RE News and Teacher Sign-ups

Mothers’ Day: Mothers’ Day began in 1872 when Unitarian Julia Ward Howe began advocating for the creation of a “Mothers’ Day of Peace” to be held on June 2.  While Mothers’ Day of Peace sadly died out at the turn of the 20^th century, Methodist Anna Jarvis began a campaign in 1907 to establish a permanent Mothers’ Day. The YMCA took up the cause and, in 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a congressional resolution establishing Mothers’ Day in the United States. 

 Today, Mothers’ Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, and, while we don’t have a Mothers’ Day of Peace, mothers today are calling for peace in their communities in light of the increase in gun violence and other violence that has affected all of us in one way or another. Mothers are pushing for legislation aimed at curbing gun violence with sensible gun laws. We can help support these mothers and honor our own by going to www.standingonthesideoflove.org/tag/mothers-for-peace/, www.mothersagainstgunviolence.org,  and www.momsdemandaplan.org to learn what’s being done to bring a greater degree of peace to our communities and how we can each become involved.

 Muffins for Moms: R.E. is recruiting dads, granddads, and non-moms to volunteer in R.E. classes on May 12, helping the kids make Mothers’ Day cards as well as assisting in the Muffins for Moms gathering after services. We want to give the Moms a break and say thank you for all that they do for the R.E. program. The Muffins for Moms will be at 10:15 AM and again at 12:15 PM. All moms and grandmothers are invited.  Muffins, juice, and other edibles will be served in the R.E. space downstairs.  Contact Leslye at sfuudreleslye@gmail.com if you can help out during class time at 9 and 11 and/or for the gatherings after class.

Update on the Play Yard:  If you haven’t gone to the side yard at church to see the beautiful fencing being installed, take some time to check it out.  A big thank you goes to Javier Rivera for design, construction, installation, and painting the fence; to Bob Niblack and Tom Piette for envisioning what needs to be done and helping with the fence painting; and to Leo Meunier, who also helped paint.  We could use some more volunteers for the remaining work and would hope some of the childcare parents will step up to help out with grading the area, putting sealant on the fence and other tasks being planned. To find out what needs to be done and when work days are scheduled contact Leslye at sfuudreleslye@gmail.com.

Creek Clean Up for Earth Day: On April 21, the R.E. classes did their annual Creek Clean-up at the School Park Preserve on High Street, across the street from Placer High School.  The younger children were escorted by members of the youth group and adult volunteers.  Thank you to all the children, youth, and adult volunteers who helped with the clean up efforts. I will send a note to the City of Auburn letting them know of our clean-up project.

 Coming of Age Program for Teens Forum:  R.E. has invited Jason George, the coordinator for the regional PCD Coming of Age Program, to come to SFUU on May 20 to meet with parents and youth to discuss how the program operates, what’s involved in SFUU implementing a program for our youth, and what’s being planned for PCD retreats for all Coming of Age youth in the district for 2013-14. Youth who will be in 8^th, 9^th, or 10^th grade by September 2013 are encouraged to attend, because they will be eligible to participate in this life-changing program starting next fall.  The meeting will be at 6:30 PM in the SFUU Sanctuary.  R.S.V.P. to Leslye if you and your youth plan to attend. Refreshments will be served.

R.E.-Led Service Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with preparations for the R.E.-Led Service on June 9. We will work on the service on May 26 and June 2, and a special rehearsal will be held on Saturday, June 8, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM.  A pizza dinner will be provided after the Saturday rehearsal.  Please contact Leslye if you can help.

 Summer Guest Star Program: Recruitment for the 2013 Summer Guest Star Program will begin in May. We are looking for people in the Congregation who would like to spend a fun hour on a summer Sunday with our R.E. elementary age kids, sharing something you have expertise in, or love to do.  We need people who enjoy doing art, music, drama, story telling, poetry, and special sports such as rock climbing, back packing, and other areas our children would enjoy learning about.  Be sure to check out the sign-up sheet in the Social Hall starting in May.

Growing Peace Camp: The R.E. committee agreed to sign on as a sponsor for Growing Peace Camp, which is scheduled for August 5 – 9 at Alta Vista School.  The R.E. committee will fund two scholarships for children in need of financial assistance to attend.  Registration for Peace Camp should come out soon and will be at the PlacerArts website.  PlacerArts, along with a coalition of community and faith based groups, including volunteers from SFUU, are putting the camp together. We’re hoping  to serve 30 children this year, and will invite some of our teens to assist as junior counselors and counselors-in-training. More information will be sent out to families soon. We appreciate the support of our own music director, Pattiey Leftridge, who has been working with the committee to secure Alta Vista Charter School, where she is the principal.