by WUUC | Feb 17, 2017 | DRE Blog
Make sure to check out our website often for updates to our program at wuuc.org/programs
The REALL (Religious Education and Lifelong Learning) team and I are contemplating how we might incorporate commitments made in the resolution for the support of Black lives, approved by the congregation recently, into our programming. I believe that as well as comprehensive adult education about Blackness and the experience of racism in America, that there are many possible implications on our children’s program. The voices that constitute both our explicit and implicit curriculum at WUUC must be informed by this new racial justice focus. We can bring Black voices and those from other historically marginalized populations into our curriculum. There are stories of faith, folk legends, fiction authors and more written and created by persons of color that will enhance our programming at WUUC.
In our children’s program before I arrived, this church began the work of moving beyond the Eurocentric Christian Sunday school model to one
that is more experiential, rooted in rituals of the world’s wisdom traditions, and full of the legends of Black and Brown people. We can go further by incorporating African and Indigenous storytelling methodology into our programming, ensuring that every lesson has a justice focus, and inviting people of color as guests in our program. We can also work to ensure that our program is fully welcoming to all persons of color who are a part of and visit on Sunday morning.
In 2017-2018 our children’s program will have flexible curricula that are able to incorporate the previously mentioned additions to our program. Preschool-1st grade will have “Spirit Play,” a montessori-based story-centered curriculum that is deeply rooted in Unitarian Universalism but leaves room for new stories to be told. Our 2-5th grade group will continue to do “Spirit Jam,” a hands-on, experiential learning workshop classroom that explores the theme through body, story, and the arts. Our middle school will likely continue with a world-religions focus that leaves room for exposure to African, Indigenous, and Middle Eastern religious traditions. Finally, YRUU’s curriculum is justice-project based and our youth choose to address topics that range from racial justice to gender justice, including the voices of people of color.
For adults, I announced last month that we will begin a series on anti-blackness (Black Liberation Series), this series will happen on what is now called Racial Justice Wednesdays. Beginning partially this Spring, each Wednesday, there is an opportunity to engage in an Adult education event around racial justice including: Mutuality Movement, Black Liberation Series, Witnessing Whiteness, The Third Reconstruction, and more. Check out our website for more details. (http://gtest.wuuc.org/programs/soulfuladults/)
by WUUC | Nov 30, 2016 | DRE Blog
Greetings from Lifelong Learning and WUUC
This month our congregation will explore the Soul Matters theme Presence. As a contemplative, this is one of my favorite topics. In the Buddhist context, presence speaks to our ability to hold attention to our state of mind in every moment. This attention was the hallmark of the historical Buddha’s teachings. Ideas of mindfulness and contemplation have become part of our Western culture and we are learning the benefits of attention to the present moment. Why was this teaching so important to Shakyamuni Buddha?
Shakyamuni’s gift to the world was not simply about mindfulness, it was his realization that the nature of reality was fundamentally compassionate, that we were born good and could relieve ourselves from suffering by waking up to this goodness. In Unitarian Universalist language, we all have inherent worth and dignity, we are all sacred and worthy. Attention to each moment of our mind, body, and thoughts was a skillful method for us to realize this. Shakyamuni believed if we could turn inward, remain present with ourselves, then we would naturally find our inherent compassionate nature.
My colleagues at University Unitarian Church in Seattle speak of lifespan religious education or lifelong learning in terms of “vocation.” They believe that each of us has a sacred calling, a calling to do something compassionate and creative in this world. In this line of thinking, lifelong learning in the Unitarian Universalist context is about helping our congregants realize and bravely accept their call to work compassionately in the world.
Thomas Merton, the Catholic/Zen contemplative, speaks of this path of discovery with the following words, “Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already possess. Vocation does not come from a voice ?out there? calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice ?in here? calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God.”
Presence is that tool that helps us turn introspectively inward in order to discover the voice that is calling us back to our inherently compassionate nature. Let us all take a few moments to speak and listen to that still small voice inside that is the holder of our truth and that is calling us to dream big and reach higher with our lives. Let us encourage our children, youth, adults, and elders to hold this moment of our minds very gently. Let us dream big.
by WUUC | Oct 28, 2016 | DRE Blog
Can you believe that it is already November? The many colors of Fall warmly envelop our senses and Thanksgiving is soon approaching. It has been a wonderful few months in Soulful Exploration at WUUC. We have experienced many great chapels and workshop rotations in our Spirit Jam K-5 group. The Jr. Youth learned about our Jewish neighbors’ faith and are now studying Islam in preparation for their field trip to the mosque. Our Sr. Youth are returning from their first official Youth Conference (CON) where they experienced spiritual renewal, education and community. 
