Faith Formation
Kindness MAtters
Interesting fact... Did you know that many children believe their parents value achievements more than kindness?
A survey of 10,000 children from 33 school districts revealed that over 80% of children believed their parents appreciated achievement much more than happiness or kindness.
The truth is many parents will say that kindness is important.
But kids aren’t getting that message.
They actually believe that grades are the most important thing to parents.
Though grades might be important, kindness is at the heart of social competence, relationships, and connection.
How can we ensure our children know that we do value kindness?
Try this: (click the button)
A survey of 10,000 children from 33 school districts revealed that over 80% of children believed their parents appreciated achievement much more than happiness or kindness.
The truth is many parents will say that kindness is important.
But kids aren’t getting that message.
They actually believe that grades are the most important thing to parents.
Though grades might be important, kindness is at the heart of social competence, relationships, and connection.
How can we ensure our children know that we do value kindness?
Try this: (click the button)
Traveling Chalice Program
at All Souls
The Traveling Chalice: Bringing the Light Home
by Cory M. Ness, Director of Religious Education from the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley
Purpose
The Purpose of the Traveling Chalice Program is to deepen our understanding of one of our most familiar Unitarian Universalist symbols. The light of the Chalice connects us all together and is a sacred element of our beloved community. The Chalice may also be used as a symbol of hope when one is feeling or experiencing a sense of darkness. We will learn about its history and how it brings people together through learning and love.
Sign up by clicking the Chalice, filling out the form and sending it to Rev. Tracy! Or drop by the RE Office
How the Program Works
Each week a family/household (not just those with children) will take home the Traveling Chalice, which will be inside a special Chalice Bag. A sign-up sheet will be located on the door of the Religious Education Office.
You may want to use the Chalice during your meals, family meetings, or as a bedtime ritual. Choose a reading from the materials provided or make your own.
Take a photo of the chalice and post it on the All Souls Facebook page or send it to me…(is the Chalice on your dining room table, mantle, next to a bedside table?) Record your experience in the included journal.
How did the chalice enrich your experience?
In what ways was the chalice used?
if you created your own reading, you may share it in the journal.
Bring the bag and all of its contents back to church the following week so that the next family/household may use it.
The Bag Includes
A wooden Chalice, candles, matches, a special cloth, pen, Journal, and chalice lighting readings.
by Cory M. Ness, Director of Religious Education from the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley
Purpose
The Purpose of the Traveling Chalice Program is to deepen our understanding of one of our most familiar Unitarian Universalist symbols. The light of the Chalice connects us all together and is a sacred element of our beloved community. The Chalice may also be used as a symbol of hope when one is feeling or experiencing a sense of darkness. We will learn about its history and how it brings people together through learning and love.
Sign up by clicking the Chalice, filling out the form and sending it to Rev. Tracy! Or drop by the RE Office
How the Program Works
Each week a family/household (not just those with children) will take home the Traveling Chalice, which will be inside a special Chalice Bag. A sign-up sheet will be located on the door of the Religious Education Office.
You may want to use the Chalice during your meals, family meetings, or as a bedtime ritual. Choose a reading from the materials provided or make your own.
Take a photo of the chalice and post it on the All Souls Facebook page or send it to me…(is the Chalice on your dining room table, mantle, next to a bedside table?) Record your experience in the included journal.
How did the chalice enrich your experience?
In what ways was the chalice used?
if you created your own reading, you may share it in the journal.
Bring the bag and all of its contents back to church the following week so that the next family/household may use it.
The Bag Includes
A wooden Chalice, candles, matches, a special cloth, pen, Journal, and chalice lighting readings.
Phase Cards for your child's life
Reggie Joiner of thinkorange.com has spent years researching, testing, and re-evaluating how we do church and especially how we do church with and for our families. Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy created a resource called "It's Just a Phase" for parents/caregivers and leaders of churches to use to understand what children go through emotionally, physically, and spiritually at every phase of their first 18 years of life. Their goal is "to summarize and simplify an overwhelming amount of research related to child development so the average leader and parent can understand kids better. A parent has 936 weeks between birth and graduation to leverage distinctive opportunities to influence their child's future." These phase cards are in Tracy's office as well as some additional information from the Unitarian Universalist perspective. You can also purchase the original phase cards at parentcue.org.
Families Weave a tapestry of Faith
Check out this UU world Faith Resource!
Click the button above.
What is Family Ministry?
Click here to learn more:
