April 2025
Dear RE Families,
Joy is resistance. Like me, you've probably been hearing that a lot lately. But let it sink in. Being present to joy does not mean you don't care about what's going on in the world. It means you will not be dragged down by the hate and ugliness that's swirling all around us and, if you are knocked down, you will get up and dance again. Joy fills our tank so we can get out there and do the important work of loving the world and building the beloved community, whatever that looks like to each of us.
Joy was on full display at our Blessing of the Animals service! If you missed it, I urge you to check it out on line. And read on for more joyful and loving opportunities this month.
Yours in community,
Charla
Mark your calendars for these april dates
- April 6: Lunch & Learn - My Personal Theology
- April 18: Pizza Church
- April 20: Easter! Pancake Breakfast & Hunt for Justice
Children's Religious Exploration in April
Soul Matters Lessons on the theme of joy!
Our Soul Matters lessons for this month are focused on Joy: Joy in foolishness, joy in music, joy in hard times, joy in nature, joy wherever we find it! Soul Matters Sundays are April 6 and 13 and are led by our own Janey Madlani. Because we believe play is a spiritual practice, April 27 will be our Playful Souls Sunday this month, always a joyful time!
CRE Sundays in a nutshell:
- April 6: Soul Matters Sunday
- April 13: Soul Matters Sunday
- April 20: EASTER
- April 27: Playful Souls
Easter Sunday
pancake breakfast, multigenerational service, hunt for justice!
April 20
Easter is going to be so much fun this year! We'll start with a pancake breakfast, then gather for a multigenerational Easter service, and THEN we'll enjoy our annual Hunt for Justice in the garden!
The Hunt for Justice is a “faith in action” family project. Our Outreach Offering for March raised money to fund three local organizations. Children will vote for their favorite causes on March 30. CRE staff will match the top three causes with local organizations. On Easter Sunday, April 20th, children will hunt for eggs. Each egg will reflect a dollar amount. Children will distribute their eggs among three baskets, one for each of the chosen organizations, to determine the distributions of funds raised. Not to worry, there will be chocolate involved!
Loving Childcare Every Sunday
Loving childcare is available on Sunday mornings in Starr King for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2-5 from 9:45-11:30. Most Sundays, children play outside in the Starr King play yard in the sandbox, on the swings, the zipline, or other fun activities. Starr King even has a creek! You are welcome to bring a snack for your child, but please note that Starr King is a nut free zone. Our childcare staff include Sydney Tomlinson, Childcare Coordinator, and Emma & Dillon Sunday morning staff.
Children under two are invited to remain in the sanctuary with their adults. We have a baby corner with toys in the back of the sanctuary and we do NOT believe that children should be seen and not heard!
YoUUth Group in April!
Cookie Outreach
April 6, 4:00-6:00 PM
YoUUth Group will gather in Blake Lounge at 4:00 to bake cookies together and catch up on each other's lives. Freshly baked cookies will be packed up and distributed in Alameda and Alice Keck Memorial garden to people in need of a little joy in their lives.
Lake cachuma day trip
April 27, 12:00-4:00 PM
What's not to love about spending a beautiful Spring afternoon at the lake! Pack a lunch and join YoUUth Group for a picnic and other activities as yet to be determined, but sure to be fun. Mark your calendar now and stay tuned for details from YG Coordinator, Christina Boardman.
The Interfaith Sleepover was a blast!
Last month USSB youth and Trinity Episcopal youth got together for a night of interfaith bonding and fun. They enjoyed scavenger hunts and games on both campuses, dinner at USSB and sleeping at Trinity. They participated in a chalice lighting in our USSB sanctuary and a Eucharist at Trinity, followed by a great conversation about faith and religious traditions. Then it was pajama party time with a movie and popcorn. Sunday morning breakfast was at IHOP.
