RE Family News A monthly guide to Religious Exploration for children, youth, and families at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara

January 2025

Dear RE Families,

And so we find ourselves in a new year. With new hopes and new fears, new ideas and new plans, we head into 2025. And still we find ourselves here - together - growing this loving community of seekers, week after week. I cannot think of a better place to be.

Happy New Year!

Yours in community,

Charla

Mark your calendars for these January events

• January 5: Multigenerational Burning Bowl Service
• January 10: Pizza Church, 5:30-7:00, Parish Hall
• January 12 & 19: Soul Matters lessons in CRE
• January 17-19: Mexicali Service Trip
• January 25: YoUUth Group on-call for Warming Center

Children's Religious Exploration

Soul Matters Lessons on the theme of Story

January 12 & 19

Story is not just another monthly theme for Soul Matters. It is also the underlying framework that all of Soul Matters materials are built on. At the core of Soul Matters lessons is the idea that human beings are storytelling creatures and stories give us hope and help us grow.

A major goal this month is to help children understand and explore that we are made of two different types of stories, collective stories and individual stories, and that we use both of these to build our identities as individuals and communities. Stories help us make sense of our world. We would be lost without them.

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

Interfaith Service Trip to Mexicali, January 17-19

Important planning meeting January 5, 11:30 AM in Blake lounge

All youth (and their parents) interested in participating in the service trip to Mexicali must attend an informational meeting on Sunday, January 5 at 11:30 in Blake Lounge. We will discuss our itinerary, figure out hotel room assignments, recruit drivers, and plan activities for the children and families at the La Cobina Shelter, and more. If you absolutely cannot attend the meeting, but still would like to go, contact charla@ussb.org as soon as possible.

For more information about the shelter and our guide, Sr. Suzanne Jabro of Border Compassion, visit https://border-compassion.org/

Freedom Warming Center

USSB YoUUth group is on-call on Friday, January 25 to provide a meal to our guests at the Freedom Warming Center if the Unitarian Society is activated on that night. Our YG meal team coordinator, Kelly Bedard, will contact you with details if we are activated.

Stay tuned for information about study nights and other upcoming YoUUth Group activities!

Contact YoUUth Group Coordinator Christina Boardman at christina@ussb.org for up-to-date information about YG and to get on our YG WhatsApp

Pizza church!

Friday, January 10, 5:30-7:00 pm in Parish Hall

Let's gather for pizza and family time, a chalice lighting and perhaps some sharing of our hopes for the coming year. We'll provide the pizza and beverages. You are invited to bring a side dish, dessert, and/or beer or wine to share. Please rsvp to charla@ussb.org by Thursday, January.

SAVE THE DATE for PARENT'S DAY OUT: In lieu of a February Pizza Church, we are offering our busy CRE parents a special early Valentine gift of time on Saturday, February 8. Janey & Sydney will provide childcare, activities, and pizza for children between the ages of 2-11 from 3:00-6:00 PM. Parents are invited to use the time as they see fit: a date with your partner, an afternoon with friends, or a long nap! Whatever you need most, this is our Valentine to you.