Gratitude - Theme Based Ministry

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all souls unitarian church | www.allsoulschurch.org | 918.743.2805 | 2952 south peoria, tulsa, ok 74114
Theme
Workshops
1st - 6th Grades
Gratitude Journals – Beginning
with our invocation, the children will
create their own journals where they
can record that for which they are
grateful.
Dramatizing Attitude – Students
will role play scenarios that can be
approached negatively or positively
and then assess the outcomes.
Thank You – After brainstorming
what they are thankful for, the children
will create thank-you notes to send to
those who have blessed their lives.
Perhaps – Drawing on the Bhagavad
Gita, the ancient Hindu scripture,
the classes will listen to a story that
asks if events are a blessing or a curse,
then create their own artistic depictions
of personal clouds with silver linings.
Gr atitude
By Gabrielle Ricketts
Thanksgiving has long been my
favorite holiday. At first, it was about
the start of the holidays: the Macy’s
parade, then a fantastic meal shared
with grandparents, aunts, uncles
and cousins. I appreciated, too, that
Thanksgiving was a lot like Christmas
without the drama. In recent years,
I have come to value this holiday
because it celebrates gratitude. It is
important to me to be mindfully
thankful for what I already have
and count the blessings in my life. I
don’t have to sift this holiday message
through my liberal religious filter. It is
just a great idea.
Maybe because at All Souls our roots
go back to the Pilgrims and Puritans, I feel a special connection to
the Thanksgiving story. Unitarians
share with the pilgrims the pursuit
of religious freedom; the church that
the pilgrims founded in Plymouth
evolved into a Unitarian church; the
chancel of All Souls is, by design,
the same dimensions as those of the
building in which the Pilgrims held
their services. Add to this an obscene
fondness for pumpkin pie, and I am
inspired to just full on call it my
holiday.
I proudly embrace the pilgrims’ story
as part of my religious heritage. I
talk to my kids about the covenant
the pilgrims made – the Mayflower
Compact – and the subsequent trials
that plagued the settlers who selflessly
helped each other through their first
winter in the New World, all in an effort to pursue religious freedom. Then
let’s not forget the pilgrims sat down
peacefully for a meal (historians say
several days) with the Wampanoag
people. The Thanksgiving story is in
essence a story of interacting peacefully and respectfully with people
holding different beliefs and customs,
with both groups expressing gratitude
and beginning an open dialogue. This
is my folklore. Christians have the
Nativity, Jews have the miracle of the
oil in the lamp lasting for eight days,
and I have the Pilgrims. As my kids
grow older, I will point out that this
story is not representative of European-American and Native American
history; but for now, I love the story
and share it with my children.
All Souls also celebrates two of my
favorite harvest-inspired traditions,
the Earth Blessing and Thanksgiving
Festival Sunday. See you there.
The Invocation
Story for All Ages
from Psalms 118:24
for ou r Sunday Wor ship Serv ice
This is indeed a
day w h i c h G o d h a s m a d e .
Let us then r e j o i c e i n i t and be glad.
And let us cou n t ou r m a n y b l e s s i n gs .
L e t u s b e g r at ef u l for the capacity
to s ee;
to f eel ;
to h e a r
a n d u n d ers ta n d
Let us be grateful for t h e i n c r ed i b l e g i f t o f l i f e .
Let us be especially grateful fo r t h e t i e s o f lov e that bind us together,
Giving d i g n i t y, m e a n i n g , wo rt h and j oy to all of our days.
INVOCATION COMPREHENSION & QUESTIONS
What does “a day which God has made” mean to your family?
What blessings do we detect by using our senses? What blessings do we see? What are our favorite things to feel? Ask
each family member to explain what sounds he/or she loves to hear? As the seasons change, do these things change?
What are we glad that we know or that we have experienced? What would we like to know?
How is life a gift? Touch on the concept of a blessing being a grace which we have done nothing to earn. We receive
the gift of life though we have done nothing to deserve it.
