From Religious Education

I don’t know how you all are feeling, but I’m certainly having trouble grappling with the fact that we’re in the midst of another holiday season while this terrible pandemic continues. It’s so hard to plan anything or imagine a time when we might be on the other side of this, but I do have faith that we will get through it.

The pandemic has brought into sharp definition for me a new way of understanding our 7th Principle. Most of the time, when I think about how deeply interdependent we all are with each other and the earth, I think of how we need to show up and be physically present for one another. For the last couple of years, though, our interdependence has paradoxically demanded that we remain physically apart while coming up with ways to be emotionally and spiritually present for each other – a hard challenge to meet, but one we’re worthy of, especially when guided by our principles. And I have to say, since joining the staff here at UUCE, I have been so impressed with and touched by seeing this community learning new ways of being present for each other. It’s a blessing and a joy for me to bear witness to it and sometimes to be a part of it.

I want to offer some small hope for the small corner of this community that I’m charged with: the Religious Education program will be offering some at-home activities for our families to support the faith development of our registered kids and youth while the church is still operating remotely. So, RE Families – keep an eye out for some fun, little kits from the RE Team (and if you haven’t registered your kids for RE yet, please email me to do so ASAP!). We have a plan at least through February to empower faith development and religious education at home, and I know we can keep going for as long as we need to, until it’s safe for us to physically gather again.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, or if you’d like to know more about what we’re doing in RE, please don’t hesitate to be in touch – my virtual door is open for this community.

In faith,

Marj Askins, Religious Education Coordinator