Greetings!

We have begun the Neighboring Faiths curriculum for our children’s religious education program this year. We’ve reviewed parts of the Old Testament in the Bible, starting with the two versions of God’s creation of humans as told in the book of Genesis (the first when man and woman were created simultaneously, and the second when Eve was created from Adam’s rib). We’ve touched on the stories that detail God’s expectation of obedience by humankind: God’s drowning of all but eight humans and all animals except for the pairs Noah had on the ark; God’s destroying of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their inhabitants except for Lot and his daughters (because Lot was righteous enough to offer his virgin daughters to be gang-raped in place of the visiting angels who were guests in his house); and God’s commanding of Abraham to kill his son. In large part because of his strict obedience to God’s will (especially when God told him to kill his own child), Abraham is considered the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Greetings!

Our RE students finished up their year with an intergenerational service on May 20^th about their project to raise $400 to pay the annual salary of a teacher in Zambia.  After presenting a BUUF service on January 29^th titled “Being a Citizen of the World,” Dr. Ann Nichols returned to our classroom with photos and stories about a school in Zambia she visits.  There is no electricity (and hence no internet access) and postage is too expensive for communication, so we plan to send letters and a bank check with someone who will be traveling to the school.  We hope to complete our fundraising by the end of July.  Special thanks to Jim McConnell and Michelle McHale for being the adult leaders and Katie and Eliza for being the youth leaders for this project!

Greetings!

We’re making some changes in our RE programs. Attendance has dwindled to the point that we’re no longer scheduling any more Speaking of Faith/on Being get-togethers. That doesn’t mean we can’t decide to meet again. If anyone sees or hears of a program of interest and would like to host it, just let me know and I’ll be happy to schedule it. Hosts usually provide light snacks and drinks. Some evenings we’ve met at BUUF, so hosts don’t necessarily have to host at home. We’ve had a good run since Gary Cook came up with the idea (Thank you, Gary!). Between October 22, 2008, and January 17, 2012, we met 134 times and had 14 different hosts. Most of the programs were recorded to CD and are located at BUUF for those who would like to hear the programs we’ve discussed (and may have difficulty or are unable to listen to the programs over the internet).

Later this month, March 2012, we’ll begin a new adult RE program. About a dozen BUUFers have signed up to begin the ten-week program called Building Your Own Theology. We’ll meet at BUUF on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. If you haven’t heard about this course and are interested, please contact me ASAP and you will be able to join the rest of us.

Our older children are nearing the end of the Popcorn Theology curriculum. The remaining movies they will be viewing scenes from include Dances With Wolves, Willow, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Hoosiers, and Field of Dreams. With Jim McConnell’s encouragement the class has decided to raise funds to assist a school in Zambia. Dr. Ann Nichols will attend our class on March 25 to give us more information on how we can be helpful. We’ve begun a class for younger students. Rather than follow a set curriculum, this class includes various readings and projects that focus on our UU principles. Sometimes our team teachers will split up and teach both classes on the same Sunday (using the room divider in the RE classroom). Emily Hecht has taken the lead with our younger students and she will also guide all of our students in leading our final RE Service on May 20.

I wish you all the best as our Spring-like Winter turns into Spring!

Dave

Greetings!

Well, it’s that time of year. That time of year to talk about time, something I’ve always had difficulty keeping up with (please excuse my grammar!). The winter solstice has passed for us northerners and the number of daylight minutes is increasing. Those of us who follow the tradition of sending Christmas cards have sent them all out and…uh-oh, I never got around to writing any again this year! And have received many less in return! Just can’t keep pace with time, I guess.