How does love give dignity, meaning, worth and joy to your life, especially when family schedules are hectic? What
would our life be like without ties of love? Is there a ritual your family does to show family ties? A leaving ritual may
be a secret handshake or waving from the front door when someone leaves for work or school. A coming home ritual
is as easy as saying “Welcome home!” Family reunions and holiday celebrations keep extended family together. Our
church community is bound together by our covenant, our relationships, and our shared experience of worship
services, holidays, and annual events.
{
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can
turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense
of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
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–Melody Beattie
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DINNER TABLE DISCUSSION
A month of blessings It is a Thanksgiving Dinner tradition for each
family member to say what he or she is thankful for. Why not try it more often?
Called Radical Thankfulness, try to create a long list of blessings by adding to
your list everyday without repetition throughout the month. The list can go
from serious to funny depending on everyone’s moods and events. Keep the list
posted for everyone to see; or make this practice into a collage: write blessings
on a leaf and hang it on a Thanksgiving Tree, write blessing on colorful feathers
and make a turkey, or draw blessings on canvas squares or ribbons and tie them
into a blessing quilt.
The best thing that happened today With the idea of a
blessing being abstract for little ones, start cultivating gratitude by talking about
their favorite thing that happened at school, on a play date, with a friend or toy.
Story of Thanksgiving Read the story of Thanksgiving, or the story
of how Thanksgiving became a national holiday. Discuss how during times of
strife people find it comforting to be thankful for small things.
Harvest festivals Read or discuss harvest festivals from other
cultures. Search harvest festivals in Wikipedia for a long list.
FESTIVAL SUNDAY
November 22 at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Families attend the service together in the sanctuary.
The service is child-friendly with a Story for All Ages
and a homily. Each child is asked to bring a fresh fruit
or vegetable to place in the cornucopia on the chancel which
will be donated to those in need. The Youth Choir performs at
the 10 a.m. service and the Children’s Choir performs at the
11:30 a.m. service.
There are no Children’s Religious Education Classes scheduled.
Childcare is available for children in pre-school and younger.
he art ’s memory
French proverb
for Gratitude
Blessing Beads
Many faith traditions have beads to
symbolize prayer or devotionals.
Think of rosary beads or Tibetan
prayer beads. Our family created
blessing beads. Every year in
November my daughter and I have
made a string of beads (three beads
to begin with, her current Blessing
Beads necklace has a dozen unique
beads). String them up, start by
limiting the number of beads to
your child’s age. Then, create a
peaceful bedtime ritual of counting
blessings, one for each bead. All
kinds of beautiful beads can be
found at art stores and bead shops.
Blessing book
THANKSGIVING
“Gratitude is the
Spiritual
Family
Practice
My daughter is too young to write,
so I write the blessings she tells me
in a book called her Blessing Book.
Children can also draw pictures of
the things for which they are grateful. Books designed to be a diary
with a lock somehow say that the
blessings written in them are valuable and are guarded with a key.
Thank you letters
Write a letter to someone who has
done something kind or has had an
influence on your life. It is important to write thank you cards for
gifts, but an unexpected thank you
or recognition is an extra blessing.
Bedtime ritual
”
Read or create a nighttime blessing,
prayer, or meditation. Children
as well as many adults find that a
memorized childhood prayer still
gives them comfort as a touchstone at the end of the day or in
times of stress.
UU FAMILY VALUES
H ow C a n We Te ac h Th em?
How do we raise children who are grateful and not brought up with a sense of
entitlement? It is a huge undertaking in a materialistic society. Here are some
ideas All Souls parents have used:
• Have younger children make a Gratitude List called “Gifts I’ve already Have.”
Challenge them to make it at least as long as their Christmas Wish list.
• Wish List - When kids see something they want on TV or in a store, put it on
their wish list for their birthday or Christmas. This is an action of compromise.
They will be satisfied at having their wish listened to and recorded, and you will
have a list of things they want when special holidays come around. This curbs
the thought that when they see something they deserve it right away.
• Help those less fortunate - Include your children in charitable activities by
filling a wish on the Angel Tree, making donations to our Adopted Schools,
donating coats this winter, serving food at a shelter. These actions provide a
catalyst for discussions of people with real needs vs. wants. It also gives children a say in how they can help and how the family can spend its resources.
