All Souls Closed Until April 5th
Dear Family of All Souls,
As you know, your ministry and staff team, along with your Board of Trustees, are paying close attention to the current challenges posed by COVID-19. Our primary concern is that we keep our members, friends, and our larger New York community as safe as possible. To that end, after much reflection and consultation, we have together decided to take the following precautionary steps to mitigate the spread of the virus.
We have decided to suspend all in-person programming and worship at All Souls, effective immediately. There will be no church-related meetings, events, or services of any kind at All Souls until at least April 5. We will make a decision later this month about whether or not to resume programming at that time.
We will offer an online gathering time of music, reflection, and prayer led by Galen or Audette each Sunday morning at 10 AM and 11:15 AM, along with a time for families led by Tracy at 10:30 AM. These will be conducted by Zoom, an online meeting platform that you can join either by video on your computer or smartphone, or by audio from your cell phone or landline. Zoom is easy to use, and we’ll provide all the information you need to join in our Friday emails.
We want to you to have ways to be spiritually nurtured and feel connected, even at this time when we protect ourselves and each other by “social distancing.” Therefore, we will have a special time of online connection and spiritual care each weekday, Monday through Friday. Again, be sure to check the Friday email for more information and links. Here is our initial schedule for these events, which we will adjust or supplement as needed.
Mondays: Meditation with Pamela, 2 PM
Tuesdays: Poetry & Reflection with Galen, 5 PM
Bedtime Story with Tracy, 7 PM
Wednesdays: Shared Reading & Conversation with Audette, 1 PM
Thursdays: Meditation with Pamela, 2 PM
Bedtime Story with Tracy, 7 PM
Fridays: Reading and Reflection, including prayer requests, with Audette, 1 PM
In these confusing times, please know that we will do all we can to keep you safe and informed. Though we will not be together physically, we will be united in spirit and in commitment to each other. We will do our best to maintain a caring and careful pastoral outreach. As always, your ministers are here for you, and we are available if you need to talk with us. Please send an email to set up a time to talk:
galenATallsoulsnycDOTorg
audetteATallsoulsnycDOTorg
tracyATallsoulsnycDOTorg
pamelaATallsoulsnycDOTorg
We encourage you to take special care of yourselves and others by taking steps to avoid unnecessary outings and practicing good hygiene, and also by increasing your outreach by phone or video chat with friends and loved ones. The bonds that connect us are vital, and we hope you will tend them with love in all the ways you are able.
Take courage, friends.
The way is often hard, the path
Is never clear,
And the stakes are very high.
Take courage.
For deep down, there is another
Truth:
You are not alone. (Wayne Arnason)
In the spirit of All Souls,
Your ministers, staff, and Board of Trustees
As you know, your ministry and staff team, along with your Board of Trustees, are paying close attention to the current challenges posed by COVID-19. Our primary concern is that we keep our members, friends, and our larger New York community as safe as possible. To that end, after much reflection and consultation, we have together decided to take the following precautionary steps to mitigate the spread of the virus.
We have decided to suspend all in-person programming and worship at All Souls, effective immediately. There will be no church-related meetings, events, or services of any kind at All Souls until at least April 5. We will make a decision later this month about whether or not to resume programming at that time.
We will offer an online gathering time of music, reflection, and prayer led by Galen or Audette each Sunday morning at 10 AM and 11:15 AM, along with a time for families led by Tracy at 10:30 AM. These will be conducted by Zoom, an online meeting platform that you can join either by video on your computer or smartphone, or by audio from your cell phone or landline. Zoom is easy to use, and we’ll provide all the information you need to join in our Friday emails.
We want to you to have ways to be spiritually nurtured and feel connected, even at this time when we protect ourselves and each other by “social distancing.” Therefore, we will have a special time of online connection and spiritual care each weekday, Monday through Friday. Again, be sure to check the Friday email for more information and links. Here is our initial schedule for these events, which we will adjust or supplement as needed.
