Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Happy Holidays-- December Happenings!


Season's Greetings!
Here is the scoop about what is happening in BUF's Religious Education Program for Children and Youth in December:

Children's Worship
Sunday, December 8, 10:30 a.m.
This worship will be holiday themed with a focus on gratitude. Children in grades K-5 come directly to the flex room instead of starting in the sanctuary. We always take a special collection that we save until the spring when we decide on an organization to receive it. Money that is meaningful to your children is best-- allowance, change from the couch cushions, money they earned... this makes the gift from them rather than from you.

Holiday Craft Night with Bellingham Coop School!
Wednesday, December 5, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Come make some holiday gifts before our community night dinner!  We will have many fun craft stations set up around the perimeter of the social hall to help us get into the holiday spirit.  If you have a special craft idea that you would like to lead please reply to me or contact Heidi Alford at familyalford@comcast.net

Parents' Night Out: Fundraiser for YRUU!
Friday, December 13 AND Friday December 20 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
This is the perfect opportunity to carve out some stress free time during this busy season. Maybe you need a date night, to soak in a tub, or you need to do some solo shopping-- whatever your needs are, a kid free Friday night (or two) from 5:00 to 9:00 is (are) bound to help!
 
Your children will be cared for by BUF's high school youth group (including youth advisors)-- youth will provide pizza dinner, organized games, other fun activities, and will wind down with a movie.

You and your children get all this for only $20.00 per child or $35.00 per family! All proceeds go to the YRUU fund and will be used to offset costs for district conferences, and other social and educational activities.

Please RSVP your intent to participate to the office by noon on the day of the event.

Children are welcome to bring pajamas!

Posada!
Saturday, December 14, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
You won't want to miss this annual tradition!  Cocina Sanas (from Community 2 Community) will be taking the lead in creating our Mexican feast. Rev. Lee Bond will be telling the story of Maria and Joseph as they search for an Inn. We will wander the neighborhood caroling and acting out the parts of the journey. We will have a 4th or 5th grade Mary riding anactual donkey (pony), with a singing Joseph and "mean" innkeepers. We then return to BUF where we are welcomed in for cookies, hot chocolate and pinatas.  It is a truly magical night that children remember for years!  We hope you will join us.  

We still need some volunteers to bring cookies, to set up for dinner and decorate the social hall, and to help clean up at the end of the night and also to prepare the social hall for pinata festivities while the rest of the participants are caroling.  If you can help please contact me!

YRUU Holiday Gift Project
Sunday, December 16, 10:30-2:00(ish)
High School youth and youth advisors should each arrive at BUF at 10:30 a.m. with 4 dozen of the SAME KIND of cookie (someone should bring a couple of kinds of gluten free....).  During the service, youth and advisors will make plates of mixed cookies to sell during the coffee hour.  The group will then take their earnings to the mall (or some other department store) to purchase gifts for our Interfaith Family.  Youth advisors have the specs of the family in need.  Contact me if you have questions!

Multigenerational Worship Service
December 22, 10:30-- Would You Like to Hold the Baby?
Childcare will be available in Childspace for those who need it.

Hope to see you at many of these wonderful events-- Merry Christmas!

Crystal

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

November Update!



Greetings BUF Families,

Here are the big things happening for children and families in our Religious Education Program at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship:

Family Forum: Unplug the Christmas Machine, or How to Have the Holidays YOU Want! 
Friday, November 8, 5:45 Potluck, 6:15 Program for Parents-- Kid's programming will be separeate this time!

This workshop was originally inspired by the book Unplug the Christmas Machine and has been reworked with additional material by Heidi Alford. For parents at BUF, this workshop will have a broad appeal to be able to spend time focusing on reducing the stress that comes with the approach of holidays. We’ll talk about the value of tradition and ritual for children from a UU perspective. We will look at your own holiday memories and family traditions and then look at what you want to create for your children.

To ensure there are enough materials, PLEASE register your intent to attend: familyalford@comcast.net

Children's Worship Service: Martinmas
Sunday, November 10, 10:30
Children in grades K-5 begin upstairs in the flex room for worship and special holiday programming during BUF's 2nd Annual Martinmas Celebration!
We will begin our celebration by telling a story about the holiday, children will learn some seasonal songs, and make their own Martinmas lanterns!
As always during a children's worship service, we will take a special collection and we will have a special Children's Clothing Drive. Please bring outgrown but wearable children's clothing upstairs before the service on Sunday, November 10. We will talk about the importance of sharing warmth and resources, and pack the clothes up to be donated.

Martinmas Lantern Parade during Community Night Dinner
Lantern Parade! Wednesday, November 13. Lantern-making (for those who missed it on Sunday) at 5:30, Community Night Dinner at 6:00. Between dinner and dessert, we will take our lanterns outside for a Lantern Parade around Fouts Park, while we sing our lantern songs, led by Robin Brown on her fiddle!--

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule-- Please mark your calendar!Children's Choir to Rehearse after services on 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15 and then a run through the morning of the pageant on 12/22.
Each year the Children's RE Program participates in a multigenerational worship service on the Sunday before Christmas. This year we will tell the story of Mary and Joseph's fateful journey to Bethlehem with a musical pageant called, Would You Like To Hold the Baby? All children and youth are encouraged to participate! There will be singing parts as well as acting parts. I will send more information as we get closer to the event.

Chalice Circles 
Chalice Circles are a wonderful opportunity for people to participate in deep meaningful sharing in a small group setting. People in chalice circles report feeling intimately connected to the members of their group and more connected to the congregation overall.  Last year we started a chalice circle especially for parents that continues to meet monthly on first Fridays. This winter we will be starting several new groups that will meet on different days, at different times and will be more heterogeneous in terms of membership. I strongly encourage you to consider participating! If you would like to participate in a chalice circle, or would like more information, please let me know (Crystal Neva, uuneva@gmail.com)!

Hoping to See You Soon, Stay Warm!

Crystal