The Great Kapok Tree

Did you get to see the great performance of The Great Kapok Tree on February 15? If you didn't make it, you missed some Oscar-worthy performances, and a wonderful message that carried through to the service on February 22, about being an effective activist for the earth.

The story talks about our seventh principle, the interdependent web of life. If the kapok tree is hewn, much goes with it. We see many animals, from bees to porcupines to jaguars to monkeys, beg the sleeping lumberjack to leave the tree, as it provides all of them life and sustenance.

Made even more special, the children used a variety of beautiful objects shared by Reverend Terre Balof, who brought them back from her travels to Panama. These are made by indigenous people of the area, to help support their communities.

Great job to the teens who helped narrate the story, as well as the children who played the roles of lumberjack and a host of animals so well.

Kung Fu Movie Fun

On February 22 at noon, come join us at Founders' House for a little movie fun: Kung Fu Panda!

You might ask yourself, "What on earth? What does Kung Fu Panda have to do with world religions? That's a big box office hit." Indeed, it is, but the movie has lessons that related to Buddhism. And, just as importantly, it reminds us that we all deserve respect, no matter what we might appear to be.

Look for  Po the Panda to find inner strength. Shifu the sensei seeks patience. Tigress seeks respect. And Oogway is there to help all of them find their path.

Watch the trailer.

So bring a dish (and maybe a pillow) and we'll all enjoy a fun movie.

Teacher Lunch and Learn

A group of teachers got together in late January to share fellowship, lunch and tips and techniques for successful classes.

The entire group enjoyed a lovely vegan lunch. As we don't always see each other on Sundays, it was an opportunity to catch up after the holiday (and flu) season. The two groups of teachers then broke into two groups to discuss what had worked well in their respective classes, and what could be improved. It was a useful exercise with healthy dialogue.

Here is recap of what was discussed for each group:

Early Learners

All agreed that the lessons have gone well and Spirit Play has made teaching much more fun. Two topics were discussed.

The first was making sure the children got meaning out of the lesson. Suggestions included: 

• discussing the takeaway points during the free play time
• reminding them frequently of the principles on the bulletin board
• identify the principles in every story
• consider reviewing one principle a month

The second was classroom management. The most important thing is that the teachers be consistent in dealing with behavior. Other ideas and suggestions were made and should help maintain a more peaceful environment will not only make the classroom easier for teachers, but more welcome to children who are more quiet and introspective.

Teens

The teens need discussion and a time to socialize together. Most of our teens have been with us for a while. The goal is to engage them more. The teachers concluded using current events and issues, and giving them a safe place to discuss these would be a helpful way of finding UU principles in action.

Also discussed was a way to engage some of the teens that might not participate as much as they should. Body language techniques were discussed, as well as starter sentences to help break the ice if they are hesitant to talk.

Lastly, they discussed ways to make the teens more involved in church decision making. Giving the teens a voice in what they want from their church community might help them transition into being UU adults.


These sessions were helpful to all in making RE a positive experience not just for the students, but for the teachers and the congregation as well.