RE Shining Star: Janet Goodwin

This month, we honor Janet Goodwin as our REShining Star. Janet has just completed a two-yearterm as the Chair of the RE Council, and we arevery sorry to see her go. Janet's warmth and generosity ofspirit make her a joy to work with, andthrough her leadership in the lasttwo years the RE program hasblossomed. But Janet is eager toget back to what she loves best- teaching in the RE classroom.And how could webegrudge her that? Janet isone of our most seasoned andskilled RE teachers, and nextyear's Explorers class will belucky to have her on the team.Over the years, Janet has taughtelementary classes, assisted inNeighboring Faiths, facilitated RE Councilmeetings, served as an RE Greeter, helped with innumerableRE events, all while continuing her volunteer workwith another of UUCCSM's most valuable programs,Faith in Action. And until this month, it has been Janetherself who has penned our monthly RE Shining Starrecognition, and her shoes are hard to fill; if the writingstyle now is somewhat lacking, it certainly does notreflect the level of esteem we hold for this month's ShiningStar, for Janet is one of our most shining examples ofRE leadership. Three cheers for Janet!

- Catherine Farmer

From OurDRE

Spring is here, and summer is right around the bend. Is it just me or has thisyear gone by incredibly quickly? How can it be May already? This is always thebusiest time of year for the RE program, when we're simultaneously wrappingup the year in our classrooms, putting together our Coming of Age and RE Sundayservices, recognizing the graduating high school seniors in a special BridgingCeremony, and planning and recruiting for our summer RE programs, as well ascreating the structure and vision for next year's RE program to be kicked offin September. Whew! That's a lot to have going on all at once, but I love beingpart of a church community that is so vibrant, so very active.

This month, though, in our children's RE program, we're taking a break fromall the busyness and will spend the full month doing our first-ever "Arts Intensive"program. Children will be invited to explore their spirituality through thearts in a variety of different ways with lots of options to choose from eachweek.

From May 7 to 21 kids in our elementary classes will come together in the bluebungalow to make wonderful art together with the help of UUCCSM's Wednesdaynight Covenant Group I and Judy Schonebaum, our children's choir director. Kidswill be invited to work with clay, create a canvas banner, make a wonderfulcollage, explore painting, or make a joyful noise together through song andrhythm. Choose one and stick with it for the month, or sample them all; themonth promises to be fun for everyone!

Then, on May 28th, we'll all work together on a very special surprise projectto be unveiled at our RE Sunday service in June. What will it be? The only wayto find out is to come on the 28th and take part!

A schedule for the month will be included in the Order of Service each weekduring the month, and will be mailed to all families with children in RE. We'realso looking for a few more people to sign up to assist for one Sunday eachduring the month. For more information or to volunteer, please contact me atCatherinedre@yahoo.com.

- Catherine Farmer,
Director of Religious Education

YRUU Service in April

On April 2, the members of the church high school group provided their annualservice.

Course Will Help People 21 to 35 Express What theyBelieve as UUs

What do you do once you say you're a UU? Talking about a non-creedal liberalreligion can be difficult, but it's worth the effort.

A four-week class will help you deepen your understanding of our faith andsharpen your ability to describe it to others. The focus of this curriculumis on practicing how and what to say in various settings when you might be calledupon to declare yourself religiously or illuminate some angle on this liberalreligious movement that has touched and changed so many lives for the better.Such moments are precious opportunities to shed light on your path and perhapsgrow a happy awareness in someone else about the rich "living tradition" weshare.

Too often in response to the question, "What do UUs believe?" we reply withthe negative: "We don't believe this. We don't believe that." There is muchwe do affirm and we need to be clear in espousing those affirmations. Many ofus struggle to adequately describe our religion to others.

This course provides inspiration and resources, plus the opportunity for meaningfulconnection to fellow young adult UUs. We will meet for four Sunday afternoonsat 4:30 p.m., from May 7 to June 4. (We will not meet on May 28.) CatherineFarmer will be facilitating. Please call her at the church office to sign up.Don't delay - the group is limited to the first 12 who sign up.

RE Star for May: Robert Simon

This month, we honor Robert Simon as our RE star. If you have attended thewinter pageant in the last several years, you have witnessed the processionof the three tiny wise men on their well-appointed camels. Now an annual attraction,the very first group of camels included Robert, in full camel regalia, gentlycarrying a young child "wise man" - not yet his own - on his shoulders. At thatsame pageant, he also read Langston Hughes' poem about the black Wise Man.

Several years ago Robert was approached about volunteering as an OWL teacher.(OWL is the Our Whole Lives sexuality education curriculum.) He said "yes" rightaway and traveled to Portland, OR, for the training. Since then, Robert hastaught OWL to at least eight different groups of children at all levels - kindergarten/1stgrade, 5th/6th grade, and 8th/9th grade. In 2003 Robert also served as an advisorin our 8th grade Coming of Age class, helping them to craft their credos anddiscover their identity as UUs.

In all that he does, Robert has been an incredibly warm and nurturing presencein our children's lives. His kind and gentle ways, his generous spirit, andhis love of children have endeared him to all who know him. Congratulations,Robert.

