Christmas is upon us!

CHRISTMAS is upon us!

a uu creche nativity

Questions to ponder with your friends/family:

1. What do UU think about this article? "Who Really Stole Christmas...."

2. HOW will UU spend Dec. 24th and Dec. 25th?
   Where will UU be? WHO will be with UU? WHAT will UU eat?

3. Listen and Reflect: Mary, Did You Know? by Pentatonix

copy and color as you wish

Lessons and Carols

Questions to ponder with your friends/family:

1. There are so many ways to learn and grow. Stories and Songs are one way. What are your favorite stories (lessons) and songs (carols) this winter season?

2. What kind of location do UU like to hear stories in? Why did you pick that location? (example: by a fire, bedroom)

3. Who do you feel you want to share a special story and song with this winter season? How can you make that REALLY happen! What are your action steps?! Good LUCK!

color as you wish!

Because each and every being is beautiful!

graphic: Laura Evonne Steinman handinhandarts.com

Questions to ponder with your friends/family:

1. During this season of DARKNESS what are UU doing in your local community to shine the light to those in need?

2. Have a listen to "Ma" singing "Our World" from Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas 

3. Why is it an obligation of LOVE to welcome the stranger as our friend? What strangers are you welcoming into your daily life?

https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

Candles of Hope

Questions to PONDER with your friends/family:

1. With so much DARKNESS in our hearts and in the world,         What will UU do to bring in the LIGHT ?

"Come, Sing a Song with Me"

2.  Chanukah starts Sunday eve Dec. 6th, 2015
     How is there enough oil to keep the Chanukiah 

     (chanukah menorah) shining bright for 8 whole nights? 

     What does this tell UU about Miracles?

3. Why do so many faith traditions light candles? 

    What does it mean to UU?

flying chalice: Laura Evonne Steinman, les@ascboston.org

A Table

A Table

drawing and bread from Nov. 22nd Thanksgiving Service at ASCBoston.org

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. Are UU setting a table this Thanksgiving?    If so, PLEASE use these placemats: 

http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/surj_holiday_placemat_for_racial_justice

2. What are UU Thankful for? , and how does that reflect privilege? What do UU associate with the word "Privilege"

3. Where is a place in your community that UU are thankful
    for that could use a bit more Public thanks?

From the Farm Sanctuary

Sharing

Questions to Ponder with your friends and or family:

1. What will UU be eating this Thanksgiving?
      Does what you eat reflect your values?

2. Why is it so, so, so important to LISTEN
    and share SOUP and REAL life stories together?

3. Look over the below image...
   What do UU think this graphic is addressing?
   How do UU feel about it? 

Simple Gratitude

I am GRATEFUL for what I am and have. 

My THANKSGIVING is PERPETUAL. 

-henry david thoreau

Questions to Ponder with your friends and /or family:

1.  Why did Thoreau live in a cabin and where was it?

2.  What does it mean to be grateful for the simple things?

3.  How do UU share your gratitude at this time of Thanksgiving?

weaving paper placemats for the Friday Night Supper Program (FNSP)

Sharing Food

Questions to Ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. Why is it important to share meals together?     What happens when UU get together with others?

2. How does it happen that some people eat at a Soup Kitchen?
    What's your connection to the Friday Night Supper Program (FNSP)

3. Who is UU Fanny Farmer anyway?
       What does she have to do with food?

Instructions to make a woven paper placemat:
http://laughingkidslearn.com/2014/01/how-to-make-paper-weaving-placemats.html/

Blood Red

Fall / Autumn

Samhain / Halloween

All Saint's Day / Day of the Dead

Questions to Ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. Why does fire go along with many death rituals? What do UU think?

2. What happens between Oct 31st and Nov 1st in many parts of the      world. Why?

3. When someone or something dies, Where do you think their            SOUL/SPIRIT goes? 

"To live in hearts that love is not to die"

photo: laura evonne steinman (les@ascboston.org), use with credit

Questions to Ponder with your friends and or family:

1. What do UU think this quote means? 
    "To live in hearts that love is not to die"

2. Do you know someone or something that recently died?
    What is their name(s)? What did UU do to honor them? 

3. Check this article out: Festival of the DEAD

http://www.bestcoloringpagesforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Printable-Leaf-Coloring-Page.jpg

JUSTICE:Food and all beings

 

Questions to ponder with your family and friends:

1. What does FOOD JUSTICE look like to UU?

2. Why do UU eat what you eat?
    Do you eat meat? Are you veggie? Vegan?
   Eat local foods?
  What does your UU faith have to do with food anyway?

3. What are the 7 UU principles and how do they relate to your life, what you eat and animals? Have you checked out the UU Animal Ministry page?

Print and color!
Animal Coloring Pages

Animal Blessings

Animal Blessings

Questions to ponder with your family and friends:

1. What is Animal Blessing Sunday all about anyway? 

2. Why does it lower your blood pressure when you are petting an      animal? Do UU have pets or ones that visit UU?

3. How does your diet reflect your connection to animals?
   What UU principles does this follow?

https://img0.etsystatic.com/041/0/5702523/il_340x270.606056952_hq9r.jpg

Round and Round

Round and Round

Questions to Ponder with your family/friends:

1. How did UU honor the change in seasons
    from Summer to Autumn?

2. What kinds of local fruits and veggies
    do UU eat at this time of year? Do UU grow any?

3.  Does your family and/or friends celebrate Sukkot the Jewish Harvest festival which starts on Sunday, Sept 27th, 2015? If yes what yummy food will UU eat and will will UU invite into your sukkah? or who's sukkah have you been invited to?

