Our religious education nurtures both roots and wings; the roots of community and shared values, and the wings of the free mind and creative spirit. — Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer, "Education for Religion as Relationship"

This newsletter is your one stop for all things Faith Development. Here you will find upcoming events, forms, surveys, as well as faith development and spiritual practices for you and your children. After all, our spiritual journey and development does not happen just on Sunday mornings.

Our Faith Development programming will expand as folks are able and willing to volunteer their time, energy, and spirit to the program.

Throughout this school year, we will use a theme based approach to our curriculum. This month we are looking at courage.

Things to look forward to in the coming year:

• Soul Full Parents Small Group facilitated by Carrie Holley-Hurt and Chris Jarman
• OWL- Kg-2nd- Spring 2023-4th-6th- Spring 2023-Parents and Caregivers as Sexual Educators

May you be happy, may you peaceful, may you be filled with love

Chris

If you have not done so, please fill out this year's RE Registration form. Your registration will help the LFD Committee with planning for this year. A link to the registration form may be found below.

• Nursery- (Babies- Pre-K) 9:45-12:15 with Harmoni and Magnolia
• 1st - 5th- Exploring the Path of Facing Fear (Halloween & Courage)
• Youth (6th-12th) Exploring the Path of Facing Fear (Halloween & Courage)
• Adults: Pop-up Small Group discussion on Courage

The Children's Faith Development lessons today reflect on the path of Halloween courage - that courage which allows children to understand and face fears they may have related to Halloween.

Some children love the scary aspects of Halloween, others dislike the jump scares, the loud noises, and the idea that scary things come out at night. We can encourage children to respect all of the ways others feel on Halloween. A UU community can be a safe place where children can face their fears. Each child can explore the path of facing their fears with courage.

Adult Faith Development:

Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor - the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences -- good and bad. -Brené Brown

Today we will listen deeply to readings about courage; and reflect and discuss questions posed about courage.

By its ubiquity, courage seems to be one of our favorite values to place before our young people. Children’s literature, from picture books to YAL series, is full of courageous protagonists; to be a leading character, defeat the evil wizard, take down the land-grabbing tycoon, face down the dragon, and outsmart the pirate-robbers.

Most often in these stories, the time for courage is easy to spot (it’s often about 90% through the story, when the tyrant/villain/bully/monster finally goes too far). But in real life, the moment for courage is rarely so simplistic.

Sometimes one calls up courage for a singular, bold action. But more often, we build ourselves up for consistent effort over time. Sometimes, courage looks like loudly speaking truth to power. But at least as frequently, courage is lovingly speaking truth to peers and then building power together.

Sometimes, acts of courage are followed by cheers and happy endings. They can also lead one to harder, more uncomfortable questions, and a need to recharge and reassess.

In short, courage is complex. But time and experience–as well as the opportunity to reflect with trusted family and friends–can help us to get more effective at embodying courage as we move through the stages of life. And, as we learn in our bedtime story, Sophie Learns to Be Brave, all the courage we possess along the way can help prepare us for the courage we will also need to let go of the people, places, and things we love, when the time comes.

Each of our sections this month aim to explore these and other complexities of courage. As you read through your packet, earmark where you want to go big and bold, and where spirit guides you to be slow and steady. We may each be the hero of our own vignette, but it’s really just the one story we’re all in together, and we have many, many pages–and challenges–ahead.

Teresa, on behalf of the Soul Matters team

I’ve Got Peace Like a River

(Written by Marvin V. Frey, Found in Singing the Living Tradition 100)

Principle 4: Each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

Principle 6: We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.

Principle 7: We believe in caring for our planet, the home we share with all living things.

Source 1: The direct, personal sense of wonder and awe.

Source 6: The harmony of nature and the sacred circle of life.

The original composer of this song is contested, but a white Pentecostal minister named Marvin Frey is credited with writing the first three verses of this song while the last three verses were added anonymously over the years. It may originally have been an African American spiritual. The repetitive nature of this song makes it fun and easy to learn for singers of all ages.

Discussion Topics

What do you like about this song? What do you think “peace like a river” feels like? This song reminds us of inner feelings or qualities that are being expressed as a part of nature. What other unsung qualities do you have inside yourself that you are proud of? What qualities do you need help growing or remembering you have inside yourself?

Movement

Make up (or have the children make up) your own hand motions for peace, river, joy, fountain. For older groups, look up the ASL signs for peace, joy, love, pain, tears on websites such as www.handspeak.com/word/

Activities

This is a fun song for improvisation. Have the participants make up their own similes: “I’ve got [what] like [what].” Thoughtful and serious responses are great but encourage play and spontaneity too. There are no wrong answers. There are more verses in Singing the Living Tradition than on the recording. Look them up and add them in as you sing!

Email: dlfd@liveoakuu.org
Website: https://www.liveoakuu.org/
Location: 3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar Park, TX, USA
Phone: (904)-383-7439
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