Here's what's happening with Religious Education
This Sunday, May 13, 2012
Please join us for faith, friendship, and fun

Please join us this Sunday as we honor all the "Mothers" in our lives who bring smiles to our faces and make us feel special. Whether that person be a mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandparent or a close friend, let's take the day to show them how much we care and how special they are to us. Additional adult volunteers would be very helpful!

Our high school youth group will still meet from 12-1 pm after the worship service for open discussion. This will ensure that our teens will have plenty of time to wake up early and make breakfast for their mom, or at least clean their room before she wakes up. Happy Mother's Day!

We can't wait for Sunday! Please join us!

Volunteers are encouraged! Come be a kid again and have some fun!

A Few Words on Grace from Christine Pensa

“In grace something is transcended, once and for all overcome.  Grace happens in spite of something; it happens in spite of separateness and alienation.  Grace means that life is once again united with life, self is reconciled with self.  Grace means accepting the abandoned one.  Grace transforms fate into a meaningful vocation.  It transforms guilt to trust and courage.  The word grace has something triumphant in it.” – Yrjo Kallinen

Upon reading this quote, I realized that the concept of grace that I once thought to be confusing is really quite simple.  We teach our children and youth everything from how to brush their teeth, to ride a bike, to treat others with respect and play nice.  As they grow older we dive into deeper conversations about politics, spirituality and careers.  But, have you ever talked to your children about grace?  Now, I’m not talking about the “Rub-a-Dub-Dub, thanks for grub. Now let’s eat” grace (or blessing) that some children say before a meal.  Grace is feeling accepted.  Grace is having the deep and strong feeling that you are okay in the universe.

It is this feeling that allows us to get through the bad days and bad weeks and bad months.  It allows us to move forward and to onward to better things. Live with grace, and allow me to share these words:

We accept you for who you are and who are yet to become.
We welcome you with open arms and embrace you with our hearts.
Share with us and make a difference in your life and the lives of others.
Live with grace in your heart and look to the mystery.

The Religious Education Committee meets the first Thursday of the month in the Children’s Library from 7:00 until 9:30 pm.  Our meetings are open to the congregation and we encourage people to attend.

If you would like to know more about the religious education program of UUC, join our UUCRE yahoo group.UUCRE-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or contact Christine Pensa at: Christinep@uuclearwater.org

Important Reminders:
(1)  Register your child (including high school youth) for the 2011-2012 Religious Education Program.  It only takes a few minutes and now can be done online (see link at top of this page) or by filling out a registration form in the Social Hall.  Classes began on September 25.

(2) Our RE Giving Tree is located in the Social Hall near the Maxwell Library. Each leaf has an item that the RE program needs. Please take a few leaves and help support our children and youth.

We can't wait for Sunday!
Christine Pensa, Religious Education Program Coordinator
If you can lend a hand, please call Christine at (727) 644-1313 or email Christine here

* Updated by Thursday every week *

I would like to welcome everyone to another wonderful year of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.  In our classes, we encourage everyone to speak up, ask questions, offer suggestions and stay involved. The purpose of our Religious Education Program is not only to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, but to help build relationships, develop a greater sense of belonging, to support one’s spiritual journey and to have FUN!

Our Religious Education classes begin at 10:30 am. Our Nursery offers free play and loving care for our littlest UUs (ages 0-3). On the first Sunday of each month we begin with Children’s Worship in the Maxwell Library.  This gives the children a chance to worship and share on a more cozy level. On the remaining Sundays, the children will attend the first part of the service in the Sanctuary with their parents. The children will participate with the rest of the congregation in lighting the chalice, singing hymns and hearing a story in keeping with the day’s theme before going to their classes.

I encourage you not to let Religious Education end when you leave UUC on Sunday, but to make it a part of your everyday life. In addition to Sundays, I am usually at church on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and most Fridays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or we can get together at another time that is more convenient for you.

I hope to see you on Sunday with a smile!
Christine Pensa
Religious Education Coordinator