Self Service: Answering the Call
In each issue there will be suggestions of ways to expose children to community needs and
avenues for helping others. Help them find their calling in the world by exploring these
opportunities for giving.
Earth Blessing
On November 8, we will celebrate our fifth annual Earth Blessing Event
where we invite even the youngest souls to take care of the church grounds.
Based on harvest festivals from many cultures, this celebration gives families
and friends the chance to be mindful of the Earth’s Blessings and for the
community that All Souls provides.
10 am West and North playgrounds Parents and friends are asked to join
their children in planting pansies and daffodils and preparing our outdoor
spaces for the winter on the North Playground.
11 am Earth Blessing Ceremony and Dedication of the North Playground
followed by Spiritual Expressions classes. Parents are encouraged to stay for this
outside Children’s Chapel Service to be held on the newly renovated outdoor
space on the North playground.
1 pm In the Memorial Garden following the second service, Rev. Deborah
Garfinkel will lead a blessing, then families and friends will plant pansies and
bulbs and prepare the Memorial garden for winter.
12:45-2:15 pm Quarter Souls, the 7th and 8th grade Youth Group, will help
with the planting in the Memorial Garden.
Hot apple cider and cookies will be served.
As this event grows every year, we are inviting individuals and branches groups
to help prepare the grounds for the event or donate plants. Contact Gabrielle
Ricketts at gabrielle.mail@cox.net for ways to participate.
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RESOURCES
Books with a diversity
of blessings for the
family dinner table
Saying Grace: Blessings for the
Family Table by Sarah McElwain
and David Dean
A Grateful Heart: Daily Blessings
for the Evening Meal from Buddha
to the Beatles by M. J. Ryan
The Iroquois Thanksgiving Address
Native Americans believe that to
be human is a gift and an honor,
requiring mindful gratitude. Found
on the internet and YouTube.
Children’s Books
I’m Thankful Each Day
by P. K. Hallinan
Thankfulness by Cynthia Roberts
The Most Thankful Thing
by Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore
Thanks & Giving: All Year Long
Book and CD by Marlo Thomas
and Christopher Cerf
How Many Days to America?
A Thanksgiving Story
by Eve Bunting and Beth Peck
Movies & Videos
Pollyanna – Accentuate the Positive.
Pollyanna is determined to find the
good in any situation. “Pollyanna
did not pretend that everything
was good,” said her creator, Elanor
Hodgman Porter, “She understood
that unpleasant things are always
with us, but she believed in mitigating them by looking for whatever
good there is in what is.”
It’s a Wonderful Life – George
receives a precious gift; he sees what
his town would be like if he hadn’t
done good deeds over the years.
This beloved film has an underlying
theme of gratitude from a unique
perspective.
There are so many sources for each
of our themes and holidays. We are
looking for your family’s favorites.
If you have any suggestions, please
e-mail gabrielle.mail@cox.net.
CHURCH THEME-BASED MINISTRY TRAINING FOR
PEACE, GRACE AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Wednesday, November 11 from 7-8 pm and again on Sunday, November
15th, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Senior Minister, Marlin Lavanhar, will discuss the
December through February church-wide themes: Peace, Grace, and Prayer and
Spiritual Practice with teachers, guides and parents. All are welcome to attend
to learn how All Souls is using these themes to enrich our Children’s Religious
Education program.
PARENT’S NIGHT OUT
November Parent’s Night Out is Friday, November 20, 6:30-10 p.m.
Parents’ Night Out is offered to support healthy families in the All Souls
community by allowing parents an opportunity to nurture their own
relationships, knowing that their children are in a safe, creative and familiar
environment. Children 3 months to 12 years of age are welcome. The program
includes free and structured play, arts and crafts, games and a healthy snack.
The younger children will have story time and the older ones will watch a movie.
Based on age, fees range from $15 to $25 for the evening. Please make
your reservation 72 hours in advance by contacting Cathy Wolf at
childcare@allsoulschurch.org or 743-2805, ext. 308, and leaving the following information: Your name, your child’s name(s) and age(s), your complete
contact information. All reservations will be confirmed by e-mail or phone.
