Unitarian
Universalist
Society of Fairhaven
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
CHURCH SCHOOL
The curriculum has been chosen, the teachers are preparing their sessions, Harrop Center will be thoroughly cleaned. We are ready for the 2008-2009 church school year to begin. Thank you to Kris Leotti for her work on the RE Prospectus which will be mailed next week. If you know of a family who may be looking for a liberal religious education program, please phone or email their name and address to me and I will include them in the mailing.
Our Ingathering Service will be on Sunday, September 7 at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary. The Nurseries will be open for childcare. Children and teens in grades K-12 will attend the beginning of the service in the Sanctuary. Just before the sermon, all children and teens, teachers, and new families will proceed to the circular parking area between the Sanctuary and Harrop Center. Teachers will be holding signs with their class grade and when all of the children are with their groups, they will enter Harrop Center and find their rooms. Registration for new families will take place on the first floor. “Old” families are asked to update their registration cards if there have been any changes in information to be made.
The Ingathering Service is a wonderful time to invite friends and relatives, co-workers and neighbors who might be interested in our liberal faith. Statistics reveal that most people come to a church because they have been personally invited by someone they know. Imagine if every family in the church school invited just one new family. Imagine.
ADULT EDUCATION
Participants of the well-attended Voluntary Simplicity course offered last spring are looking forward to another series from the Northwest Earth Institute. The courses to be offered this coming year are: Menu for the Future and Healthy children, Healthy Planet. Watch for future newsletters with more information.
On Sunday, September 14, at 3 PM, area book groups, including ours, have been invited to participate in a discussion of Barbara Kingsolver’s new bestseller Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Coincidentally, this is a title that our church book group and the Green Sanctuary Group had selected for summer reading. It is the true story of Kingsolver and her family spending a year living off their land and the produce of local farms. The discussion will take place at the new Fairhaven Farmer’s market on the grounds of Fairhaven High School.
BOOKS TO BORROW
Among the many ideas, inspirations, challenges and resources that I brought home for General Assembly last June are two books that are now available to borrow from our lending library in Harrop Center. How to Bury a Goldfish contains ceremonies and celebrations for everyday life. Families and individuals will find over 100 simple rituals to commemorate or honor special moments and milestones. A Child’s Book of Blessings and Prayers contains words of joy, thanksgiving, sadness and hope from all over the world.