Mondays: Meditation with Pamela, 2 PM
Tuesdays: Poetry & Reflection with Galen, 5 PM
Bedtime Story with Tracy, 7 PM
Wednesdays: Shared Reading & Conversation with Audette, 1 PM
Thursdays: Meditation with Pamela, 2 PM
Bedtime Story with Tracy, 7 PM
Fridays: Reading and Reflection, including prayer requests, with Audette, 1 PM
In these confusing times, please know that we will do all we can to keep you safe and informed. Though we will not be together physically, we will be united in spirit and in commitment to each other. We will do our best to maintain a caring and careful pastoral outreach. As always, your ministers are here for you, and we are available if you need to talk with us. Please send an email to set up a time to talk:
galenATallsoulsnycDOTorg
audetteATallsoulsnycDOTorg
tracyATallsoulsnycDOTorg
pamelaATallsoulsnycDOTorg
We encourage you to take special care of yourselves and others by taking steps to avoid unnecessary outings and practicing good hygiene, and also by increasing your outreach by phone or video chat with friends and loved ones. The bonds that connect us are vital, and we hope you will tend them with love in all the ways you are able.
Take courage, friends.
The way is often hard, the path
Is never clear,
And the stakes are very high.
Take courage.
For deep down, there is another
Truth:
You are not alone. (Wayne Arnason)
In the spirit of All Souls,
Your ministers, staff, and Board of Trustees
What's happening in class this week?
THE BELOW CLASSES (FIRST HOUR) TAKE PLACE AT 10:00. SECOND HOUR WORKSHOPS TAKE PLACE AT 11:15
Kindergarten (Spirit Play) (Room 3B)
Teachers: Kim Tyner, Andrea Putnam, Maia Sofge-Osario, Nichalas Tappe
Where did we come from? What are we doing here? How do we choose to live our lives? Spirit Play provides children with a creative introduction to the building blocks of a Unitarian Universalist belief system. This intentional learning environment encourages independent thinking through storytelling and wondering questions. The stories are strongly connected to the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, and are sourced from our UU history and tradition, wisdom from the world’s religions, our Judeo-Christian Heritage, Social Justice themes, and inspiring times in the history of All Souls UU Church.
First & Second Grade (Picture Book Unitarian Universalism) (Room 2A)
Teachers: Ann Scobie, Victoria Sachs, Ling Teo
On Sunday, we will celebrate inter generational friendships and kindness. We will read “St Valentine” by Robert Sabuda. According to legend, part of Valentines Day began in Ancient Rome when a kind physician named Valentine healed a young blind girl through his healing skill and deep faith.
Third Grade (Timeless Themes) (Room 2B)
Teachers: George Collins and Alynne Wesson
Last Sunday in our class "Timeless themes: Stories from the Hebrew and
Christian Bibles," we talked about the story behind the holiday of
Purim, which was March 9-10 this year. As the children may be able to
tell you, Purim is based on the only book in the Bible (the Book of
Esther) that does not refer to God. It has a female heroine, and is
about how one person can make an important difference.
If your child was in Sunday school on March 8, ask about triangular
cookies called hamantaschen (after the story's villain Haman)!
This link has two short videos about the story of Esther that your
child may enjoy watching. Both are made for children, but the Sesame
Street video tones down the violence more than the Bim Bam video does:
https://pjlibrary.org/purim#watch.
And here's a video we watched when we talked about David, the clever
young shepherd boy who slew the giant Goliath with a sling shot (so
much violence in the Bible!). Your child may enjoy sharing it with
you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ieWrWLjii0.
Fourth & Fifth Grade (Spirit of Adventure) (Room 3A)
Teachers: Laurie Jakobsen, Dawn Jones, Mac Randall
Next Sunday, March 1, Linda Moskin from the NY Common Pantry will be with the class to talk about the work that’s done there to support our community. Please bring shelf-stable food items (no glass containers) to donate to the pantry, in a take on the story Stone Soup.
Sixth Grade (Neighboring Faiths) (Ware Room)
Teachers: Rob Goldblum, Larry Reina, Carin Zakes
The sixth-grade curriculum deepens understanding of the traditions, beliefs and practices of world religions. These studies are combined with visits to neighboring houses of worship in the community such as a Jewish synagogue, mosque, Catholic Church, Muslim Mosque and a Buddhist temple. We introduce worship to our class time with an opening reading and the lighting of candles. We study the history of Unitarian Universalism, while exploring the similarities and differences between our faith and the “faiths across the street.”