(Don’t forget to ask our Sr. Youth how their experience was at CON and the Youth Revival when you see them.) We are very thankful to the Pacific Northwest District Youth Panel, including Rev. Lois & Cora Goss-Grubbs, for making youth CON fun, engaging, and safe.
This month we contemplate our theme, STORY, one of my favorite subjects! As you know, I prefer theories of faith development that define religious education in terms of the development of a radical, justice-oriented consciousness. In this light, much of the work we do here at WUUC is religious education and faith development. As we begin to lean into our calling to serve our community, much more of our work here will be the development of a justice-oriented consciousness. As we contemplate our stance on racial justice together as a congregation, I would like for us all to be in conversation about how our religious education program can support our efforts.
In this spirit, our monthly Soul Matters themes may be helpful in guiding our conversations about justice. Where do we begin this conversation? Sunday Oct. 23, I preached about Vinobha Bhave, that great Indian saint who walked 10,000 miles across India, listening to stories of the Dalit people and of wealthy landowners. In listening, he managed to acquire nearly 2 million acres of land for Dalit people’s subsistence. Let us all begin with our stories.
What stories do our children and youth need to hear about the struggle of marginalized people in this country? What stories about their own ethnic past might be helpful for our youth to hear so that they can show up fully for justice? What stories do you, teenagers and adults, bring to the table that either hamper or enhance our conversations about privilege and race.
I truly believe the easiest path to empathy, to embodying a being of non-hatred (advesha) is to listen deeply to the stories in our community. These stories must include those of our children, youth, persons of color, and all in order for this chapter of our congregational story to be complete. Let us invite the stories of those external to our community in and listen without prejudice to their wisdom.
Don’t forget to grab a copy of this month’s theme sheet which is full of readings, movies, quotes about our monthly theme.
by Lindsay Rogers | Jun 29, 2016 | DRE Blog
We have a Director of Lifelong Learning! I wish to warmly welcome Rev. M. Jamil Scott to WUUC. I had the pleasure of meeting Jamil (pronounced Juh-MEEL) during his interview rotation. He has the compassion of a Buddhist minister and the charm of a southern gentleman (he was raised in Mississippi; you’ll see what I mean). When you meet him, if you haven’t already, I think you’ll agree he’s warm, funny and exceptionally qualified to lead Lifelong Learning.
Jamil will officially start with us Aug. 7 and is currently serving as the Acting Director of Lifespan Religious Education at First Unitarian Society of Denver. He is an ordained Buddhist minister and has worked extensively on multi-faith, multi-cultural, privilege and racism issues.
The four interim coordinators: Rebecca Guthrie (nursery/caterpillars/childcare), Cora Goss-Grubbs (youth programming), Alison Bush (curriculum implementation), and I (elementary RE program coordinator) have been in contact with Jamil and are working on transition plans to ensure a smooth start to the fall church season. Summer RE, Finding Our Way in the Natural World, started June 26 and will run through Aug. 21. Aug. 28 is Ingathering and a Full Community Worship service. Fall RE programming will begin Sept. 4 with our monthly church theme Covenant. We are still actively recruiting fall RE teachers (we call them “Guides”). If you have any questions about being a Guide, the transition with Jamil, or anything else, please feel free to reach out to Rebecca, Cora, or me. We serve at your pleasure and want this to go well for everyone, especially the children, youth and Jamil.
I have been asked by a few if I am sad to lose my job as one of the four coordinators on interim contract “keeping the trains running” while we searched for a DLL. I can tell you with no reservation, no, I’m not sad. It was always part of the deal that this gig was temporary, and WUUC and the children deserve more than just “keeping the trains running.” Jamil has the knowledge, skill, experience, enthusiasm and new ideas to bring a full breadth of learning and opportunities to the children, youth, and members of WUUC. I couldn’t be more excited about Jamil joining the staff. I look forward to doing all I can to ensure his success. I know you will too! And from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for all your support and patience as the four of us worked to continue the current RE program and prepare for what is to come. It was a blessing to serve in this role and it will be a pleasure to turn it over to Jamil and see where he leads us!
