Director of Religious Education

Roots Class (pre-k to 1st grade) with Marie:

This week the Roots class began learning Spirit of Life by singing and then dancing with scarves to this special song. Did you know our class name is part of the lyrics? Listen very closely https://youtu.be/EcFZ32EHexY, “roots hold me close, wings set me free/Spirit of Life come to me, come to me.” The wind was very helpful in making our many scarf colors so beautiful with our movement. We began talking about symbols, looking at a heart symbol compared to a drawing of a human heart and noticing the chalice symbol on the front of our hymnal for example. Be on the lookout for symbols you notice together and talk about this week. We’ll think more about the chalice next Sunday. 

Seedling Class (2nd to 4th grade) with Piaf:

This week we continued our exploration of identity by playing a preferences game, noticing our many differences and many similarities. Then we read a book about the role of melanin in skin color and brainstormed how this topic relates to our 7 UU principles. The kids had a lot to say about their understanding of racism and how the UU principles can guide us in creating an inclusive and welcoming space at church. We ended by crafting paper dolls holding hands.

Wildflower Youth (5th grade & Middle School) with Solveij:

This week, our youth group delved deeper into what restorative justice is and looks like, with a ‘madlib’ we wrote together. We created an unrealistic, wacky scenario where everything goes wrong… and then it was our group’s job to fix or ‘restore’ the situation. In figuring out how to make things right, each group looked at central restorative justice questions together. One outcome of our conversation was the reflection that those affected by harm are most important in coming up with a solution — it it’s not a solution to them, it’s not a solution at all.

Root Class (pre-k to 1st grade) with Marie:

We were so sorry to hear of the passing of a Wildflower member. Many grownups are grieving and we talked about that during joys and concerns today. The children had other losses to share about beloved pets and grandparents. We listened to anyone who wanted to share and I talked about how important it is to talk together about things you’re feeling and wondering about. This is what a community does for each other. Death brings up so many questions and I am encouraging the children to keep talking about what is on their minds.

The children also walked the labyrinth today, with careful steps, pausing in the center to take a deep breath. The center is a place to think about opening our hearts and our minds and then following the path back out again when you feel ready. Walking the labyrinth feels special and happy, kids thought, it feels like a rainbow. And are there other ones? Could there be a bigger labyrinth? How long does it take to walk a big one? 

Seedlings Class (2nd to 4th) with Piaf:

This week we discussed the recent youth climate strike. After looking at pictures of protesters around the world, we talked about Greta Thunberg’s role in sparking the events. Drawing on last week’s identity theme of how others see us compared to how we see ourselves, we brainstormed how Greta was perceived at the beginning when she was the only one striking compared with how she is seen today. Finally, kids worked on their self-portrait art. We also played a fun round of telephone!

Wildflower Youth (5th & Middle School) with Solveij:

During our meeting, we talked about the climate strike, played games, and learned about what restorative justice means and would look like in our group and our world. Questions we asked included: What would it look like if fossil fuel companies that polluted the waters of native communities practiced restorative justice? How do we practice restorative justice with friends and in our youth group?

This week was our fall semester kick-off and the first day of our newly reorganized Religious Education classes. Marie Catrett leads the Roots class (pre-k to 1st grade), Piaf Azul leads the Seedlings class (2nd to 4th grade) and Solveij Praxis leads our Wildflower Youth (5th grade & Middle School).

Roots Class:

Hello to our grownups! Today we began our Creating Home curriculum, making each child’s name stone and wondering together about the labyrinth we’ll be using each week to journey into the center of Wildflower as our congregational home. We will begin walking the labyrinth next Sunday, one of the rituals we’ll use for our time together. If we missed you this Sunday, more name stone making will happen next week. Thank you for the warm welcome; I am so excited to teach your children.

-Marie

Seedlings Class:

This week we began by brainstorming what our Classroom Covenant should include. What promises do we want to make to each other for our time together? We also played an ice-breaker game and made leaf rubbings to decorate our Covenant poster.

-Piaf

Wildflower Youth:

This week, youth strengthened their connections with a fast-paced ice-breaker game and then began discussing plans for future events. This group was full of ideas of things we can do for fun and in service to the world. Finally, youth created a collaborative plan to share the responsibilities involved in serving ice cream to everyone at the Sunday sundae social.

-Solveij

This Sunday we had a lively group, including many new friends! We began by lighting our chalice and sharing our joys & sorrows (dubbed rose & thorn). We also discussed the kick-off for our fall Religious Education classes on September 8 and the ice cream social that same day. Then we got up for an active name game that challenged us all. Finally, we played a mega-round of the game Telephone.

Hope to see you all on September 8! Our three RE classes will be broken down as follows: pre-K to first grade, second grade to fourth grade, fifth grade & middle school (youth).

This week during the Time for All Ages portion of the service, kids brainstormed all the things that trees give us and what we give trees. Other than the crucial interchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the children came up with many other important gifts we give and receive from trees. After our Religious Education class, we joined the circle of adults who were singing to a majestic oak.

As part of our UU faith, we recognize the interdependent web of life that we all depend on and that, naturally, includes trees!

This week, the kids recapped the butterfly story from last week and talked about how Wildflower can support people with many different identities in our communities. In the brainstorm, the kids came up with the following:-having ASL interpretation (and other languages in the future)-offering physical shelter-fundraising/giving money-being kind-being helpful-not hurting each other. In addition, Solveij and the kids talked about how Wildflower is part of a network of churches that provide support to immigrants seeking sanctuary.