Religious Education Connections
Unitarian Universalists Gather
It is said that Unitarian Universalists take the summer off!
Churches close and we all head for our favorite summer places.
And if we happen to live in one of those places, we are too
busy welcoming others to take time for 'church'. But more
and more of our congregations are having summer gatherings
of one type of another. These services may be more informal
than the 'church year' gatherings, they may be lay led. That's
great! Spirituality does not need to come in formal packaging,
and at no time in our heritage have I found it written that
only ministers can lead spiritual gatherings! But the intentionality
of setting aside time for worship, for celebration, for nurturing
our spiritual selves is absolutely critical.
Here are some of the gatherings of Unitarian Universalists
that I have attended so far this summer – General Assembly
and conferences at Star Island and Ferry Beach. And these
are open to CLF members! Did you attend any of these or similar
gatherings? It’s not too early to plan for next year’s
gatherings……..Start looking for information about
events for next summer at various conference centers by the
December!!!
June brought General Assembly in Long Beach, California.
With the modern technology, we can really be connected. The
CLF website has the service, including a picture of the gathering
for the CLF worship service, and there is a report on the
UUA website (http://www.uua.org/ga/ga04/3110.html).
Technology allowed for with ‘live streaming’ of
some events to various other locations, and constant news
and information on the UUA website. Isolated as we may be
throughout the year, there is something magical about connecting
for summer renewal.
One of the exciting parts of General Assembly is the
Banner Parade that is part of the opening ceremony. It has
me thinking about the purpose of banners – to show
what is important to a country or a community or a family.
Banners include symbols and sometimes mottos or words. Banners
are made by congregations, but they can also be made by
CLF families and members. Making banners would be a great
summer project, that could be done outside on a picnic table
or inside on a rainy day!
Start by talking about what is important in Unitarian
Universalism that you want to put on the banner, and decide
what symbols could be used – like a chalice for our
faith, a heart for love, a bird for peace, your state or
province or country……..use a piece of felt or
cloth for the banner, and draw, paint or paste your symbols
onto it. If you send me a picture of your design or of your
banner, I will include it in RE Connections…. Another
way to keep connected!!!!! (Contact me at
)
And I also spend a time at conference centers that have seen
Unitarian and Universalist gatherings for over 100 each. One
was at Star Island, a summer gathering of Unitarians on the
Isles of Shoals off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
which has had a religious education component since 1908.
The other was at Ferry Beach in Saco, Maine, which was the
Universalist summer gathering location that has had a religious
education program since around 1915. Imagine, a hundred years
of programs for religious educators and children! Not only
the connections with location, but also the connections with
history. At the conferences I met some Directors of Religious
Education who were members of CLF because they could not be
members of the congregations that they served. There are so
many ways and reasons that people become connected with CLF,
and I enjoy meeting CLFers in various locations.
Where do you go in the summer? Are there Unitarian Universalists
churches in towns or cities that you might visit? Many congregations
have summer services, and it is interesting to visit worship
in other than our usual places.
Religious Education
Connections Summer 2004 Contents
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