Children’s Religious Exploration

“This year’s overarching frame is The Practices of Our Faith. We’re using this frame to focus on how Unitarian Universalism is a lived faith that inspires us to act, live, and love our values out in the world. Or, to put it another way, we’re diving into our long-loved commitment to “deeds, not creeds.” Our frame of practices is also a way for us to connect to our UUA’s new core value of love, with each of our monthly themes being framed as a practice that helps us embody love in our daily lives.” -Soul Matters

At KUUF you’ll see these themes woven through our worship services, chalice circles, Creativity Matters, Soulful Home, and children’s religious exploration.

The theme for December is Living Love Through the Practice of Presence

Children’s Religious Education

In CRE children will be exploring The Practice of Presence. A goal this month is to help our children leave behind the hustle & bustle of the holiday season as well as escape the all-pervasive consumerist messaging. Instead, we want them to look around and notice the deeper gifts of the season.

December 8: Presence & Gift Giving (Exploring Lessons in Gift Giving)

In this session, we dive into our theme of the practice of presence by exploring lessons in gift-giving. This session highlights how, during the gift-focused holiday season, our society often gives us messages that, when it comes to gifts, “bigger is better.” This focus on the size and expense of the gift overshadows the truly meaningful part of gift-giving: a chance to offer a gift that represents something special about them or shows them what we appreciate about them. All of which invites us to think about the practice of presence as the practice of being present to what you love and appreciate about those you are planning on giving gifts to.

December 15: Presence & Darkness (Exploring the Invitation of Winter Solstice)

In this session, we explore The Practice of Presence through the lens of the Winter Solstice. Winter is a time of dark and cold, and often the messages we receive from our culture and society is that the darkness brings threats. This session invites children to use the pagan tradition and understanding of solstice to see things differently. Instead of something to be afraid of, times of darkness can be seen as spaces of rest, renewal and even regbirth. And from this perspective, we are all called to take on the practice of looking for and being present to the many gifts hidden in and emerging from the darkness. 

December 22: No Rehearsal, All Ages,  Christmas Pageant 

Join us Sunday morning for a multigenerational worship service, our annual no rehearsal, all ages,  Christmas Pageant. What is a no rehearsal Christmas Pageant? Everyone will be together in the service as we celebrate the birth legend of Jesus. During the service people are invited to come forward to create a tableaux of manger animals, wise people, shepherds and angels.

December 29: Presence & Hope  (Exploring the Invitation of Hanukkah)

In this session, we close our exploration of  The Practice of Presence by engaging the tradition of Hanukkah and its call to take up the practice of looking for hope in the midst of seeming hopeless.

Soulful Home: December 15th

Soulful Home: December 15th

Soulful Home is an ongoing parent group meeting the third Sunday of each month following the service. Parents are invited to bring a sack lunch for themselves and for their child(ren). Children will remain up in the Matan Building for childcare while parents meet to build community and explore the Soulful Home resources. Soulful Home is a program through Soul Matters that supports families as they explore the sacred in everyday spaces by providing materials to help parents integrate Unitarian Universalism into everyday home life.   

There are nine “spaces” that Soulful Home focuses on:

• The Welcome Mat: Introducing the Monthly Theme

• At the Table: Exploring the Theme Through Question-Driven Discussions

• At Play: Having Fun with Faith-full Games

• At The Bedside & In The Book Nook: Exploring the Theme Through Stories

• In Front of the Screen: Watching Meaningful Movies Together

• In the Toolbox: Strategies and Skills to Navigate the Complicated Stuff

• On the Porch: Connecting and Sharing Stories with Parenting Partners

• Alongside the Chalice: Inviting UU Identity Practices into our Daily Lives

• The Extra Mile: Going Above and Beyond Together

While Soulful Home activities focus on children from Kindergarten through 8th grade, all parents are welcome to attend. This is a chance for parents of the fellowship to meet each other and build community.

At the September gathering, families will get copies of September and October’s Soulful Home. Starting in October, families will get the packet for the following month. Parents who are unable to attend the gathering are welcome to contact Melinda and have a packet sent electronically. 

Creativity Matters

Are you interested in spiritual exploration through creativity? Looking for a group to participate in at the Fellowship? Creativity Matters may be for you. Like a Chalice Circle, participants will gather monthly. At the start of each month,  participants will receive project-based packets built around the monthly theme. Each packet contains creative exercises for group members to work on prior to the meeting. Packets also contain inspirational material and reflection questions to get your creative juices flowing.  Unlike an artists group that explores technique and provides critiques, this group will gather together, similar to a Chalice Circle, for spiritual discernment. While artists are welcome, no experience or artistic skill is required.  Project options include such things as: collage, storytelling, scrapbooking, sketching, photography, creative writing, watercolor painting, fabric arts, sculpture, movement, music, and more. All projects are designed for everyone. At the monthly gathering group members will share their projects and insights that emerged from the exercise/project they picked.  If you are interested in participating please contact Melinda.

Family Friendly Fellowship Film Night: The Grinch? The Polar Express? : December 20th

This is an all ages movie night. Pack a picnic dinner, blanket and pillows and join members of the Soulful Home parenting group for an indoor picnic, pajama wearing, film viewing event. This is an all ages event and because of this we will be starting early. You are invited to socialize and eat from 5:30 to 6:00. At 6:00 movie will begin 

Note: We are trying to limit clean up following the event, that is where the picnic idea came from. Because of this we will not be setting up tables and the kitchen will be closed.

Volunteer Opportunities
Sunday Morning Program

Sunday Morning Program

Our children’s program is growing and we need you. If you have been involved in the Fellowship for at least a year and are interested and willing to work with our children, we need you. 

Childcare: We need helpers in childcare for those mornings when one of our childcare providers is out. Childcare is for crawlers-pre K. 

Elementary Aged Children: We have so many children attending regularly that we need a second adult in the room with our teacher. The teacher will prepare all materials and lead the activity. We just need someone to help them. If you are interested please see Melinda. We also have a need for helpers in childcare. All who work with our children are required to have a background check. 

Middle School: We have a very small group of middle schoolers but are hoping that we can soon have enough to have a middle school group that meets regularly. For this to happen, we need not only middle schoolers, but a team of adults that would be willing to work with this amazing group. 

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please talk to Melinda Hughes, Director of Religious Exploration on a Sunday morning.

Family Friendly Service

KUUF services are family friendly! Children are welcome to stay for the entire service. Most 5-12 year olds choose to go to Children's Religious Exploration (CRE) after Time for All Ages.

Time for All Ages

KUUF is a member of the Soul Matters Sharing Circle, a group of over 145 UU congregations who follow the same monthly worship themes. This year's overarching frame is The Gifts of Our Faith, focusing on ten beloved UU values and exploring their potential to shape us and in turn shape the world. This allows us to share in a Time for All Ages, often a story, that connects the theme to the sermon and to the activities the children will be doing. Following Time for All Ages most children go to Children's Religious Exploration.