Youth Religious Education

Our UUCEP nursery for toddlers and babies (ages 3 and under) opens its doors on Sunday mornings at 9:15. This allows parents enough time to settle the children in before the 10:30 service starts. It will remain open until 1PM, allowing parents a half hour for refreshments and fellowship after the service.

Our CYRE classes have grown as quickly as our children have! We are blissfully bursting at the seams as we serve our 39 registered youth each Sunday. Not including our nursery, we have expanded to five different classes in order to meet the needs of our vast age groups. During the first semester, our children and teens will study pillar #1, which emphasizes UU identity and values in action. Within this pillar, we will talk about what it means to be a UU, learn about the lives and contributions of famous UU men and women and lastly, explore the principles, which form a basis of UU beliefs and traditions. Throughout the year, participation in social justice projects will provide many opportunities for our children and youth to put their faith into action. Of course, December will be devoted to our Christmas play and wrap up our first semester.

Preschool RE (3-5 years of age)
Lower Elementary RE (1st - 2nd grade)
Upper Elementary RE (3rd - 5th grade)
Teen RE (6th - 12th grade)

May Activities

Sunday, May 4

Elementary & Jr. High RE: "Shh, it's a surprise!"

Teachers: J. Kincaid/ P. White/A. Ceely/N. Emerick

Teen RE: Our Whole Lives

Teachers: A. Luykx/ J. Knapka

Sunday, May 11

Elementary & Jr. High RE: Intergenerational Service: At the Heart of Our Faith

Teachers: J. Kincaid /A. Ceely /N. Emerick

Teen RE: Our Whole Lives

Teachers: A. Luykx/ J. Knapka

Sunday, May 18

Elementary & Jr. High RE: Visit to the Bahai Center

Teachers: J.Kincaid/ P. White/A. Ceely/N. Emerick

Teen RE: Our Whole Lives

Teachers: A. Luykx, J. Knapka

Sunday, May 25

Elementary & Jr. High RE: Celebrate the end of the year with a good time at Bowlero Lanes

Teachers: J. Kincaid/ P. White/A. Ceely/N. Emerick

Teen RE: Bowlero Lanes

Teachers: Aurolyn Luykx, Joe Knapka

CYRE AT A GLANCE

The Melrose Congregation of Mass. headed for home after their weeklong pilgrimage on the border. Many thanks go out to this congregation for your generous donations of food, help with transportation, and excursions. Special thanks to Bill Day for helping with the vans and transportation, Bruce Coronet, for leading the excursion to the Dinosaur exhibit, and Nick Emerick for taking the crew on a hike to Sugar Loaf. The Boston team also had an opportunity to visit The Annunciation House and learn more about immigration issues. They were also treated to a tasty lunch prepared by the Annunciation House guests, and had a chance to practice their Spanish. Although there was a glitch in the departing flights, their trip was very worthwhile! They all made it home by Sunday evening, just in time for school on Monday!

Thanks also to all the parents and friends of RE who attended our faith development workshop and seminar put on by YRUU coordinator at the Mountain Desert District. The three major goals that families would like to pursue are Social Justice, Spirituality, and Community. Some projects include a community garden, building a home in Juarez, mentors for teens, and families lighting the chalice on Sunday morning. These were just a few items on our to-do list. It is amazing what we can do when compassion, caring, and commitment are guiding our hearts.

Community Garden and Farmers Market:

On April 25th & 26^th, some very hard working folks made a dream a reality as we put the final touches on our community garden at the Crane House. My thanks to Mark, Jay, Tina and Mike, Carrie, and Deidra who spent countless hours tilling, shoveling, and preparing the soil. But the best part was planting all the yummy veggies and fruits. A big hug and thanks to all the children who planted with such diligence and care!

May Activities: Take Note:

Please be sure to mark all of the field trips and times for the various events we have planned in May!

* Let us build memories in our children, lest they allow treasures to be lost because they have not been given the keys. We live, not by things, but by the meanings of things. It is needful to transmit these passwords from generation to generation. Antoine de St. Exupery

Sunday Classes

April 6
April 13

April 20

April 27

CYRE at a Glance

Last Update:08 May 2008 12:31:40 -0600

Unitarian Universalist Community of El Paso
4425 Byron Street, El Paso, TX 79930-4905
(915) 562-4001 / Fax (915) 562-9708 / uucep@uuelpaso.org

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