Coming Up in YoUUth Group
- April 6: Cookie Outreach
- April 27: Cachuma Day Trip
- May 4: Movie Night
- May 18: Inclusive Martial Arts
- June 1: Pride Planning
- June 14: Santa Ynez Valley Pride Parade
Contact YoUUth Group Coordinator Christina Boardman at christina@ussb.org for up-to-date information about YG and to get on our YG WhatsApp
Adult RE Lunch & Learn Series
5 Sundays, 12:00-2:00 PM (dates below)
ARE Lunch & Learn is a series of five independent workshops covering a variety of topics. You may participate in as many as you like! Each session takes place on a Sunday from 12:00-2:00 pm. A light lunch will be served, and childcare is available with advance request (included in the registration link).
Workshops include * My Personal Theology, April 6 with DRE Charla Bregante * UU History 101, May 4 facilitated by Rev. Julia Hamilton * Befriending your Mortality, May 18 with Eileen Bunning * The Art of Reflection, June 15 with Peter Hale * The Wi$dom Path: Our Money, Our Values, June 29 facilitated by Gary Welterlen. * Watch for registration information for each workshop individually.
My Personal Theology, April 6
Facilitated by Charla Bregante, DRE. Registration open now.
The first workshop is My Personal Theology on April 6. Unitarian Universalists engage in a lifelong search for truth and meaning, one that evolves with us as individuals, as a congregation, and as a denomination. Whether you are brand new to Unitarian Universalism or have been on this journey for some time now, you are invited to participate in an afternoon of self-discovery and personal meaning making around your UU faith. Childcare is available by advance request. Click on the registration link for details.
Pizza Church Moves Outside!
April 18, 5:30-7:00 PM at the Mission Rose Garden
Longer days mean Pizza Church in the park for CRE families! What better place to start than at the Mission Rose Garden with it's beautiful views and large grassy area. Come play and get to know other CRE families in a fun and relaxed setting. USSB provides the pizza. Families provide their own beverages, plates and utensils. Everyone is invited to bring a side or dessert to share with the group. Feel free to bring frisbees, croquet, or other fun games and activities to share too. RSVP to charla@ussb.org by Thursday, April 17.
Coming Up for USSB Families
- Apr18: Pizza in the Park (Mission Rose Garden)
- May 16: Pizza in the Park (Shoreline Park)
- May 18: CRE Fieldtrip with Wilderness Youth Project!
- Jun 13: Pizza in the Park (Steven's Park)
- Jun 21: Central Coast UU RE Summer Solstice Celebration
- July 11: Pizza at the Beach (Goleta Beach Park)
- Aug 15: Pizza at the Pool
- Sep 26-28: Fall Family Campout with SLO UU families
de Benneville Pines Family Camp
July 20-26
It's not too early to start planning for summer. Among the many camps offered by our UU DeBenneville Pines Camp in Angelus Oaks, is a weeklong camp for families. Family Camp will be July 20-26 this year. Click on the link below for more information about this UU jewel in the mountains.
Thank you for reading
We welcome your questions, concerns, and great ideas.
For more information about the Unitarian Society, visit our website or email Charla Bregante, our Director of Religious Exploration at charla@ussb.org
Visit our website
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us Instagram
For more information about Unitarian Universalism visit the Unitarian Universlist Association website
Credits:
Created with images by Andaman - "blossoming branches painting with pink white flowers red accents droplets panoramic" • he - "Gently yellowish background pattern of flowers" • DEER FLUFFY - "Oil paintings of abstract flowers and leaves. Sprinkled paint on smooth paper, giving the paper a golden texture. Creative, AI Generated" • erikakirky - "Flower Name Joy" • Nyetock - "Easter basket filled with colorful eggs on a white background" • Ixepop - "Childcare spelled out with Alphabet Blocks" • Marica - "colorful painted floral poster set featuring a variety of blooming flowers evoking a sense of beauty and nature" • bigacis - "Fresh chocolate chip cookies isolated on white" • demerzel21 - "Lake Cachuma Lake Vista Point" • spyrakot - "Chic Urban Save the Date Design with Bold Graffiti and Neon Colors for Event Invitations" • TheoTheWizard - "Marigolds in acrylic painting style" • Pixel-Shot - "Set of lunch boxes with tasty food on white background" • nata_vkusidey - "Set of pizzas: pepperone, cheese, chicken and tomatoes, tuna, shrimp" • Brad Pict - "Save the date"