PULSE

This CRE Blog post is dedicated to all the people 

families and communities hurting from the PULSE tragedy

Questions to Ponder with your friends and family:

1. Why? That is a BIG Question for sure.
    Why do UU think the gunman did this horrific act?
    WHAT Can be done to prevent tragedies like this happening? 

2.  Latinx: Do UU know this word, who uses it, where it comes from?   Read about it here:     http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/our-issues/why-we-say-latinx-trans-gender-non-conforming-people-explain#6 

3. Listen: 

PULSE 

written by: Eli Lieb, Brandon Skeie, Hillary Bernstein, and Mimoza Blinsson 

LYRICS:

So you say this is human 

Your heartbeat versus mine

Im in chains cause I'm choosing 

showing love or living life 

I shouldn't have to leave where I stand 

I shouldn't have to change who I am

To count as a human 

Feel my pulse 

With your hand on my heart 

You know it beats just as hard as yours 

Feel my pulse 

Feel my pulse 

Can't you see that im scarred 

I'm just the same as you are so just

Feel my pulse 

I wish I could reach them 

And strip away what separates 

It's the same air we're breathing 

The same tears run down our face 

So I don't have to leave where I stand 

And I don't have to change who I am

To count as a human 

Feel my pulse 

With your hand on my heart 

You know it beats just as hard as yours 

Feel my pulse 

Feel my pulse 

Can't you see that im scarred 

I'm just the same as you are so just

Feel my pulse

A Rainbow of Colors

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. We are a rainbow of colors all connected to one another.
Here's a challenge: Pick a group of friends or family members and dress up in the colors of a rainbow. Then, go something public and take a photo of all of UU.
People will probably ask what UU are doing.
What would UU share? What does a Rainbow of Colors have to do with being UU? 

2. Many UU congregations end the church year with a Flower Communion Ritual.
Here are some stems that you can create your own colorful rainbow of flowers!

created by: Laura Evonne Steinman les@ascboston.org

3.  Watch and Listen to Judy Garland sing: "Somewhere over the Rainbow"
     Why does she want to go over the rainbow?  Where would UU go?

A Year in PICTURES

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. There are so many ways to review / reflect on a year, what PICTURES would UU draw from this year together?

2. What IMAGES stand out to UU this year? Why?

3. Who/What would be on this "Year in Pictures"
COVER of TIME magazine?

Finn the Christmas Eve Sheep

This is Finn, the ASC Christmas Eve Sheep 2013

Questions to PONDER with your friends/family:

1. The First UU Principle states that "Each and Every Person is IMPORTANT". Many UU congregations have changed the wording to read: "Each and Every BEING is important".
Here's a resource to check out. 

http://firstprincipleproject.blogspot.com/p/the-project.html HOW do UU feel about this? Would UU vote for the Change?

2. Do UU know the story about Finn? Read about him here: http://www.ascboston.org/downloads/publications/Sermons/finn_christmas_eve_sheep.pdf or here: 

http://www.maplefarmsanctuary.org/item/Finn/296/c57 Maple Farm Sanctuary - Finn And UU can donate to TEAM Finn! 

3. Watch a little Shaun the Sheep!
Do UU think animals do stuff like this? If so, what?

Reflecting together

a reflection manual

Questions to PONDER with your friends/family:

1. A Year in Review: Start with last September (pausing in-between each month to reflect ) say the names of each month going from then leading up to now quietly to yourself or in a group. See what comes to mind. After this exercise share what came up in your "review".

2. What EXPERIENCES did UU remember over the last year? 

What did they feel like, taste like, smell like?....

3. Where are the LOCATIONS of your Reflections?
In your neighborhood? far away, in your dreams?

Leap of Faith!

 

Questions to PONDER with your friends/family:

1. What does it mean to UU to take a "LEAP of Faith" for your beloved community?

2. To Covenant (promise):

How will UU use your hands to SERVE within your beloved community and beyond?

3. Why is it important to not only give SERVICE with your hands but to GIVE the wealth in your pockets (of any size) within your beloved community of faith?

Mama's Day

https://mamasday.org/about

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. Who are the MAMA figures in your life?

2. What does your FAMILY look like? Some families have no Mama's, some have 1 and some have more than 1!

3. Why is it IMPORTANT to have cards that reflect the way families look? Do UU find it hard to find cards that reflect your family? Here are a couple Strong Family card examples for Mamasday:

 

May Day

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. May Day "International Workers' Day" ask your family/ friends how they feel about their balance of work/rest. 

Which UU principle asks us to works towards justice for ALL?

2. Where are UU WORKing for JUSTICE in your local community? How does that look?

3. This day of workers and a holiday of rebirth, how are UU celebrating "May Day"? 

Liberation

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1.lib·er·a·tion ˌlibəˈrāSH(ə)n/ noun - the act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression; release.

