Youth Ministry began with a bang and is off and running.  Our first meeting offered youth a time to reconnect with friends and form some new ones.  It also introduced a new ritual called Soulshine.  Soulshine is like Small Group Ministry, but for our youth.  Gathered in groups of five, our youth spend 15-20 minutes reflecting on prompts related to the theme of the month, current events or relevant topics to our group at the time.  It's a time where youth can offer their stories, successes, questions, wonderings and insight.  Soulshine is based on the idea that youth have the wisdom and ability to nurture and support each other in navigating this crazy, beautiful and sometimes challenging world we live in.  It offers an opportunity to practice and witness deep listening to ourselves, each other, and our world.  

Soulshine also transitions our youth from the beginning of our meetings where we focus on fun and business, to the end of our meetings where we focus on developing a spiritual practice and connecting with each other in a deeper way.  Following Soulshine, we learn about and practice mindfulness and hold space for Candlepass.  

Candlepass is a youth-generated ritual, like Joys and Sorrows, where youth share what's bubbling up inside them.  They share and silently listen to each other's struggles and triumphs by candlelight.  There is no discussion, nor questions.  Just listening and holding space.  

It is our aim that youth not only form friendships and a UU identity by participating in our programs, but also learn and explore such vital life skills like... deep listening.

The first gathering of the Mother Up! group was held this past Thursday, October 13 at the UU from 5:30-7:00 pm. The evening began with a shared vegan meal in the parlors which included a delicious butternut squash soup, kale salad, bread and cookies, all provided by Jen Lazar.