From theDesk of the DRE

What is the children's RE program all about, anyway? We're now two thirds ofthe way through our church year; it's time for us to start planning for thenext one, and the RE Council and I have some big questions for you. How is whatwe're doing working for your family? What would you like us to offer in thefuture? What brought you and your children to our church, and what keeps youhere?

Over the past couple of years we've been adjusting our programs and tryingnew things. I'm proud of the program we're offering. We're asking the "big questions,"not because we think things aren't going well. They are. But it's importantthat we stay in touch with the whole congregation's desires and dreams for ourprograms, and so we're coming to you to start the conversation.

I have a particular bias as a religious professional, and it is this: all partsof our church community are at their most successful when interrelated, andthe children's RE program is not separate from the whole life of the church.RE isn't just something we do to occupy the kids' time so the adults can havechurch. I know you all know that, but I also worry that it is easy to becomeso caught up in the inner workings of the program that we isolate ourselves,and that our connections to the whole church become less obvious. So I'm continuallylooking for ways to break us out of our RE shell and invite the whole churchin.

To this end the RE Council and I invite you to join us on Sunday, March 19,at 10 and 12 after each service for a visioning meeting for the children's REat UUCCSM. This is a counterpart to the adult programs visioning meeting heldon February 21. Whether or not you're a parent or volunteer in the RE program,we need to hear from you. What are the most important elements of our educationalministry to the youngest members of our community?

What does RE mean to us?

From theDesk of the DRE

Recently I've been following a very interesting discussion on a UURE e-maillist about how and why social justice is done in churches. The focus of thediscussion has primarily been on the structure of social justice programs, somethingthat we already do very well at UUCCSM. I have been continually impressed withthe work of the Faith in Action Commission. I do think, though, that the discussionis relevant to how we articulate the reasons for doing social justice work tothe children and youth in our religious exploration programs. One danger, accordingto some, is that we don't always know why we're doing what we do, and that sometimeschurches can fall into "charity mode," doing social action for the purpose oflooking good in the community or so that we can feel good about ourselves.

So why do we do social justice in RE? To instill a sense in our children thatwhat we do matters, that as Unitarian Universalists it's important not onlyto do the thinking - deciding for ourselves what we believe and being respectfulof the beliefs of others - but also the doing - taking action to put our beliefsinto practice. No one else is going to save the world for us; it's up to usto do it ourselves. In RE classes we don't teach our children that there's abetter, happier world waiting for them after this life is over; some UUs believethat and some don't. What we do teach is that, whatever happens next, what ismost important is what we do with the world we're living in right now. Thisis one thing that we UUs agree about.

To this end, the RE program is spending the month of January doing our first-ever"Social Justice Intensive" program. From January 8 to 29 kids in our elementaryclasses will come together to participate in a different project each week,all organized around our central theme for the month, homelessness. Our congregationhas a long history of supporting community organizations, such as the WestsideFood Bank, that are providing support and resources for those who are homelessor in danger of becoming so. We are excited to be partnering with Ocean ParkCommunity Center, a network of shelters and services for low-income and homelesspeople in Santa Monica, for this month's activities.

A schedule for the month will be included in the Order of Service each week,and will be mailed to all families with children in RE. We're also looking fora few more people to sign up to assist for one Sunday during the month. Formore information or to volunteer, please contact me.

- Catherine Farmer, Director of Religious Education

January RE Star: Nels Hansen

This month we honor NelsHansen as our RE star. You might have seen him serving coffee, but three yearsago Nels also began teaching the 4th and 5th graders at the 11 a.m. service.They eagerly welcomed his gentle kindness and good-natured disposition.

Last spring, Nels found out that the 6th and 7th grade group was visiting otherreligious services in the area as part of their curriculum. Out of personalinterest, Nels decided to join these field trips, an experience that inspiredhim to move to the 9 a.m. service simply to have the opportunity to teach this"Neighboring Faiths" curriculum.

Why does Nels teach RE? For many of our RE teachers, it's because they havechildren in the RE program and they want to "do their share" or maybe they wantto be one of their own children's teachers. Other volunteers, like Nels, haveno children in RE yet have generously volunteered their time and energy forthe benefit of all our kids. For his unselfish commitment to RE, his desireto expand his own knowledge along with the kids, and his amazingly cheerfulcountenance, we salute Nels Hansen. Way to go, Nels!

Interweave Has Ppicnic for 5th to 7th Grades

A joint picnic and hike for 5th through 7th graders, their families, and Interweave(our church's group for bisexuals, gays, lesbians, and/or transgenders and friends)will occur Sunday, January 15, at 1 p.m. at Malibu's CharmleeWilderness Park. Charmlee Park is located at 2577 S. Encinal Canyon Road,about a 40- minute drive from church, north on PCH, and then about four milesup the canyon road. Park information is available at (310) 457-7247. This willbe a bring-your-own picnic lunch. Tables are available near the parking lot,and after lunch we'll walk to the ocean overlook, which provides an A-1 view.For those not up to the hike, it's very pleasant just sitting at the picnicarea and enjoying the view and the quiet. Also, there's a nature center, whichshould be open. There is a $3 fee to park, and you need exactly $3 (unless youwant to donate more) because you have to fill out a ticket envelope and putthe money in an iron ranger. Please contact Kris Langabeer orDebbie Menzies with questions.

Cast of the 2005 Friendly Beasts Pageant