by Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

The Religious Exploration team and I are very excited about the programming we have planned this year. But, let’s just take a look at what is happening through the end of October!  We have things for everyone to be involved with, strengthening our commitment to our Religious Exploration’s mission: 

 This year, our Religious Exploration program is offering a variety of programming for our families. Using a theme-based and justice-minded curriculum, each week we present lessons appropriate to our times and our UU faith, a faith of justice whose first principle calls us to honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

As we explore timely topics and embark on deep conversations, we will bring love, equality, empathy, vision, inclusivity, and justice to the forefront in uplifting and empowering ways. 

• We welcomed back our fabulous families with food, fun, and Gilbert!  We had about 60 people in attendance and it was delightful to see the gang and to welcome new families. We began passing out information regarding the October 15th Crop Walk and the Count Your Blessings Activities which families can participate in. Please see our table in Fellowship hall to sign on for the walk. If you can’t walk, you can still raise awareness inside your home about the spirit of the CROP Walk by creating your own Count Your Blessings container. Daily, your family can follow the calendar prompts to raise money and awareness about the things we may take for granted, that many families in poor countries and states may struggle with, like secure food, water, and electricity.

• Some families will be attending our Ferry Beach Weekend coming up on Sept 15-17th.  If you have never tried this before, please talk to Maya Desai or myself about getting connected maybe for next year!!!

• Our RE Program classes kick off on September 24th at 10am! Here are how the classes will be broken out this year!  

I have mentioned to parents that we hope to be able to stay with these breakouts by age groups this year; and this will happen if children participate regularly. It is so meaningful for community building when we can gather together consistently!

• On October 1st, we are trying something new for the morning called Potpourri!  There will be a congregation-wide opportunity to move into spaces around the church on Sunday morning to experience different classes and groups and discussions which we offer here at UUCW. RE teachers are ready to go with our excellent lesson offered during Potpourri for any age. Our RE programming will be exploring our October theme of Heritage and the class is called “Be A Tree!” There is a beautiful book by Maria Gianferrari that we will be using as our focus on the lesson. This is sure to be enjoyable for all ages.

• Over Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend – October 6-9, our Youth Group will travel to Earleville, Maryland to live and work at Deep Roots, a family homeless shelter, located on Clairvaux Farm. The Deep Roots property has up to 12 apartments available for families with children who are experiencing homelessness. They house approximately 36 people at any given time and are usually at full capacity.
• On October 8th here at UUCW, the children will be involved with activities surrounding World Smile Day.

• October 15th, after church, please check out the Coming of Age Class Bake Sale in Fellowship Hall which supports the CROP Walk. Also, turn in your Count Your Blessings collections, and get ready for the CROP Walk which will begin at approximately 1:00pm.  For more info see Suzanne LaRue in Fellowship Hall

• On October 22 we will invite the whole church to attend our “Happy Un-Birthday Coffee Hour Party!”  After the service, find the table with your birth month on it, and connect with people who you may have never talked to before!  We will have fun questions to ask each other as you enjoy your coffee hour snacks!

• October 29th 10am -To round out our festivities of October we’ll offer Halloween fun and Unicef outreach together in a couple of ways this year.  First is our Trick-Or-Treat for Unicef  followed by a Game Morning for the kids to enjoy in costume during class time.  This event will be hosted by our Coming of Age teens.   
• October 29th 4pm – Then we are excited to bring you our first ever Trunk-Or-Treat, from 4-6pm, hosted by our Youth Group. We need church folks to SIGN UP NOW to be a Trunk Participant!   LINK TO SIGN UP!  https://bit.ly/UUCWTRUNK

Get Ready to Make History with UUCW RE’s First-Ever Trunk or Treat  Extravaganza!  

Hello UUCW RE Family, 

We are thrilled to announce a brand-new tradition that’s about to shake up Halloween as you  know it! For the first time ever, UUCW’s Religious Exploration community is hosting a Trunk or  Treat event, and we’re pulling out all the stops to make it a night you won’t forget! 

Be a Pioneer of Creativity  

As part of the inaugural group, you have the honor of setting the bar high! Whether it’s a  fog-shrouded zombie apocalypse or an adorable Candy Land, your car’s trunk will be the  canvas for your imagination. Soundtracks, strobe lights, or even mini-animatronics—bring your  vision to life! 

Theme It and Dream It  

What better way to celebrate the first-ever event than by going full-on thematic? Coordinate  your costumes with your trunk to create an immersive experience that’s sure to wow the  crowd. First impressions matter, so let’s set a high standard! 

Game On!  

Who said it’s just about treats? Each trunk can be a mini-game station! From “Mummy  Bowling” to “Goblin Trivia,” the sky’s the limit when it comes to fun. 

The Ultimate Trunk Showdown  

To commemorate this landmark event, we’re hosting contests with amazing prizes. Categories  include Funniest Car, Scariest Car, and Best-Decorated Car. This is your chance to go down in  UUCW RE history! 

Allergen-Friendly Fun

Your safety is our priority. That’s why we’re dedicating a Nut-Free Candy Zone with 10 cars  stocked with treats that everyone can enjoy without worry. 

So be a part of UUCW RE history and sign up today! We can’t wait to see your imaginative  trunks, whimsical costumes, and radiant smiles as we embark on this exciting new journey  together.

Mark your calendars and prepare for an evening of spooktacular fun, fellowship, and of  course, heaps of candy!  

Let the first-ever Trunk or Treat at UUCW RE set the stage for years to come! Can’t wait to see you all there!   ~~Karen Stephenson of the RE Team

PHEW!

I know this is a lot, so you can revisit this whole lot of information on our website, and our RE Weekly Update!   There’s lots to do, and we look forward to doing it with you!!

Rolling Merrily Along…..xoxo  Robin