Pinterest Pick Thursday

It's Pinterest Pick Thursday!  Are you excited about the 3 day weekend ahead?  Ready for the unofficial end of summer?  Any big plans?  Well, as you are planning your labor day celebration, I hope you will consider adding this week's pinterest pick to your plans.  Because this week's pick is all about the true meaning of labor day.

Happy Labor Day from the Accidental DRE.

For those of you who may be new to this blog, Pinterest Pick Thursday is a running series on this blog.  Each Thursday, I highlight a pinterest activity (or several) that you can do at home to support your child's faith formation (or, if you like, spiritual / belief formation).  Faith formation is made up of 4 components:

• Content (Curriculum)
• Community (Relationships)
• Covenant (How do we promise to be in relation to one another?)
• Context / Calling (What is our purpose in our larger community?)

Pinterest Pick of the Week:

Labor Day Appreciation

Faith Formation Component:

Context / Calling

Time for Activity:

1 to 2 hours

Recommended Age:

3 and above

Materials:

Construction paper or card stock, Markers / Crayons / Colored pencils, Baking Materials for your chosen treat, sandwich bags for treat storage.

Activities:

If you have a child 8 years or older, you may want to start by asking what they know about labor day and then viewing the following TED-ED video together.  For those of you with children between 3 and 8, you may just want to view the video by yourself and explain to your child that Labor Day is a day we celebrate the American worker - this includes the police officers and firefighters that serve and protect us, as well as the people who make the things we use everyday.

If you watched this video with your child, here are a few follow up questions to stimulate meaningful discussion.

• That video was really interesting, what did you find most interesting?
• Did anything surprise you?
• What do you think about the fact that there are children around the world just like you who are working instead of going to school?
• Which of our 7 principles came to mind as you watched this video?

After learning the history of Labor Day, point out that not every American worker gets labor day off - people who work in low paying jobs (at the supermarket, gas station, or local restaurant, etc.) or those who provide crucial services (the people who work at the electric company, police officers, firefighters, etc.) still have to work on labor day.  Then, plan to show your appreciation of these people.  Here's how...

1. Make 'Thank You' cards for these hard workers.
2. Make a special treat to give away.  Parent Society offers 10 red, white and blue treats for summer holidays.  Choose one of those treats to make, make your own favorite summer treat, or make my favorite - Orange Juice Popsicle (different recipes can be found Generations of Savings, Wiki How, The Meaning of Pie, and Fix Me a Snack).
3. Place the treats in individual snack bags.
4. Decide among yourselves, who should get the thank you cards and treats.  You could hand them out to the low wage workers you encounter throughout the day (e.g. the gas station attendant, the grocery store clerk, etc.), or you could arrange a special time to drop them off at the police station of fire station (you'll need to call to arrange this).
5. Finally, on Labor Day, distribute your thank you cards and treats.

This Red, White and Blue Chex Mix can be found by
following the Parent Society link above.

Follow up questions:

• How do you think people felt, getting our special thank you cards and treats?  How did you feel?
• (If you have an older child) While things have gotten better in the work place, there are still a lot of challenges.  There are still child laborers and unsafe work conditions around the world.  In some jobs, women and men still aren't paid the same.  And, low wage workers can't make a living.  What do you think is the most important social justice issue facing workers today?  What do you think should be done about it?

Original Sources:  This week's pinterst pick was inspired by the activities on Preschool Express.  The TED-ED video can be found on YouTube.  The recipes for each treat can be found at their links above.

As the summer is coming to an end, I also hope to see many of you at the Water Communion this Sunday.  Don't forget to bring your water!

Happy Labor Day!

- Ms. Meredith

Pinterest Pick Thursday

It's Pinterest Pick Thursday again!  Hooray!  Remember, these are activities you can do at home to promote your child's faith formation (or, if you like, spiritual / belief formation).  The four components of faith formation are:

• Content (Curriculum)
• Community (Relationships / Group Identity)
• Covenant (How do we promise to be with each other)
• Contex / Calling (Who are we in our community / Social Justice) 

Pin this blog post, or follow my 'Pinterest Pick Thursday' board.

