It Takes a Whole VIllage...

Last Sunday during the service, I showed a slideshow and gave a reflection on next year's program.  We will show the slide show again at the Family/Teacher Appreciation Pancake Breakfast this Sunday.  Here is my reflection:

Several years ago, folks at the Unitarian Universalist Association had noticed that we - that is our Unitarian Universalist congregations - had not been growing. Studies were conducted, committees were formed, probably many cups of coffee were involved. One finding told that very few children who were raised UU identified as Unitarian Universalists as adults.

Concerned by this fact, many people worked on finding ways that more people could hear the life affirming message of Unitarian Universalism. Well, since then, a broad range of efforts have been launched including advertising campaigns and lay leader development like UU University which is part of General Assembly. Our president, Bill Sinkford has said, “Religious Education is the engine of growth in our congregations.” And this is true. Across denominations, religious professionals know that good religious education grows churches, so another product of the UUA’s efforts is the tremendous new curricula for all ages, Tapestry of Faith. We will be using Tapestry of Faith sessions in our Religious Education classes next year, but Tapestry is really more than lesson plans.

Tapestry of Faith offers a vision shaped by these key beliefs:

• All people are lovable beings of infinite worth, imbued with powers of the soul. We are obligated to use our gifts, talents, and potentials in the service of life.
  
• We carry on our Unitarian Universalist religious heritage and are part of a community of faith that has value and provides resources for living.
  
• We honor our responsibility for the care and creative transformation of our religious heritage and community of faith.
  
• We are moral agents who can make a difference in the lives of other people:
  
• challenging structures of social and political oppression
  
• promoting the health and well-being of the planet
  
• acting in the service of diversity, justice and compassion
  
• We recognize the need for community and affirm the importance of families, relationships and connections between and among the generations.
  
• We appreciate the value of spiritual practice as a means of deepening faith and integrating beliefs and values with everyday life.
  
• Joy and Sadness are all part of our lives: hope, mystery, joy, healing, and personal transformation come together with life's challenges.
  

We set out to reach this vision with 4 goals.
Ethical development - being our best selves and practicing our values in the wider world.
Spiritual development - individual experience of the wonder and awe of life.
Unitarian Universalist identity - defining what it means to be a UU .
Faith development - growing together in our beliefs and explorations.

There have been several philosophical eras of Unitarian, Universalist, and then Unitarian Universalist Religious Education.   Just like secular education, religious education has had to change to fit the needs of society, incorporate new technology and information. Tapestry of Faith was developed to make the best of technology- all the lessons are free and online, so teachers can download them, make changes to suit their class and either print them OR be “green” and carry a laptop into the classroom.

Sessions are designed to be easy to adapt and easy to lead - each lesson plan is written knowing that our volunteer teachers are busy people who need simpler preparation for classes. Each Tapestry curriculum is written with an anti oppression/anti racism lens. Tapestry sessions recognize the multiple intelligences we all bring to a class, and offer activities to suit different learning styles and needs.

Tapestry of Faith has been tested by many congregations with glowing reviews. I am excited to bring it to Channing next year. One key part of this new curriculum is the awareness that teachers need to develop their own spirit, ethics, faith and UU identity while leading classes. This is perhaps the “a-ha!” of Tapestry of Faith. Teacher development is key to a successful experience for all and is built into the program.

William Ellery Channing wrote,

 “ With all the discoveries that people need to make, the most important is that of the self-forming power treasured up in ourselves. There is more divinity in it than in the force which impels the outward universe. And yet, how little we comprehend it. How it slumbers in most people, unsuspected and unused. This makes self culture possible and binds it on us as a solemn duty.”

 We do ask folks to step forward and give their time, their money to Channing. We do ask, and you all give. It’s not really so surprising, though. You give because you see the worth in participating. You teach because you feel enriched by the class, by being part of this tremendous community. To awaken the,”self-forming power treasured up in ourselves”. We’ll be signing up teachers and other volunteers all month, creating teaching teams that release that power in our congregation.

The slideshow gave just a few images of the caring and commitment involved in raising our children. I wish I had a camera with me all the time to document the precious moments I have seen: faces of the elementary Our Whole Lives class as we explored the wonder of life, the pride of parents at the Coming of Age ceremony, the blossoming of friendships among kids who see each other only here in this place. We can do it right. We are doing it right!