Seventh & Eighth Grade (Amazing Grace and Heeding the Call) (Chapel)
Teachers: David Frieman and Audra Robb
This week the 7th and 8th graders will practice active listening as a way to better engage with people around complicated issues, and also discuss the ways in which bias interferes with actively working towards social justice.
Teachers: Kim Tyner, Andrea Putnam, Maia Sofge-Osario, Nichalas Tappe
Where did we come from? What are we doing here? How do we choose to live our lives? Spirit Play provides children with a creative introduction to the building blocks of a Unitarian Universalist belief system. This intentional learning environment encourages independent thinking through storytelling and wondering questions. The stories are strongly connected to the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, and are sourced from our UU history and tradition, wisdom from the world’s religions, our Judeo-Christian Heritage, Social Justice themes, and inspiring times in the history of All Souls UU Church.
First & Second Grade (Picture Book Unitarian Universalism) (Room 2A)
Teachers: Ann Scobie, Victoria Sachs, Ling Teo
On Sunday, we will celebrate inter generational friendships and kindness. We will read “St Valentine” by Robert Sabuda. According to legend, part of Valentines Day began in Ancient Rome when a kind physician named Valentine healed a young blind girl through his healing skill and deep faith.
Third Grade (Timeless Themes) (Room 2B)
Teachers: George Collins and Alynne Wesson
Last Sunday in our class "Timeless themes: Stories from the Hebrew and
Christian Bibles," we talked about the story behind the holiday of
Purim, which was March 9-10 this year. As the children may be able to
tell you, Purim is based on the only book in the Bible (the Book of
Esther) that does not refer to God. It has a female heroine, and is
about how one person can make an important difference.
If your child was in Sunday school on March 8, ask about triangular
cookies called hamantaschen (after the story's villain Haman)!
This link has two short videos about the story of Esther that your
child may enjoy watching. Both are made for children, but the Sesame
Street video tones down the violence more than the Bim Bam video does:
https://pjlibrary.org/purim#watch.
And here's a video we watched when we talked about David, the clever
young shepherd boy who slew the giant Goliath with a sling shot (so
much violence in the Bible!). Your child may enjoy sharing it with
you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ieWrWLjii0.
Fourth & Fifth Grade (Spirit of Adventure) (Room 3A)
Teachers: Laurie Jakobsen, Dawn Jones, Mac Randall
Next Sunday, March 1, Linda Moskin from the NY Common Pantry will be with the class to talk about the work that’s done there to support our community. Please bring shelf-stable food items (no glass containers) to donate to the pantry, in a take on the story Stone Soup.
Sixth Grade (Neighboring Faiths) (Ware Room)
Teachers: Rob Goldblum, Larry Reina, Carin Zakes
The sixth-grade curriculum deepens understanding of the traditions, beliefs and practices of world religions. These studies are combined with visits to neighboring houses of worship in the community such as a Jewish synagogue, mosque, Catholic Church, Muslim Mosque and a Buddhist temple. We introduce worship to our class time with an opening reading and the lighting of candles. We study the history of Unitarian Universalism, while exploring the similarities and differences between our faith and the “faiths across the street.”
Seventh & Eighth Grade (Amazing Grace and Heeding the Call) (Chapel)
Teachers: David Frieman and Audra Robb
This week the 7th and 8th graders will practice active listening as a way to better engage with people around complicated issues, and also discuss the ways in which bias interferes with actively working towards social justice.
First Hour Classes (10-11)
Nursery | Infants through Age 2 (Room 4B)
Our nursery program provides loving care and supervised activity for infants and toddlers in a child-friendly space on the fifth floor of Wiggin House. The environment is respectful of the child as an individual and encourages discovery. Childcare is available from 9:45 a.m. until 12:15pm. For the safety of the children, we ask parents to pick up their children from the classroom in person.
