• November 18- Music Circle Bonfire & S'mores 5-7 pm
• November 20
• Kids & Youth RE "Change"
• Adult RE "Voices from the Movement"
• November 27
• Intergenerational Hour Social Justice Work &
• Parenting as a Spiritual Practice "What do you believe? Creating Family Ritual"
• December 10- Selfies with Santa and Christmas Bazaar
• December 11- Christmas Pageant-Save the Date on your calendar Now.
• December 17- Parents Day Out! Get your last minute "to-do's" done while the kids have fun at church.
• OWL beginning in Spring (Dates for registration & classes TBA)
• Kg-2nd
• 4th-6th
• Parents and Caregivers as Sexual Educators

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

Chris

Here are some simple, fun instructions on how to make butter using heavy whipping cream and a jar. Have the kids make some for Thanksgiving Dinner!

Thanksgiving Potluck

Come, Gather in Community. Gather in Gratitude.

Come at 1:00 pm for drinks, snacks and set-up. We’ll eat at 2 pm. We’d love for folks to stay and watch football, visit, and eat pie through the afternoon. We will depart by 5:00 pm.

To make this a no-stress event, please bring your own place settings, flatware, and glasses for each person attending with you. Get as fancy or as simple as you would like. At the end of our time together, please take your dirty dishes and leftovers home with you. No fuss, no muss. The folks at each table get to clean up their area and volunteer for one other larger job-such as carrying out the garbage or wiping the counters. Many hands will make light work and enjoyment for all.

The church will provide turkeys, drinks, tablecloths, and napkins.

We will also have a few self-directed activities for the kids.

Please RSVP with Chris dlfd@liveoakuu.org.

Or go to Perfect Potluck: https://perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=NFUI2209

**please write down ingredients in your dish for allergy alerts**

1. Be vocal about the things you are grateful for.

Kids are always listening even when you don’t think they are. You’ve probably experienced this firsthand when your kid repeated something they overheard when you really wish they hadn’t. So, give them some good things to listen to. Pause throughout the day and let your kids hear you share what you’re thankful for at that moment. It can go something like, “Do you want to know what I’m thankful for right now? I’m thankful we’re all sitting around this table together at dinnertime.” Or “I am so grateful for this warm cup of coffee this morning.” Or “I am so glad I get a chance to rest my body. I worked hard today.” Nothing is too small to celebrate—in fact, the smaller the gratitude, the more lasting impression.

2. Make sure your family knows you’re grateful for what they do.

There’s a loosely-translated Andy Stanley quote that says something to the effect of, “Unexpressed gratitude feels like ingratitude.” We don’t have to tell you how true of a statement that is because you’re likely living some form of it every day. The saying, “More is caught than taught” applies so well here: If your kids hear you saying “thank you” often, they’ll likely start seeing moments of gratitude in their own lives and start expressing it too.

3. Create a habit of serving others together.

It’s easy to only look inward all the time, especially with so much going on at home. But nothing shifts perspective quite like helping others. Your kids need to have their worldview expanded because truly seeing others and what they experience increases empathy. So, make sure to nurture the spirit of service in your kids and add opportunities to serve into your family’s daily, weekly, or monthly rhythm. You can make homeless kits with the essentials in them to pass out, return shopping carts inside the store, or pick up trash at your local park. Anything goes.

4. Use key moments in your family’s rhythm for gratitude check-ins.

There are natural rhythms in your day when you can talk with your kids—morning time, drive time, mealtime, and bedtime. Make a daily habit of using one—or more!—of those times when everyone says at least one thing they’re grateful for. Encourage your kids that there is nothing too big or too small to share—it all counts. Set a reminder in your phone so you don’t forget this small yet impactful practice of gratitude.

Scan the QR code to learn more and register to join in the fun! Parents please share with your 14-18 yr olds.

JUUst Breathe Live is a podcast where youth ministry has a say! Hosts Shannon Harper and Eric Bliss interview youth and adults who hold a vision of liberal religious youth ministry that is both life saving and spirit lifting. JUUst click on the graphic

Enter, Rejoice and Come In

Louise Ruspini

Found in Singing the Living Tradition 361

Principle 2 All people should be treated fairly and kindly.

Principle 3 We should accept one another and keep learning together.

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

Source 3 The ethical and spiritual wisdom of the world’s religions.

Source 4 Jewish and Christian teachings that tell us to love all others as we love ourselves.

The first verse of this song is based on Psalm 100 from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. This is an upbeat song that is easy to learn and familiar in many UU congregations. It’s great for welcoming people to a service or a classroom

Movement

Hand/arm gestures for “Come in”, hands open and pointing to ears and heart for “Open your ears” and “Open your hearts,” head shake and hands waving for “Don’t be afraid.”

Activities

Clap along. This is also a good song for rhythm instruments such as shakers or rhythm sticks. If anybody in the group plays an instrument such as the guitar or ukulele, this song is a great one to play along with. It is in the key of C, so the chords are C, F and G.

Discussion Topics

How does singing this song make you feel?

When you come to RE or to the service, what makes you feel happy and welcome?

As Unitarian Universalists, we like to welcome all people into our services. What can we do to make each other feel welcome and happy?

How about newcomers who are coming for the first or second time?

This is an upbeat song that sounds happy, but there is a verse about being afraid. What kinds of changes might we see in ourselves or others by coming to RE or a service?

Why might people be afraid of those changes?

Email: dlfd@liveoakuu.org
Website: https://www.liveoakuu.org/
Location: 3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar Park, TX, USA
Phone: (904)568-1522

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/353200692274924