The Parent Resource Network is a new effort at collaboration and coordination of
all the resources available to parents and families at All Souls, from the obvious ones
of Children’s Religious Education and the Mostly Unitarian Moms (and Dads) to
other, more informal activities and resources.
What is PIN?
Recognizing (and maybe rebelling against) the stresses and strains of active
parents, some parents have responded with plans for a “Parent Irresponsibility
Night” – social time without being responsible for our children. Scheduled for
the third Monday of the month (get a sitter!), this month parents will meet
Monday, November 16, at 6:30 pm (location to be announced).
For information contact Annie Simpson at beadtopia_studio@yahoo.com.
What is All Souls MUMS?
Mostly Unitarian Moms & Dads. Meeting on Thursday mornings and the
second Wednesday night of each month, the MUMS group provides parenting
support, meals for new parents, educational speakers, spiritual outlet, fellowship,
and outreach programs which connect with All Souls and the Tulsa community.
The MUMS group communicates via an online group.
To request an invitation to the online group or for more information, please
contact Rain Johnson at (918)605-5354 or rain2002@sbcglobal.net.
November Question
How does your family fight against the “Christmas Machine” and bring
meaning and joy to the holidays? Please send us your best traditions, stories,
and tactics for a sane holiday season to gabrielle.mail@cox.net.
UU Translator
The UU translator builds a vocabulary for the members of All Souls
allowing a dialogue with each other
and people of different faiths.
Blessing
Noun: 1) A gift or positive outcome
that has been bestowed on us for which
we have not earned or done anything
required to receive it. 2) an expression
of thanks before a meal.
Verb: 1) to wish somebody or some
thing well. 2) to give somebody a
desirable quality. 3) to express heartfelt thanks to somebody.
LITTLE ANSWERS TO
BIG QUESTIONS
“Do you want to join
Kids for Christ?”
There seems to be a plethora of
“Christian-based” organizations
luring children with doughnuts and
Jupiter Jumps. All Souls encourages
giving children spiritual messages
because if parents don’t, children
will get alternate messages from
somewhere else. It is a balance to
be respectful of other’s beliefs while
protecting children from messages
in which parents do not believe. The
situation is complicated by defining
“Christian.” While some scripture
would be positive to memorize, other
scripture needs to be put in context
for Unitarian children.
To combat these pressures, parents
can create an alternate reward system. To the above question, a parent
might say: “They believe different
things about Christ than we do, and
that’s OK. You’ll learn about Christ
at All Souls Sunday School.” Then
provide a treat or special attention
following church. An incentive can
also be used as motivation for action
closer mirroring the family’s values.
Answer: “I learn about
Christ at my church.”
Spiritual Expressions
Children’s
Our Spiritual Expressions classes occur each Sunday that there is Children’s
Programming from 11:20-12:45 p.m. If you would like to volunteer to assist in one
of these classes, please contact Shannon Boston, Children’s Religious Education
Administrator, at sboston@AllSoulsChurch.org or 743-2805, ext. 321.
Religious Education
CHANNING’S CHILDREN
Each week our preschoolers will identify the things they are grateful for
and learn new ways to say thank you.
Kindergarten – Fabric Arts with Sheila Moman
1st, 2nd and 3rd grades
– Cherub Choir with
Justin Rosser
KINDERGARTEN
Special events for kindergarteners this
month include a new project for their
Bird Sanctuary and in keeping with
the church-wide theme of gratitude:
“Turkey’s Gift to the People.”
4th grade – Art with
Brigid Kelley
5th grade – Yoga and
Meditation with
Elizabeth Barlow
7TH GRADE
6th grade – Ceramics
with Linda Coward
The 7th grade continues their study of
Hinduism.
7th grade – Drama and
Improvisation with Toni
Willis (culminating in a
Dec. 20 Chapel performance)
8 th GRADE
During November the eighth grade
will begin their exploration of
Islam with special guest speaker
Bob Butler and a field trip to the
Masjid Al-Salam Mosque.