Preschool | 3 and 4 year olds (Room 4A) Chalice Children
For the preschoolers, we work from two Unitarian Universalist curriculums. Chalice Children is designed to help young children learn about their church and congregation,
Kindergarten Spirit Play
Where did we come from? What are we doing here? How do we choose to live our lives? Spirit Play provides children with a creative introduction to the building blocks of a Unitarian Universalist belief system. This intentional learning environment encourages independent thinking through storytelling and wondering questions. The stories are strongly connected to the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, and are sourced from our UU history and tradition, wisdom from the world’s religions, our Judeo-Christian Heritage, Social Justice themes, and inspiring times in the history of All Souls UU Church.
First/Second Picture Book Unitarian Universalism
This Katie Covey curriculum is based on 36 of the best picture books for teaching young children about love, reason, tolerance and good works that are values of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Geared toward young learners, this year long curriculum teaches our children the art of self-expression, to value individuality, to think for themselves and simplify their lives, and to understand that everything is connected – in fact, radically related. They will hear about people whose novel ideas and discoveries helped to transform our faith – people like Maria Mitchell, Henry David Thoreau, and Fannie Farmer.
Third Grade Timeless Themes: Stories from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles
How do sacred stories from Christianity and Judaism inform our faith? Third graders and teachers explore stories from the Judeo-Christian traditions of meaning to Unitarian Universalists. Discussions include historical perspective. With games, conversation, and creative activities, sacred stories come alive as we weave them into our lives and our living tradition.
Fourth/Fifth Grade Spirit of Adventure
This Katie Covey Unitarian Universalist Identity curriculum draws from our seven principles, the sources, and our history. Through the themes of medicine, food, science, buildings, exploration, and the web of life, our children expand their UU identity by using reason, being creative, kind, and generous, as well as trying new things.
Sixth Grade Neighboring Faiths/Crossing Paths
The sixth-grade curriculum deepens understanding of the traditions, beliefs and practices of world religions. These studies are combined with visits to neighboring houses of worship in the community such as a Jewish synagogue, mosque, Catholic Church, Muslim Mosque and a Buddhist temple. We introduce worship to our class time with an opening reading and the lighting of candles. We study the history of Unitarian Universalism, while exploring the similarities and differences between our faith and the “faiths across the street.”
Seventh and Eighth Grades | Amazing Grace and Heeding the Call
First Half: Amazing Grace helps students understand right and wrong and act on their new understanding. Its purpose is to equip them for moving safely and productively through the middle- and high school years, when they will be continually tugged toward both ends of the ethics continuum. Through their involvement in Amazing Grace, youth will come to recognize and depend on their Unitarian Universalist identity and resources as essential to their movement toward understanding, independence, and fulfillment of personal promise. Second Half: Heeding the Call encourages youth to view themselves as agents of change in the world as they develop qualities crucial to justice work. They reflect on their own lives while making connections to the lives lived by others, building self-awareness while growing as leaders. Includes a Justice makers Guide to help youth track their activities outside the workshop and a long-term Faith in Action project to lead youth, step-by-step, in becoming allies to marginalized communities.
Ninth Grade Coming of Age
Coming of Age is the Unitarian Universalist curriculum for youth, age 14, who are expected to assume responsibility for their religious journeys. The program offers a safe place for spiritual exploration and deep questioning. Youth are encouraged to actively participate in classes, lead worship, and travel to Murray Grove and Boston to learn more about our denomination’s history. The year culminates in the presentation of each participant’s credo statement to the congregation at the spring Coming of Age Service.
All Souls Youth Groups (grades 9-12)- Aspyre
Activate your faith! Our High School Youth Group is a youth-led social and service group. Supportive and inclusive, each week we share deeply about our lives. The youth group also: leads chapel for the children two to three times a year; participate in youth cons; participate in a Social Justice/Mission trip; leads a Youth Service for the congregation; usher; leads Guest at Your Table; participates in the UU-UNO conference each April; overnights at All Souls; youth worship. The All Souls Youth Group offers numerous leadership opportunities and creates supportive and fun community. New members are always welcome!
