wide theme focusing on the environment flew under the radar, but the CRE theme during April focused on it. The environment is one of the four pillars of FCB's Social Action Committee (SAC), and this spring's social justice curriculum tied into these four pillars: human rights, poverty, environment, and peace.

The children began the month, appropriately enough on Easter Sunday, considering our seventh UU principle: "Respect for the interconnected web of all existence of which we are a part." Or in the words of the children's versions, "We believe in caring for the planet earth, the home we share with all living things." The three R's - reduce, re-use, and recycle - were explored the following week in each of the CRE classes and these environmentally sustainable actions were built upon by guest presenters, Alice Trexler and Downing Cless on April 20th. Alice and Downing represented the education group of the new-this-year FCB Green Committee. They took the kids on an exploratory tour to a small selection of places in the church building and grounds to talk about what FCB is already doing, and what more FCB could be doing, to be "greener." The kids had some really good ideas that will be passed along to the whole FCB Green Committee, including relying on outside daylight more.

Using recycled container for starting seeds, the kids will bring the month full circle, bringing some beauty into their environment. Any bedrangled sparrows in Belmont and surrounding towns just may find a sunflower to flutter around like butterflies, as the little sunflower in my Easter Sunday Story for All Ages dreamed they would.

You, too, can reduce, re-use and recycle more by contributing items and your time to the annual rummage sale. Take this opportunity together with your family members of all ages, to brainstorm about donating gently used and un-wanted items. You will reduce the need for someone else to buy new, you will allow someone else to re-use things you no longer want, and you will be helping others to recycle, restore and renew. In addition, the money raised during this event each year funds important aspects of FCB's congregational life, including SAC, FCB's Partner Church program, and the Stained Glass Window Fund. FMI: please contact rummage@uubelmont.org.  

As we care for our planet earth, the perfect globe on which we live, we will live up to our human potential for goodness like the man who climbed down into the well again to bring water to a thirsty dog.

~ Charlotte

Highlights from Our Religious Education Wing

• Pre-school/Kindergarten classes are engaging in Spirit Play with Eleanor and Jim Sugarman teaching the 9 am class, and Kate Searle leading the 11 am class with help from parent-volunteer teachers. Would you be interested in being trained to lead Spirit Play next spring? CRE will cover the cost of training. Let Charlotte know if you are interested; there may be a training in Melrose in mid-July.
• In May, the Grades 1-6 Social Justice curriculum theme is Peace. The Annual CRE Intergenerational Tea will be May 3rd between services, if you are aged 70+ and in the database, you will be receiving an invitation. Elementary-aged children will be helping and hosting.
• If you are interested in being trained to lead OWL, there are both K-1/4-6 and 7-9/10-12 happening at First Church in Nashua (NH) on July 10-12. OWL funds cover the cost of training. Registration deadline is 6/20/15. FMI, please contact Charlotte or Wendy.

~ Charlotte Lehmann, Acting Director of Children's Religious Education

Office hours (generally): Sundays 8 am-1pm, and Tues/Weds/Thurs 10am-6pm. E-mail: clehmann@uubelmont.org.

Upcoming Events

The Birth of a Nation: How a Legendary Filmmaker and a Crusading Editor Reignited America's Civil War - Dick Lehr

Tuesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m., Parish Hall

1915 saw the release of D. W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation," both a cinematic masterpiece and a vitriolic racist diatribe. It brought about a backlash led by William Monroe Trotter, a Boston newspaper editor. Our own Dick Lehr's latest book explores this tumultuous period in American race relations. Book signing and refreshments.

Men's Fall Potluck Supper

Friday, May 1, 7pm, Upper Hall

Join other First Church men and their friends to share good food and connections. Please bring a beverage of your choice AND one of the following: main dish, salad, or dessert, to share. Contact jstaton@uubelmont.org for more information or sign up at coffee hour.

ALL-CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE, SATURDAY, MAY 9, 9 to 2 P.M.

The volunteer boards are filling up! NEW - on line signup at http://vols.pt/P1Evrp. The Sale still needs your help especially for set up on Sunday, May 3 and for Sale day and cleanup Saturday, May 9. Set up begins at 10 after the first service. Church members and friends who work for 2 hours during Rummage week are invited to shop for personal use at the pre-Sale on Friday evening May 8 from 6-8 PM. Bargains and finds galore!

Check the Sale circular for donation guidelines, available at our table in the Upper Gathering Hall. Almost anything that's resalable is wanted. Email fcb404@gmail.com with questions. Tax donation forms will be available on donation days.

The third beneficiary of the Rummage Sale is the Stained-Glass Window Fund. This past year we've become acutely aware of the ongoing repair and maintenance needs of our beautiful stained-glass windows. Our beloved Pilgrim window is being repaired with Fund dollars. By setting aside proceeds from its Rummage Sales each year, the Belmont Unitarian Alliance was able to renovate the Madonna Window in the early1990's. Rummage funds also provided more than half of the cost to renovate the Pilgrim Window in 2006-7. And more windows, the same age as our sanctuary, will be restored in the next few years, again with Rummage proceeds.