In gratitude,
Lindsay Rogers
RE program coordinator
Jamil’s full bio was sent to the Announce list. You can find it here.
by Lindsay Rogers | May 25, 2016 | DRE Blog
“I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I’m going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the view of eternity and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.”
– Mike Ericksen, Upon Destiny’s Song
This has been a year of many blessings in my life. Before this year I never used that word to describe the good fortune I’ve experienced. I always associated that word with God bestowing something good on someone of the Christian faith and, since I neither consider myself a Christian or a Believer, I thought the word blessing wasn’t applicable to me. This year has opened me up to a new attitude toward and understanding of what it means to be blessed, and I have started to claim and own that word.
The blessings in my family are too numerous to count and I am eternally grateful for my good fortune and the love, patience and good humor my husband shares with me every day. Sadly, it is not hard to recognize suffering in the world among individuals and within families. I don’t know why some are so fortunate and some struggle. I have certainly experienced loss, pain, shame and disappointment, but I do not take for granted the sheer luck I have had and the sacrifices many have made on my behalf to get me to this place. I am very aware that not everyone has the resources and relationships I have that have helped buoy me in dark or lean times. I don’t think it’s always possible for everyone to win the race of life when we all don’t start at the same line or have a clear path to the finish. I know I am blessed.
I was a very observant child. I wanted to figure out how people found happiness and success. What was it about them that I could learn in order to have those things too. As an adult I have tried to surround myself with people who bring me joy and inspire me to work harder to be a better wife, parent, neighbor and contributor in my communities in order to make the world a better place. WUUC has been a huge part of that journey for me. It’s not hard be around WUUCies who aspire to constantly learn and experience new things. It’s not hard to be inspired by WUUCies who live a life of service to our church and others. It’s not hard to find ways through WUUC to make the world a better place — locally or globally, intimately or expansively, in small bits or on long-term projects. It’s not hard to receive love and support from WUUCies who are willing to share your burdens and celebrate your joys. It’s not hard to find ways in which you can share your knowledge and experience with youngsters discovering their world or young adults striking out into the wider world. The opportunities to serve and be served are endless at WUUC. In all of these ways, I have been blessed.
In 45 years, I have figured this out for sure — what will be most important in the end is who I have known and who I have allowed to know me. I have much to learn and much still to contribute. WUUC has given me experiences I might not have had on my own and exposure to folks who know better and do better than I from whom I can draw inspiration. I know I am blessed. And for that, I am grateful. I wish you the same.
by Carol Taylor | Jan 3, 2016 | DRE Blog
By Lindsay Rogers
I remember when my first child came home. My best friend from college, Joanne, already a mother of three, said to me the most profound words I’ve ever heard about motherhood: “Enjoy this time because once they turn two the real parenting begins and the worry never goes away.”
No words spoken about motherhood have ever been truer for me and I hear them swirling in my head often, although in my brain they usually sound more like, “Don’t screw up, don’t screw up, don’t screw up…”.
Skip ahead twelve years to this past June when my friend, Susan, posted an essay on Facebook by Julie Lythcott-Haims: “What Overparenting Looks Like From a Stanford Dean’s Perspective”. In a nutshell, Lythcott-Haims warns parents that the love and care we think we are providing by doing for our children is actually crippling them in adult life.
Did the safety-conscious, academic-achievement-focused, self-esteem-promoting, checklisted, childhood that has been commonplace since the mid-1980s, and in many communities has become the norm, rob kids of the chance to develop into healthy adults? What will become of young adults who look accomplished on paper but seem to have a hard time making their way in the world without the constant involvement of their parents? How will the real world feel toward a young person who has grown used to problems being solved for them and accustomed to praise at every turn? Is it too late for them to develop a hunger to be in charge of their own lives? Will they at some point stop referring to themselves as kids and dare to claim the “adult” label for themselves? If not, then what will become of a society populated by such “adults”?