Pinterest Pick of the Week:
First Church Camp Out - Yellow Springs

Faith Formation Component:
Community

Time for Activity:
Saturday OR
Saturday and Sunday

Recommended Age:
All Ages

Materials:
Camping Materials (i.e. Tent, sleeping bags, etc.) and a dish for Saturday's Potluck dinner

Activities:
This weekend, a group of First Church members, visitors and friends are headed up to Yellow Springs for a camp out.  You are free to join them on Saturday or for the entire weekend (Saturday and Sunday).  Cost is $6 per adult and $3 per child.  The goal - to simply be with each other.  Below is a short list of activity ideas for families who are planning to attend the camp out.

Explore Yellow Springs Logo

Dining and Entertainment
As I already stated, dinner will be potluck, so be sure to bring a dish.  But, what about the other meals?  Well, Youngs Dairy Farm, The Corner Cone & Grill & Bike Rental, and The Clifton Mill all offer dining as well as entertainment.

Shopping
Yellow Spring is known for its great independent stores.  While you are shopping, don't miss out on Dark Star Books, Mr. Fub's Party: Toys & More, and Super-Fly Comics & Games.  You may also want to check out the Yellow Springs Farmer's Market.

Spiritual Nurture
There will be a short worship service on Sunday morning, but if you are looking for additional ways to nurture your soul, check out the Dharma Center, they offer Zen meditation on Saturday, and Vipassana meditation on Sunday.

Education
If you have a high school youth, you may want to take this time to check out one of the local colleges.  Yellow Springs is home to both Antioch College and Antioch University: Midwest.

Camp Out Activities
Of course, you can always just hang around the camp grounds and enjoy some old fashioned (and new fashioned) camp out activities.  Some of my personal favorites - Geocaching and Nature Scavanger Hunt.

Stock Photo of a family camping.

If you want to know more about the First Church Camp Out, or if you would like to register to attend, please message me and I will get you in touch with the events organizer.

To learn more about what Yellow Springs has to offer, visit Explore Yellow Springs.  For more camp out ideas, visit Great American Backyard Campout.

Original Sources: See above for links.

See you in Yellow Springs!

- Ms. Meredith

Pinterest Pick Thursday

It's Pinterest Pick Thursday again!  This is the time each week that I highlight a pinterest activity for you to do at home to help support your child's faith formation (or, if you like, belief / spiritual formation).  Remember, faith formation is comprised of 4 areas:

• Content (Curriculum)
• Community (Relationships and Group Identity)
• Covenant (How we choose to be with one another)
• Context / Calling (Who we are in our community)

With school beginning all across the tri-state, chaos may be descending on your household.  Adjusting to new routines and new demands can be challenging.  It is very easy for those of us (parents and children) who may be predisposed to anxiety (like me) to become stressed and overwhelmed.  So, this week's Pinterest Pick was chosen with that in mind.  This Pinterest Pick is brought to you by the idea that, while we aren't always able to change our situation, we are always able to change the way we react to it.  Enjoy!

Pinterest Pick of the Week:

Family Altar

Faith Formation Component:

Covenant

Time for Activity:

1 - 2 hours initial set up

0.25 hours each day, ongoing

Recommended Age:

All Ages

Materials:

A chalice, a clean surface, and one sentimental item per family member

Additional optional material - A blank notebook with writing utensil, a piece of nature, incense, additional candles, stones, family picture, UU coloring pages, other religious symbols, etc.

This picture shows the home altar of a Catholic.  Notice the religious
symbols - Marry, Jesus and several crosses - are displayed along with a bible.

