Plans for R.E. in 2020-21
Children’s religious education programming will be entirely online until further notice as we continue to observe social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year will be unique and different! We have tried to develop a variety of R.E. plans to meet the needs of children of all ages and who learn in a variety of different ways, within the constraints of our need to remain physically distant from each other until the pandemic has passed. The R.E. Year will begin on Sept. 13.
Home Spiritual Practice Kits
Families that register to participate will have kits that cycle between families every two weeks (with the option of a quarantine phase at the church for families that request it). Each kit will have a chalice and a different simple spiritual practices to explore as a family (some of which are familiar from our centering moments in church and some of which will be brand new to families).
Sunday Morning Tea Party (all ages, but targeted at pre-K to K) – Sunday at 10 a.m.
We will meet via Zoom and get a chance to see each other’s faces, say hi, and share a story together, And because each tea party needs pastries and fabulous attire, we will also have a (optional) muffin recipe suggestion and costuming suggestion for each Sunday.
Family Movie Night (all ages, but targeted at K-4th grade) – Friday at 6:30 p.m.
In place of a Sunday RE class for K-4th graders, we will instead have a movie night where we will show a Pixar short film, and follow it with discussion questions. Families can choose to join in a Zoom discussion with other families or can log off and discuss with their families alone.
Twilight Zone Class (5th-6th grade) – Sunday at noon
We will watch a Twilight Zone episode (created by UU Rod Serling!) and discuss the big ideas that are explored in the episode.
YUUTs Online Collective Journal (7-8th grade)
Instead of another Zoom class for our Zoomed-out junior high schoolers, we will create a collaborative journal for them to contribute to with a combination of deep reflection and deep silliness.
Service Sundays (all ages) – First Sunday each month at noon
We are taking our service project programming online! Families will have the opportunity to register in advance, and a kit of materials will be delivered to your house. For those who want to, we will meet via Zoom to keep each other company as we work on our service projects.
Junior Youth (6th-8th grade) – 2nd and 4th Fridays each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
We have been having so much fun in Junior Youth this summer that we are increasing our meeting time to twice a month. We will meet via Zoom for a variety of fun activities, from movie watching, to playing games, to cooking challenges.
YRUU (high school youth group) – Sunday, 4-6 p.m.
We will meet in a combination of socially distanced in-person events and online (depending on pandemic conditions in Columbia). The teens will use their first meeting to brainstorm activities.
December Schedule
Dec. 4
6:30 p.m. – Family Movie Night
Dec. 6
10 a.m. – Morning Tea Party
Noon – Service Sunday
Dec. 11
6:30 p.m. – Junior Youth
Dec. 13
10 a.m. – Morning Tea Party
Noon – Adams Family Class
3:30 p.m. – YRUU
Dec. 18
6:30 p.m. – Family Movie Night
Dec. 20
10 a.m. – Morning Tea Party
Noon – Simple Gifts Workshop
Upcoming R.E. events
Room at the Inn Service Project – Noon-1 p.m. Dec. 6
As the church prepares to host Room at the Inn for the winter, our R.E. community will do a service project to make them feel welcome. We will be creating a welcome sign, with each child who participates decorating a letter. Please let Jamila know by Dec. 2 if you would like to participate so she can deliver your letters to decorate. Please return decorated letters to the church by Dec. 11.
Christmas Story Path – Saturday, Dec. 12, 4:30-5:30
This year we won’t be in-person for our Christmas Eve service in which children participate in each part of the Christmas Story. Instead, we will bring the story outside, where one at a time, families can move through and participate with the story, in magical tableaus across our church grounds. We will be socially distanced and masked, and take all safety precautions. Please RSVP at this link if you plan to attend: https://forms.gle/R8pAraLnA5hZid828.
Simple Gifts Workshop – Noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20
Every year at UUCC we do a Simple Gifts Workshop where children make crafts to give as gifts. This year we may be socially distant, but Simple Gifts will still go on! Please register for the workshop by Dec. 6, and a box of supplies will be delivered to your home. Then join our Zoom workshop to learn how to make each of the crafts in the kit! Register at the following link, and complete one registration for each child who will participate please.