The message in the essay seemed so obvious–but then I started thinking about the scandal involving the Maryland parents whose ten and six year-olds were picked up by the police and taken to Child Protective Services because they were walking home from the park without adult supervision. My head swirled. How do I not screw up the balance between letting my kids experience the world and learn self reliance while protecting them from harm (and me from punishment)? Here was my Facebook comment to Susan at the time: “I’m conflicted by all the mixed messages: kids need to learn “street smarts” but let your kids walk home and you get a visit from CPS. Expose your kids to lots of experiences, which they’ll need to get into a “good” college, but don’t over schedule or manage them, and on and on… What is a Gen X parent to do? Can they just stamp my kid’s college/job application ‘Her parents did their best’?”.
I have since seen Lythcott-Haims speak and started reading her book, How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success, from which the above essay is excerpted. I’ve become a huge fan and evangelist of her book. I talk about this book so often that I’m sure my friends are ready to throw it at me. What I’ve learned so far from the book, and my own childhood experience, is that it’s better to err on the side of letting our kids wade into the deep end of the pool while we remain on the edge cheering them on rather than jumping in and holding them above the water line. They’ve got to learn “self-efficacy”—that is, what psychologist Albert Bandura identifies as, “the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations”. So I’ll do my best to stay out of their pool but, if I’m honest, you’ll probably catch me holding a life preserver just in case.
So all of these musings and book promoting have brought me to our theme this month: Resistance. In my experience parenting is about resistance. When our kids are toddlers they begin to test the boundaries of their world and assert their independence–they resist us. I’ve found that parenting a “tween” (who recently turned 13) is about me resisting over-parenting her. I am burdened with an attitude that it’s easier, less messy, will be done right, if I just do it myself. (Gulp! That sounds like raising a child, not an adult doesn’t it? Darn! Refocus.)
Back to my friend Joanne. She has been a great parenting role model for me. Several years before her twin daughters left for college this fall, she and her husband reverse engineered adulthood and came up with a list of life skills the girls would need to have to be successful adults, or at least be reasonably independent in college. They came up with things like the girls needed to be able to make an entire meal on their own — salad, main dish, and a side — that would make it to the table at the same time and be reasonably nutritious and tasty. The girls had to know how to gas up their car, check the oil, top-off the wiper fluid, and get a smog check. They filled out their own forms, applications, cards, etc. and can look adults in the eyes and speak full sentences to communicate their world view. Joanne would never claim to be a perfect parent but all evidence supports my claim that she’s nailing this “raising an adult” thing.
As I told my oldest recently, resisting the urge to clear and light the path for our kids is one of the most difficult things I’m learning to do as a parent. It’s heartbreaking to see your kid in pain — especially if it’s a pain you’ve personally experienced and feel you could have helped them avoid. But where is the lesson in that? Our kids need to learn they are capable of dealing with disappointment and heartbreak and that their world won’t end when faced with trauma. Instead, we need them to know they have the grit and coping skills they need to persevere and will be better armed for future disappointment or heartbreak. I speak from experience.
Due to a family move and “girl drama”, I ended up going to three high schools when I was a kid. It was a very painful and lonely time for me but I am grateful now to have experienced it when I did — as a teen rather than an adult. I got through it with the love and support from my brother whom I fought with like cats and dogs most days but who, when the sh!t hit the fan, always had my back. My junior year I had to figure out quickly that I was ok with who I was even if it meant I didn’t have school friends that year. I had a good senior year and went to college feeling very capable and secure in the knowledge that my mom and brother thought I was a pretty neat person and I could make friends on my terms. Learning to resist following the herd in high school was probably the most defining moment in my life. I’m grateful my mom didn’t try to fix it for me and that I was allowed to move through it and grow from it. Giving my children the opportunity to struggle through similar self-doubt and painful relationships may test my resolve but resisting the urge to fix it may be the second most life-defining moment in my life. We’ll see. I’ll let you know how it goes.
What about you? What lessons on resistance have you learned, or are learning, as a parent? I welcome your counsel.
If you’re interested in seeing Julie Lythcott-Haims in person, she’s touring in 2016 and will be at Bainbridge High School February 3, 2016.
that is more experiential, rooted in rituals of the world’s wisdom traditions, and full of the legends of Black and Brown people. We can go further by incorporating African and Indigenous storytelling methodology into our programming, ensuring that every lesson has a justice focus, and inviting people of color as guests in our program. We can also work to ensure that our program is fully welcoming to all persons of color who are a part of and visit on Sunday morning.
