R.E. News
Religious Exploration (R.E.) Bundle o' News
If you are interested in being added to the RE listserv or helping with these events please contact Kinsey Moritz.
If you have children from babies to 12th grade who participate in Religious Exploration (RE) at ERUUF, it helps us be more effective if they are registered for RE! If you have already registered your children and youth for the 2024-2025 year, thank you! If you haven’t, please follow the link to register them in the next week. Thank you for your help!
Update for RE for week of 05/18/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, children and youth gathered to let their imaginations soar and have fun! The younger children read The Wonder by Faye Hanson and created butterfly and bear puppets. The older children explored the wisdom tale “Zhuangzi and the Butterfly Dream,” dressed up in fun costumes, and performed playful skits. It was a wonderfully silly and joyful RE class!
Sunday was also the Coming of Age credo service. Our children’s choirs sang beautifully during the service, and the Coming of Age youth shared heartfelt reflections and beliefs from their UU journey. Thank you so much to everyone who attended and supported this meaningful occasion.
OWL Registration Coming Soon
Our 2025-2026 OWL registration for grades 8th/9th and 5th/6th is coming in early June! Registration for K/1st will be later in the fall. See below for approximate schedules:
- 5th/6th OWL will run on Sundays from late August through November 2025.
- 8th/9th OWL will begin with a weekend retreat August 15-17th, then continue on Sundays through mid-February 2026.
- K/1st OWL sessions will run on Sundays from January through March in 2026.
If you’re interested in OWL, but these dates wouldn’t work, please contact soon and we can connect you with upcoming summer camp options.
Update for RE for week of 05/11/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, our children and youth came together to celebrate and thank our amazing Religious Education (RE) volunteers for their dedication and hard work. During the gathering, they reflected on the meaning of gratitude and expressed their appreciation through creativity, decorating beautiful, handmade tea towels as heartfelt gifts for the volunteers. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed some fun with games and laughter on the playground.
We hope you can join us this upcoming Sunday as children and youth learn about using imagination to have fun through stories and fun games!
Update for RE for week of 05/02/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, our children and youth came together to celebrate the wonders of nature. The younger read the story Fairy Houses and had a fantastic time creating their own fairy homes outdoors. Meanwhile, the older children crafted colorful kites, taking full advantage of the beautiful weather.
We hope you’ll join us this coming Sunday as we express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Religious Education volunteers who make these gatherings possible. All children and youth will come together to decorate tea towels as special gifts for our wonderful volunteers.
Update for RE for week of 04/27/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, all children and youth joined the full congregation for a special combined Easter and Earth Day service. It was a meaningful celebration, highlighted by our beautiful annual flower ceremony. It was wonderful to see so many families gathered together for the occasion.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our Religious Education classes this coming Sunday. We'll celebrate nature's joy with a special outdoor-focused theme. Weather permitting, we'll spend much of our time outside, exploring and connecting with the natural beauty surrounding our fellowship. We hope you can join us!
Update for RE for week of 04/20/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, the children and youth enjoyed a fun RE class learning all about the joy of music. In their classrooms, they read engaging books like Music is in Everything by Bob Marley, The Music in Me by Jane Pinczuk, or the wisdom story, The Fiddler and the Village. Then, the younger children got creative making simple musical instruments, while the older groups had fun trying out nose flutes. After their time indoors, everyone headed outside for a lively dance party on the playground.
We hope you’ll join us this Sunday for our one multigenerational service at 11:00 am (no 9:00 am service this Sunday). Annual Easter and Earth Day services combined! If you remember, please bring a flower to share in our annual flower ritual!
Update for RE for week of 04/13/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, children and youth began exploring the new RE theme of the month: joy. The younger children enjoyed the book There’s a Wocket in My Pocket and went on a scavenger hunt to find the creatures they created. The older children listened to the story The Wise Fool and the King, told jokes, and made wiggly figures. The weather was great, and many children and youth played on the playground after the service. It was a joyful Sunday!
We hope you can join us this upcoming Sunday as we continue the theme of joy. All children and youth will be learning about the joy of music!
Update for RE for week of 04/06/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, children and youth came together to wrap up our RE theme for the month: trust. The younger children enjoyed stories about rebuilding trust, while the older ones listened to the wise tale of “The Broken Pot.” Afterward, everyone had fun building bridges—youngsters crafted theirs with Legos, while the older children created theirs with marshmallows and toothpicks! The weather was perfect, and many of the kids took advantage of the sunshine, spending time on the playground after RE.
We hope you’ll join us this upcoming Sunday as we begin a new month of RE, focused on the theme of joy! It’s sure to be a month full of laughter, learning, and discovering how to embrace joy in everyday moments.
Update for RE for week of 03/30/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, children and youth had an amazing time participating in the children’s chapel. They were divided into groups based on their interests and engaged in several fun and meaningful activities. At the activity station, children and youth worked together to create a Lego build, fostering teamwork and focus. In the craft station, they collaborated on a drawing without looking, challenging their creativity and trust in one another. Lastly, at the play station, children and youth spent extra time on the playground, playing trust-building games.
We would love for you to join us this upcoming Sunday as we return to our regular RE classes. Children and youth will be wrapping up the RE theme of trust, engaging in stories, discussions, and bridge-building activities to explore the practice of repairing broken trust. Hope to see you there!
Update for RE for week of 03/23/2025
RENews:
This past Sunday, children and youth had a fantastic time as they continued to explore this month's RE theme: Trust! Together, we discussed the importance of trusting life, including taking leaps of faith. The younger children enjoyed the story Giraffes Can’t Dance, created their own giraffe stick puppets, and danced just like Gerald the giraffe. Meanwhile, the older children engaged with the wisdom story Lost in the Desert and expressed themselves through painting "Life is Good" pictures.
