For quite some time, the Religious Exploration (RE) program has worked through a three-year rotation of themes—one year focusing on Unitarian-Universalist principles and lore and history; one year encountering the religions of the world; and one year exploring our Judeo-Christian and Biblical heritage.
This year, RE is undertaking this last one: in particular, a journey into the stories of the Bible. It’s an exploration of what these mythic stories have to do with us today; how they connect to our UU principles (or don’t); what they might reveal about being human, about being in relationship with one another, with other living things , with the world, and with nature.
– from Rev Lilli Nye’s sermon “Story Ark” (Sept. 18, 2011) which you can read and listen to here.
Our Religious Exploration theme for 2011-2012 is The Creator Who Creates Creators: Our Judeo-Christian Heritage. We will have a series of days devoted to introducing a story from the Bible, a day for exploring the themes of that story through music, and a day for exploring the themes of each story through mural-making and/or social action activities. We will continue several intergenerational activities to help support community learning, including family celebrations. We will also introduce a day when adults work together with teens as they create projects with younger children.
The weekly schedule is as follows:
Introduce the Story Day
During “A Time for All Ages” in the sanctuary, the whole intergenerational congregation will hear and even dramatize the story together. Then the children will divide up into two groups: K-2nd and 3rd-6th. The children work with adult teachers, using games and activities that help students understand the main themes and ideas behind each story.
Introduce the Story Day Dates: Oct. 2, Oct. 16, Nov. 20, Jan. 15, Feb. 12, March 18, and May 8
Music Day
Students will come together to explore the themes of each story through music. During each Music Day students will learn two or three new songs as well as create movement and enact stories to go with each song.
Music Day Dates: Oct. 23, Dec. 4, Jan. 22, Feb. 26, March 25, and May 13
Teacher & Teens Day
In an effort to build stronger intergenerational community, adults and teens will work together to offer activities for children that further explore the themes of each story.
Teacher & Teens Dates: Nov. 6, Dec. 11, Jan. 29, March 4, April 1, and June 3
Family Celebration Day
Children and at least one parent from each family come together to share final thoughts about each story and the themes we’ve been exploring. The main focus will be on completing the mural that the K-2nd class began during the Teacher & Youth Day. The mural will be an open space for everyone’s expression of that story to be shared.
Family Celebration Dates: Sept. 11, Nov. 13, Feb. 5, March 11, April 22, and June 10.