Activities:

Initial Set Up - Send your family one a scavenger hunt, have each member find one item in the house they find 'sacred.' - this could be a plant, a family picture, a stature that represents some sort of abstract concept, anything.  Now, as a family dig out those old keep sake boxes.  Rummage through the years of old family photos, vacation keepsakes, and memories.  Reminisce, share stories, wonder, then choose a few items to go on your families altar.

Next, clear a small surface in your household.  This could be a small table or bookshelf in a corner or in a closet, the fireplace mantel, a floating bookshelf, or the back of the piano.  It doesn't matter, just make sure it is central and all members of the household have access to it.  Then, gather around the newly cleaned off surface, and construct your family altar.  Invite each member of your family to share why they chose the 'sacred' object that they chose.  What meaning does it have to them?

Finally, explain that the purpose of the altar - it is a place for the family to collect their thoughts, remind them of what is important in life, and re-energize every day.  If you wish, hold your first family worship.

This picture shows a home altar of another world religion.  You'll notice this
home altar contains many pictures, candles, as well as a place to sit and meditate.

Day to day use -  There are three instances in which I would suggest using your family altar.  They are...

• At the beginning of the day - With the intention of starting the day off on a positive note, it might be worth trying to start your families day at the family altar.  Read an inspiring quote.  Discuss how each person is feeling about the day ahead.  Stretch or do yoga together.
• At Night - You can also use your family altar as a place where each person can reflect about their day.  Use a journal to keep track of people you wish to hold in your hearts and thoughts.  Or, simply reflect on these questions: "What am I thankful for today? What am I sorry about?  What am I hopeful for?"
• During Chaos - You may find your family altar serves its purpose best when it is used during times of stress and chaos.  Gather the family and review the objects placed on your family altar - remind yourself what meaning lies within these objects.

Just like at church, it might be useful to have a standard opening and closing.  Both can put you and your family in the correct frame of mind for what is about to happen next (whether that is time at the altar, or time in the real world).  A few other rituals you might want to consider:

• Regularly change out the 'sacred' objects on the altar.  At each worship, hold these objects in your hands and reflect on their meanings.
• Use incense to trigger mood or memory.  Loose yourself in the experience.
• Draw circles in sand or in a notebook.  Or, run a piece of cloth between your fingers.  Do what you can to occupy your hands so that your mind can wander.
• Listen to calming music in the background in an attempt to clear your mind and set the right mood.
• Sing a meaningful song.

Original Sources: Inspiration and pictures provided by Catholic Icing and Oregon Live.

Wishing you well,

- Ms. Meredith

Starting with love and conversation

Our 15 year old niece moved in with us last week.  Admittedly, it has been a bit of a transition (and will continue to be until we settle on a routine), but she is absolutely delightful to be around.  She is insightful, has a wonderful sense of humor and is amazing with my daughter.

My niece hugs and kisses my daughter as they take selfies in the kitchen.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to find out, it isn't easy being a teenager in this day and age.  In the week that she has been with us, I've seen more than a few tears shed over bad 'friends' and mean spirited comments over social media.  There is no escaping the bullies, and that is frightening.  It also makes me think, our children are hurting, and hurting leads to anger.  So, how do we grow strong children, able to weather bad 'friends' and mean spirited comments?  And, how do we get our children to see the hurt behind someone else's anger?

I'm not entirely sure, but I am certain the answer starts with modeling and talking about love, compassion, strength.  Thankfully, the beginning of school presents the perfect opportunity for us to sit down with the children in our charge and talk openly about these things - What does bullying look like?  What do you feel like when you are bullied or see someone being bullied?  What do you do?  What do our 7 principles tell us to do?  How hard or easy is it to do the right thing?  What about the bully?

I've heard recently that the most important person in any bullying situation is the bystander.  If the bystander is silent, the bully feels justified and the victim feels he 'deserves' it.  However, if the bystander speaks up, says 'stop' or 'no,' then the bully doesn't feel supported by his peers, and the victim does.  Interesting stuff, no?