Second Hour Classes (11:15-12:15)
All Souls Children's Choir
The All Souls Children’s Choir (ASCC) is dedicated to teaching its students the basic skills involved in good singing: posture, tone production, diction stage presence etc. The choir performs a diverse repertoire including tradional sacred songs to songs that embrace social justice themes. In addition, the New Amsterdam Boys and Girls Choir (NABGC) regularly joins the ASCC for Chapel On Sunday mornings and then have a joint rehearsal. They sing together several times a year including the 10am and 11:15am services at All Souls and other venues outside of All Souls.
Teacher: James Backmon
Classroom: The Chapel
Drama
Teacher: Jes Bedwinek
Classroom: 2B
Ninth Grade | Affirmation/Coming of Age
Coming of Age is the Unitarian Universalist curriculum for youth, age 14, who are expected to assume responsibility for their religious journeys. The program offers a safe place for spiritual exploration and deep questioning. Youth are encouraged to actively participate in classes, lead worship, and travel to Murray Grove and Boston to learn more about our denomination’s history. The year culminates in the presentation of each participant’s credo statement to the congregation at the spring Coming of Age Service.
Teachers: Cadell Hornbuckle, Shivani Singh, David Jenks, and Rev. Tracy
Classroom:
All Souls Youth Group | ASPYRE (grades 9-12)
Activate your faith! Our High School Youth Group is a youth-led social and service group. Supportive and inclusive, each week we share deeply about our lives. The youth group also: leads chapel for the children two to three times a year; participate in youth cons; participate in a Social Justice/Mission trip; leads a Youth Service for the congregation; usher; leads Guest at Your Table; participates in the UU-UNO conference each April; overnights at All Souls; youth worship. The All Souls Youth Group offers numerous leadership opportunities and creates supportive and fun community. New members are always welcome!
Meets in 2A
2x a month/Next Meeting is Oct 13
Nursery | Infants through Age 2 (Room 4B)
Our nursery program provides loving care and supervised activity for infants and toddlers in a child-friendly space on the fifth floor of Wiggin House. The environment is respectful of the child as an individual and encourages discovery. Childcare is available from 9:45 a.m. until 12:15pm. For the safety of the children, we ask parents to pick up their children from the classroom in person.
Preschool | 3 and 4 year olds (Room 4A) Chalice Children
For the preschoolers, we work from two Unitarian Universalist curriculums. Chalice Children is designed to help young children learn about their church and congregation,
Kindergarten Spirit Play
Where did we come from? What are we doing here? How do we choose to live our lives? Spirit Play provides children with a creative introduction to the building blocks of a Unitarian Universalist belief system. This intentional learning environment encourages independent thinking through storytelling and wondering questions. The stories are strongly connected to the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, and are sourced from our UU history and tradition, wisdom from the world’s religions, our Judeo-Christian Heritage, Social Justice themes, and inspiring times in the history of All Souls UU Church.
First/Second Picture Book Unitarian Universalism
This Katie Covey curriculum is based on 36 of the best picture books for teaching young children about love, reason, tolerance and good works that are values of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Geared toward young learners, this year long curriculum teaches our children the art of self-expression, to value individuality, to think for themselves and simplify their lives, and to understand that everything is connected – in fact, radically related. They will hear about people whose novel ideas and discoveries helped to transform our faith – people like Maria Mitchell, Henry David Thoreau, and Fannie Farmer.
Third Grade Timeless Themes: Stories from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles
How do sacred stories from Christianity and Judaism inform our faith? Third graders and teachers explore stories from the Judeo-Christian traditions of meaning to Unitarian Universalists. Discussions include historical perspective. With games, conversation, and creative activities, sacred stories come alive as we weave them into our lives and our living tradition.
Fourth/Fifth Grade Spirit of Adventure
This Katie Covey Unitarian Universalist Identity curriculum draws from our seven principles, the sources, and our history. Through the themes of medicine, food, science, buildings, exploration, and the web of life, our children expand their UU identity by using reason, being creative, kind, and generous, as well as trying new things.