This is the Sukkah from Occupy Boston

print and color

AWE

It's the New Jewish Year 5776!
In the Jewish tradition we are in the "Days of AWE". It's also the start of the year for many going back school, religious/spiritual communities and for some new jobs, new homes, etc. 

Questions to Ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. What fills UU with AWE as UU reflect on your past year and this new one at has arrived?

2. Where/How do UU think you can do better for yourself the world?  

3. Why is it important to reflect on what didn't go so well, so that UU can make things better? What message do UU want to pass on this coming year?

Tiffany Glass detail: Arlington St. Church, Boston MA 

SO MANY beginnings

So MANY Beginnings

Water Chalice by Laura Evonne Steinman

Questions to Ponder with your friends and/or family:

1.  What is NEW for YOU ? What are you beginning?

2.  During the summer, what do you want to "bring with you"
     this new year? (in your mind, heart, hands)

3. Why it is important to have rituals when new things begin
    like school, place of worship, a job, program, new family        member....?

http://www.winnlederer.com/greetingcards/images/HadassahTreeCertificate.jpg

Flower Communion

Flower Communion 

"Infinite Spirit of Life, we ask thy blessing on these, thy messengers of fellowship and love. May they remind us, amid diversities of knowledge and of gifts, to be one in desire and affection, and devotion to thy holy will. May they also remind us of the value of comradeship, of doing and sharing alike. May we cherish friendship as one of thy most precious gifts. May we not let awareness of another's talents discourage us, or sully our relationship, but may we realize that, whatever we can do, great or small, the efforts of all of us are needed to do thy work in this world." - Norbert Čapek

Questions to Ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. What do UU think the above text is all about?
    How would UU explain it in your words?

2. Do UU have a flower that you really LOVE?
    What is it ! and why do you LOVE it sososooso much? 

3. Coloring can be relaxing, how about color or draw a rose mandala. You can do this alone or with people you care about. 

LOVE makes a Family

As Unitarian Universalists, 

We believe that EACH FAMILY is important 

& that LOVE makes a family.

Questions to Ponder with your friends and or family:

1. Who makes up your FAMILY? (Create a list)

2. What makes a FAMILY?
If you were picked to write a definition of "Family"
for a Google, what would UU write?

3. How about drawing a picture of your family in this frame and then print it out!

http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbfv5lMykp1qz872lo1_1280.jpg

Recognition

Recognition 

Questions to ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. Where do UU feel RECOGNIZED? (list a few places)

2. How does it feel to be recognized for being YOU?

3. If UU were to pick one of the 7 UU principles or one of the 6 sources, which one do you think represents YOU?

Memories

http://projectoflovemusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/42164-Memories-Last-Forever.jpg

Questions to ponder with your friends and or family:

1. What is a Memory? What's a fond memory you have about being a part of Religious Education this year?

2.  Listen and watch this Story about memories by Mem Fox. What does it bring up for UU?

3. Who are you now closer with that is a DIFFERENT age than UU in this community of LOVE, SERVICE, JUSTICE and PEACE?

"like the feathers of a wing, everything touches everything" - Mary Oliver

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Michael Sullivan, a Vet for Peace on the far left,
an ASCer who helped plant the flags for all those lost in war.

Questions to ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. How are UU observing Memorial Day 2015? 

One way UU can be present in Boston for a Memorial Ritual for Peace is with the Vets for Peace https://www.facebook.com/events/990637664287231/

2. Use this weekend as an opportunity to share stories with neighbors and family members who have served in war, who have lost ones in fighting and their memories of this. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-illuminated/201106/why-sharing-stories-brings-people-together

3. A little history to read and reflect on. 

What does being UU have to do with this? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/30/opinion/30blight.html?_r=0

Making a Promise

Questions to ponder with your friends and or family:

1. Do you know the CRE covenant by HEART?

2. How much will UU give this coming year to this beloved 

    faith-filled community? 

3.  Why is it important to GIVE in a community that UU RECEIVE? http://narayani.bandcamp.com/track/from-you-i-receive Listen here <-

Mama's Day!

Happy Mama's Day!

http://mamasday.org



Questions to Ponder with your friends and/or family:

1. How will UU honor "Mother's Day (May 10th, 2015)"? 

2. Do U, U know the history of how Mother's Day began? 

   Ask a few people and then click here

3. Caring Cards! 

    Strong Families works with amazing artists 

    each year to create a diverse card collection 

    to send to Mama's near and far. 

   Which ones are you going to email or print out today? 

   Which ones resonate with you? 

   How is your UU faith shown in these cards?       http://mamasday.org

Moms Driving Safely!

https://www.facebook.com/SafeDrivingCoalitionMA/info?tab=page_info

Questions to Ponder with your friends and or family:

1.  If a mom wants to drive their child to the doctor, school, church but can't get a drivers license in MA because of not having papers…what would UU do? 

2. How does writing to the your legislators and/or showing up change situations like this? Find out here: https://www.facebook.com/SafeDrivingCoalitionMA/info?tab=page_info

3. UU can help make a difference right now! 

Sign this Petition -> https://www.change.org/p/i-need-to-drive-my-daughter-to-the-hospital-pass-the-safe-driving-bill