1. 
   
2. As Passover begins, what do UU wish to be set FREE from?
   What will UU do to work so that others are FREE?
3. 
   

2. Earth Day: Why is it important to care for the EARTH, the home to share with all? (the 7th uu principle)

3. How has the RAINBOW been a symbol and continues to be a symbol of liberation in  LGBTQ communities?

Site Specific

Rev. William Ellery Channing

Questions to PONDER with friends/family:

1. What's Rev. Channing have to do with being UU anyway? And, why would a statue of him be important on the Boston Garden facing Arlington Street Church, UU, Boston, MA ?

2. I bet UU know the song "Spirit of Life", sing it! And here is a little bit more about this hymn and the women who wrote it:  http://www.uuworld.org/articles/carolyn-mcdades-spirit-life
What does this song mean to UU?

3. What items were created for a particular place that UU know of? a painting/mural, statue, etc? There is one in Boston that is having its 75th B-day!

Coming Together - Merging

Questions to PONDER with your friends/family:

1. What does Unitarian mean ? What is Universalist mean?
     Did UU know that U + U = UU  Unitarian Universalist?
     What's that?! 

2. When was the UUA founded and why/How?

3.  print and color or draw one as UU wish:

seeing the DIVINE through our senses

William Ellery Channing, American Unitarian Minister in the early 1900's

Questions to Ponder with your friends / family:

1. What does "Seeing the DIVINE" through our senses mean to UU?

2. Why was Channing so important to the Unitarian faith in America?

3. How do UU have your "life preach more loudly than your lips, and what does this really mean? 

I spy....

 

Questions to PONDER with friends/family:

1. Transformation, Resurrection, Death, Life....
    What does EASTER mean to UU?

2. Do UU know the history of Easter, Eggs and Bunnies?
    Where does this all come from?
    What does it have to do with Jesus? Springtime? and all?

3. What do UU want to be remembered for when you die?            What special message? 

daffodil maze 

Wake Up!

Jesus on Palm Sunday

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. What people make UU "Wake Up" (more attentive, make you wonder, ponder stuff, give you a boost of energy)? Why?

2. Who do UU think Jesus would Vote for? What important message would he send to politicians today?

3.  If not on a donkey, how to folks share their messages to people in public today? 

                                      

everyday super powers

Superman: Christopher Reeve 

Questions to ponder with your family and friends

1. What is your Superpower? 

2. Where do UU find "the light" "peace" "god"?

3. How do UU show your superpowers in your everyday life?

SUPER Tuesday!

SUPER TUESDAY

drawing of the 5th UU principle - Laura Evonne Steinman

Questions to PONDER with friends/family

1. Which Presidential Candidate will UU VOTE for that
    lives up to the UU principles? 

2. The League of Women Voters puts out great resources about Voting. Visit their site and/or share it with others who don't know about it. What are UU doing to educate yourself and others about voting?

3.  WATCH this -> Dear Future Generations: Sorry

     What are UU doing for the EARTH?
     WHICH candidate backs this message?

EXTRA:

print or draw and color

Space

The International Space Station

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/space_station_over_earth.jpg

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

Kelly reflecting on a year in space       Feb. 12, 2016

1.  When UU think of "Space"what do UU think of?
    How do UU tell someone you love them if they are far away?

2.  Melissa Harris-Perry shares about Beyonce's new video on msnbc, What does this have to do with SPACE (a position)?

NOTE: this is the official version
Parental Advisory  Explicit Lyrics 

Formation by Beyonce

3.  How do UU Love?
   Some say, they love UU to the stars and back again.

 Have a listen to Ziggy Marley!

Artist / Activist

Questions to PONDER with your friends/family:

1. What do UU always SPEAK up for? 

2. Did UU know......? ......get a snack and gather round:

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Documentary

3. What INSPIRES your friends and family?
    Who do UU include in your tree?

Lent, Love and Labyrinths

print or draw and color!

Questions to Ponder with your friends/family:

1. The 40 days of Lent, which starts Wednesday, February 10th is about letting go, to let the divine in. What will UU let go of? For 40 days or even more? What will bring you closer to your true self?

2. UU Malvina Reynolds wrote the song "Magic Penny" when she was 49 years old in 1949 before it was copyrighted. 

What kind of LOVE do UU give away? How can you have more if you give it away?

3. The 7 Circuit Labyrinth is one of the oldest in the world!
How about a UU Lent Labyrinth! And draw your own!

email: LES@ASCBoston.org for a 11 x 17 PDF of the Lent Labyrinth

 

draw your own 7 circuit labyrinth