As 'back to school' approaches, I hope you will sit down with your children and talk about these important issues.  Then, throughout the school year, you can continue the discussion.  Instead of telling them to "Have a nice day!" remind them of who they are with sendoff's like "Remember to honor your classsmates' inherent worth an dignity today!" and "Principle 2: Be kind in all you do today!"  These UU-rooted send-offs will not only help your child live his/her UU principles, but they are sure to spark conversation as the bus stop with other parents, too.  And, who knows, by the end of the year, maybe every child on your child's bus will be 'building a fair and peaceful world (principle 7).'

Unitarian Universalist's 7 principles, children's version.

Wishing you love, compassion and strength in the oncoming chaos of back to school!

- Ms. Meredith

Pinterest Pick Thursdays

Welcome to a new series in my blog - Pinterest Pick Thursdays.  Today, and every thursday, I'm going to highlight a pinterest activity that you can do at home to support your child's faith formation.  If you have been reading the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati's newsletter, or if you have been following the 'Full Week Faith' movement in UU congregations, then you know faith formation (or, if you like, spirituality / belief formation) is comprised of 4 parts: Content (i.e. curriculum), Community (relationships), Covenant (How we treat each other?), and Calling (group identity and social justice).

Over the course of several weeks, I hope to highlight activities that pertain to all four of these.  'Why, Thursdays,' you may ask.  Well, I wanted to make sure you had at least a day to gather the materials before the weekend whisked you away to soccer games and overdue chores.

So, without further ado, your Pinterest Pick of the Week!

Pinterest Pick: 
'Stained Glass' Chalices

Faith Formation Component: 
Content

Time for Activity: 
0.5 - 1 hour

Recommended Age:
4 Years Old and Up

Materials: 
A Computer with access to YouTube, Acetate Sheets, Copy Paper, Pencils, Rulers, Sharpies, Aluminum Foil, Construction Paper, Scissors and Double Sided Tape

Activities:
Start with some discussion...

• What is the symbol of our religion?
• What does it mean to you?
• Childhood Development Moment: Children, up until the age of 12, differentiate and define religions based on their symbols and stories.  Children older than the age of 12 are better able to conceptualize conventional notions of faith, and take on a more nuanced view.
• I wonder how it came to be?

Watch the following video from UUCA

Follow up with a short discussion...

• At the beginning of the video, the narrator says that our flaming chalice is "a sign of service to others."  Do you believe that is true?  I wonder what the rest of the world thinks of when they look at our chalice?
• Also at the beginning of the video, the narrator says we are "grateful heirs - and keepers - of our flaming chalice."  What does it mean to be 'keepers' of our flaming chalice?

Be a 'keeper' of the flaming chalice - claim it for yourself by creating a stained glass chalice.  Start by sketching out a design on copy paper using the pencil.  Don't be afraid to include some other symbols you feel define this faith (e.g. If you feel our chalice represents service, you may draw a picture of helping hands), or your individual beliefs (e.g. A UU christian might include a cross).  Pay close attention to edge lines, where the 'lead' of a traditional stained glass window would hold the panes together.  Transfer the drawing onto the acetate paper using the black sharpie.  Then, color the glass 'panes' using colored sharpies.  

To complete your stained glass masterpiece, lightly crumple a piece of aluminum foil.  Affix the aluminum foil to your piece of acetate paper using double sided tape.  Make sure the marker side of the acetate is against the foil, this will eliminate color streaks.  Finally, cut a 'frame' out of the construction paper, and adhere your 'stained glass' to it.  Now, you have a beautiful 'stained glass' Chalice that can go anywhere in your home.

Picture from http://margauritaspear.blogspot.com/

Original Sources: YouTube video courtesy of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta and Jeep Hook's YouTube channel.  Stained glass window activity inspired by Margaurita Spear's own stained glass lesson.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend of wonder!

- Ms. Meredith