8th grade – Mosaics with
Bill Westcott
All of our classes will participate in
the E arth Blessing on Nov. 8 when
we will plant flowers and bulbs on
the church grounds giving thanks for
the earth’s blessings and for the community that All Souls provides.
CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
November Volunteer Needs
Parent Assistants for Spiritual Expressions classes: Grades kindergarten through
eighth during the second service on Sunday mornings (11:25 am-12:45 pm)
Cherub Choir
Workshop Leaders: Each month we take the church-wide theme and create
several 30-45 minute workshops for our 1st through 6th grades. These workshops explain, personify, and creatively and artistically articulate our theme in
a way that is accessible to children and allows them to explore and stretch their
spiritual and intellectual bounds. Here’s how it works: Each class has year-round
Guides who provide continuity and security while the workshop leader facilitates an activity. The same workshop is then repeated throughout the month
with different classes.
In November and December, the
First, Second and Third graders will
have a music rotation with Justin
Rosser, our Cherub Choir Director.
If parents and children choose, they
may attend a few extra rehearsals
in December and perform at the All
Choir Christmas Concert and the
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.
Kindergartners may opt in to the
Cherub Choir. Please contact Justin
Rosser at jmrosser@baschools.org. for
a complete schedule of rehearsal and
performance dates and times and “opt
in” information.
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Inclusion Buddies: When we have a child enrolled in our Children’s Religious
Education Program whose differing abilities — physical, mental, or emotional
— require that they have special assistance in the classroom; your assistance
could make it possible for them to participate with their own age group in a
truly meaningful way, both for you and for the child.
If you are able to help in any of these areas or would like to learn more, please
contact Shannon Boston, Children’s Religious Education Administrator, at
743-2805, ext. 321, or sboston@AllSoulsChurch.org.
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The aim of Religious Education at All Souls is to foster the lifelong exploration of
religious thought and values through a program that promotes spiritual development by means of free inquiry, mutual respect and responsible behavior.
Parent
Resource
Network
All Souls Children’s Religious Education (CRE) is a cooperative church school
program that supports families by nurturing hearts, minds and souls. A carefully
planned curriculum encompasses exposure to our Jewish and Christian heritage,
World Religions, Unitarianism and Universalism, and the world and our place in
it. There is no fee associated with our Children’s Program, but we do expect our
parents to pledge to the church’s operating fund and to participate in the program
in some way during the year.
All Souls offers families — of all
kinds — a loving place in which we
can shape our beliefs, celebrate our
discoveries, and live out our values.
Our paths may be diverse, yet we
share the journey.
E ac h s u n day o u r c h i l d r e n h av e t h e
opp ortu ni t y to pa rti ci pat e i n t h ree
com p on en t s of Rel i gi ous Educ ati on :
All Souls Parent Resource Network
is committed to providing programs
and resources to inspire this journey,
as individuals and as families.
Children’s Religious Education
• 10-11am Core Curriculum | In grades one-six, we use a multidimensional
approach to religious education. Guides work with the children throughout the
year on character- and community-building, and guest facilitators lead workshops
which explain, personify, and creatively and artistically articulate the monthly,
church-wide theme in a way that is accessible to children and allows them to explore and stretch their spiritual and intellectual bounds. The workshops are based
in Bible literacy and engage multiple intelligences (bodily/kinesthetic, musical,
interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, spiritual, verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, and visual/spatial). The activities in which the children are engaged
dictate their room assignments. Please check the bulletin boards in the hallway
each week for room assignments and to pick up name tag buttons.
• 11-11:20am Worship | Our Children, pre-kindergarten through eighth
grade, have their own worship service every Sunday that they do not worship with
the adults in the Sanctuary. This is a special time when our ministers and carefully
selected lay leaders provide an age-appropriate worship experience that mirrors the worship service that the adults experience in the Sanctuary. Along with
Children’s Chapel, seventh and eighth graders add to their worship repertoire by
visiting other houses of worship and creating their own “circle worship” rituals.
