Children This Sunday
FFD Features: December 31, 2024
Hello Friends,
Happy New Year!
This past Sunday, your child learned about the Roman God Janus (for which January is named). As the god of transitions, Janus is often depicted with two heads – one looking back and one looking forward. We honored Janus on Sunday by looking back at 2024 and considering what we wanted to let go of – a painful memory, a hard feeling, a bad behavior? The children wrote or drew their answers onto a piece of water-soluble paper, shared with the group (if they wished) and then threw their paper into our ceremonial water bowl. Afterwards, half of the class took the action of letting go further by helping put away our chapel’s Christmas decorations, while the other half of the class started to look forward by creating 2025 calendars. At the end of class, everyone shared what they are looking forward to in 2025, and then we dumped our ceremonial water outside, at the base of one of our trees, while singing “let it go” and hitting the dumped water with sticks (your children’s suggestion – a way for them to own the ritual for themselves).
This coming Sunday is another Chapel Sunday. This is also the Sunday we will begin our new curriculum. Your Preschool – Kindergarten kid will be introduced to Chalice Children, while your 1st – 6th grader will jet off with “Passport to the World’s Religions” to Nepal to begin learning about Buddhism. They will start by learning about the Buddha. Check out the Travel Itinerary below for more information on what’s planned for 1st – 6th grade this year.
In community and love,
– M
Not registered for Family Faith Development? You can register anytime by following this link.
Special Announcements
New Curriculum Coming in January
Based on feedback Family Faith Development has received since the start of this church year, the following changes will be coming to Sunday School this January…
- The PreK – Kindergarten class will drop this year’s world religions curriculum in favor of Chalice Children, a curriculum focused on exploring the basics of religion like “Why do we go to church?” and “Why are rituals important?”
- The 1st – 3rd and 4th – 6th graders will expand their understanding of the world’s religions with “Passport to the World’s Religions.” This re-orientation of the year’s curriculum will have your child ‘traveling’ to different locations around the world to learn about a different religion, their beliefs, and holidays. Passports and souvenirs included! See the travel itinerary for what to expect each Sunday!
Family Game Night Coming in January
There will be a Family Game Party on Saturday, January 18, starting at 12:30 PM. Community Builders will be leading this event, so be on the lookout for future communications from them.
Youth Writing Letters to Transform in February
At our last outing to Shiloh, youth indicated an interest in outings that focused on Social Justice. With that in mind, your youth is invited to join me Saturday, February 1st at 5 PM for dinner and to make / write cards for Transform Cincinnati.
What’s Transform Cincinnati? Transform Cincinnati provides free, gender affirming, clothes and community to trans kids in the Cincinnati area. With the recent uptick in transphobia nationwide, Transform has started asking their supporters to write loving and affirming letters for their clients.
Parenting UU – A Small Group Discussion Series – Coming in February
Parenting is sacred work. It is also incredibly taxing. The good news is that, according to the Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-being of Parents, community can help by fostering “open dialogue about parental stress,” creating “opportunities to cultivate supportive social connections,” and elevating “the voices of parents and caregivers to shape community programs and investments.” All of which we’ll do during Parenting UU, a small group discussion series for “new” parents this February. If you are new to First Church, or have a child under the age of 10, this program is for you. Childcare will be provided. Dates, times, and registration information are below…
- Dates: Fridays – February 7, February 21, & March 7
- Times: Optional Potluck Dinner at 6 PM. Program starts at 7 PM.
- Register by Wednesday, February 5 here.
Taking It Home: December 29, 2024
On the New Year (Or, What to do Instead of Making Another Resolution)
In Roman Mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and ends. That is why the first month of the calendar year is named after him – January. As we approach the new year, you may be thinking about this past year; what do you need to let go of? Or, you may be thinking about the year ahead; what are your hopes and dreams?
In recent years, people within the religious education community have dropped the practice of making resolutions – since they are so seldom kept – in favor of choosing one word to reflect on, explore, and embody for the coming year. Some words that have floated around the religious education community in recent years include sabbatical, play and rest. What might your word be for 2025?
Simple Song
Sign this simple song with your children so that they may sign along in an upcoming service. A recording of the song can be found here.
Singing the Living Tradition #251 – Silent Night
Silent Night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent Night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing “Al-le-lu-lia,”
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Child of God,
Love’s pure light
Radiant beams from they holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Suggested Resources
Here are some additional resources for adults and children…