Sixth Grade Neighboring Faiths/Crossing Paths
The sixth-grade curriculum deepens understanding of the traditions, beliefs and practices of world religions. These studies are combined with visits to neighboring houses of worship in the community such as a Jewish synagogue, mosque, Catholic Church, Muslim Mosque and a Buddhist temple. We introduce worship to our class time with an opening reading and the lighting of candles. We study the history of Unitarian Universalism, while exploring the similarities and differences between our faith and the “faiths across the street.”
Seventh and Eighth Grades | Amazing Grace and Heeding the Call
First Half: Amazing Grace helps students understand right and wrong and act on their new understanding. Its purpose is to equip them for moving safely and productively through the middle- and high school years, when they will be continually tugged toward both ends of the ethics continuum. Through their involvement in Amazing Grace, youth will come to recognize and depend on their Unitarian Universalist identity and resources as essential to their movement toward understanding, independence, and fulfillment of personal promise. Second Half: Heeding the Call encourages youth to view themselves as agents of change in the world as they develop qualities crucial to justice work. They reflect on their own lives while making connections to the lives lived by others, building self-awareness while growing as leaders. Includes a Justice makers Guide to help youth track their activities outside the workshop and a long-term Faith in Action project to lead youth, step-by-step, in becoming allies to marginalized communities.
Ninth Grade Coming of Age
Coming of Age is the Unitarian Universalist curriculum for youth, age 14, who are expected to assume responsibility for their religious journeys. The program offers a safe place for spiritual exploration and deep questioning. Youth are encouraged to actively participate in classes, lead worship, and travel to Murray Grove and Boston to learn more about our denomination’s history. The year culminates in the presentation of each participant’s credo statement to the congregation at the spring Coming of Age Service.
All Souls Youth Groups (grades 9-12)- Aspyre
Activate your faith! Our High School Youth Group is a youth-led social and service group. Supportive and inclusive, each week we share deeply about our lives. The youth group also: leads chapel for the children two to three times a year; participate in youth cons; participate in a Social Justice/Mission trip; leads a Youth Service for the congregation; usher; leads Guest at Your Table; participates in the UU-UNO conference each April; overnights at All Souls; youth worship. The All Souls Youth Group offers numerous leadership opportunities and creates supportive and fun community. New members are always welcome!
Second Hour Classes (11:15-12:15)
All Souls Children's Choir
The All Souls Children’s Choir (ASCC) is dedicated to teaching its students the basic skills involved in good singing: posture, tone production, diction stage presence etc. The choir performs a diverse repertoire including tradional sacred songs to songs that embrace social justice themes. In addition, the New Amsterdam Boys and Girls Choir (NABGC) regularly joins the ASCC for Chapel On Sunday mornings and then have a joint rehearsal. They sing together several times a year including the 10am and 11:15am services at All Souls and other venues outside of All Souls.
Teacher: James Backmon
Classroom: The Chapel
Drama
Teacher: Jes Bedwinek
Classroom: 2B
Ninth Grade | Affirmation/Coming of Age
Coming of Age is the Unitarian Universalist curriculum for youth, age 14, who are expected to assume responsibility for their religious journeys. The program offers a safe place for spiritual exploration and deep questioning. Youth are encouraged to actively participate in classes, lead worship, and travel to Murray Grove and Boston to learn more about our denomination’s history. The year culminates in the presentation of each participant’s credo statement to the congregation at the spring Coming of Age Service.
Teachers: Cadell Hornbuckle, Shivani Singh, David Jenks, and Rev. Tracy
Classroom:
All Souls Youth Group | ASPYRE (grades 9-12)
Activate your faith! Our High School Youth Group is a youth-led social and service group. Supportive and inclusive, each week we share deeply about our lives. The youth group also: leads chapel for the children two to three times a year; participate in youth cons; participate in a Social Justice/Mission trip; leads a Youth Service for the congregation; usher; leads Guest at Your Table; participates in the UU-UNO conference each April; overnights at All Souls; youth worship. The All Souls Youth Group offers numerous leadership opportunities and creates supportive and fun community. New members are always welcome!
Meets in 2A
2x a month/Next Meeting is Oct 13