• 11:20am-12:45pm Spiritual Expressions | Using visual arts, drama, yoga
and music, the children explore the monthly themes with professional artists, further deepening their understanding of our themes and values. (Pre-kindergarten
classes repeat the first hour’s activities.) Our church school session extends from
Homecoming Sunday in September through May with a variety of educational
opportunities for children. During the summer months, CRE offers a preschool
class and a mixed-age programming (kindergarten through 5th grade and 6th
through 9th grades) during the church services.
Parents are the primary religious
educator for every child. Drawing
on the Children’s Religious Education Curriculum and our Theme
based ministry, the Parent Resource
Network publishes a parent’s guide
to share each month’s theme, stories
and values at home as a family.
Parents assure the health and well
being of every child. Throughout the
year, the Parent Resource Network
working with Adult Religious Education, childcare experts, church
groups,and community leaders will
present events intended to address a
wide variety of parenting topics and
celebrate UU values.
The parents’ guide will also
communicate classes, events and
activities especially designed for
families, parents or children.
N ov em b er C a l en da r
November 1
• KISS [Kids In the Sanctuary Sunday]. Children first grade
and up begin in the sanctuary with parents. After the story,
children travel as a group with their teachers to the Chapel to
be sorted into their classes. During the 11:30 am service, the
Kindergarteners and Pre-Schoolers will come to the Sanctuary
for the Story for All Ages.
• Youth Choir Rehearsal 4-6 pm
from 10am-12:45 pm. Please pick up children immediately
following the second service.
• Chosen Ones 12:45-2:15 pm Improv and other Theater Games
• Theme Training 1:30-2:30 pm, see November 11
• Youth Choir Rehearsal 4-6 pm
• Children’s Choir Rehearsal 6-7 pm
November 16
• Children’s Choir Rehearsal 6-7 pm
• PIN Night
November 5
November 18
• MUMS Playgroup 10-11:30 am
November 8
• MUMS meeting 10:30 am, Discussing the theme,
Gratitude, and how it relates to parenting, wine provided.
• Earth Blessing, beginning on the West and North
playgrounds at 10 am (see page 4 for more details)
November 19th
• Quarter Souls, 7th and 8th grade Youth Group,
12:45-2:15 pm, planting in the Memorial Garden
• Youth Choir Rehearsal 4-6 pm
• Children’s Choir Rehearsal 6-7 pm
• Exploring the basics of Plastic Canvas crafts, materials provided 10-11:30 am. Pot Luck lunch to follow 11:30 am-1pm.
E-mail Cathy Wolf at childcarecoordinator@allsoulschurch.org
for childcare reservations
November 20
November 11
• Theme Training 7-8 pm (see page 5 for information)
• MUMS meeting
November 12
• MUMS meeting 10:30 am, Exploring the basics of Cross
Stitch, materials provided 10-11:30 am. Day Alliance from
11:30 am-1 pm is encouraged, fee. E-mail Cathy Wolf at childcarecoordinator@allsoulschurch.org for childcare reservations
• Parents’ Night Out. Children play while parents reconnect.
6:30-10 pm. (RSVP to Cathy Wolf 72 hours in advance)
• Acoustic Coffee House Concert 7pm, The Greencards with
Rockin Acoustic Circus opening
November 22
• Thanksgiving Festival, Family Services at 10 am & 11:30
am, no Children’s Religious Education classes (childcare available for children in pre-k and younger)
November 29
November 15
• Normal Sunday Schedule. Children start in their assigned
classrooms. Children’s Chapel at 11 am. Please pick-up and
sign-out children at their classrooms. There is programming
• Elf Sunday Mixed-age arts classes led by Brigid Kelley, Nancy
Parke and Sheila Moman
For Questions, Recommendations or More Information Contact:
Gabrielle Ricketts
Stacie Wheeler
Parent Resource Network
Children’s Religious Education
Parent Liaison
(918) 743-6248
Children’s Religious Education
Board Chair
Staciewheeler918@yahoo.com
(918) 747-3777
Shannon Boston
Kathy Keith
Children’s Religious Education
Administrator, All Souls
sboston@AllSoulsChurch.org
(918) 743-2805 ext. 321
Executive Director, All Souls
kkeith@AllSoulsChurch.org
(918) 743-2805 ext. 316
allsoulschurch.org