Religious Education
So much is happening in Religious Education this month! Family Fun Night, New Family Dinner, the MDD High School Con, and Halloween, just to name a few. Also, let's not to forget to mention everything that happens on Sundays! Take a look at our offerings and join in on the fun!
Infant-36 months
Preschool
K/1st
2nd/3rd
4th/5th
OWL
8/9 and K-2 OWL Class Fees- Class fees can be made online here. Payments can also be taken in the main church office on Sundays. First Church is committed to all youth participating, regardless of financial capacity. Scholarships and reductions are available by contacting Amanda Esko at or 801-582-8687 ext 206.
High School
Fall Con registration is live! We're lucky enough to be hosting Fall Con this year. This is a great opportunity for our youth to meet over 70 other UU youth from around the mountain west. Would your youth like to help plan the con? Email Amanda Esko at
MDD FALL CON REGISTRATION
UU at Home
Do you want to learn more about Unitarian Universalists? Have you ever wondered what it means to be a Unitarian on the other six days of the week? Well, you're in luck! On the last Sunday of each month, Amanda and Lissa will be teaching UU@Home, for both parents and children, in Little Chapel between services. We will look for opportunities to live our principals out in the wild. We will check in with each other on steps we've taken as a whole family to honor the inherent worth and dignity of all people, or to celebrate the web of interconnected life! We will ask questions and learn about our history. We'll play with sequins and glue, and sing songs. Join the last Sunday of every month at 10:15 am!
Sanctuary Sundays
Want to light the chalice as a family on Sanctuary Sundays? Signup here!
New Family Dinner
Are you a new family to our congregation? Welcome! We are having a new family dinner on October 9th at 6 pm. Come, have dinner and meet other new families, and hear more about our Religious Education Program. Questions or want to RSVP? Please email Amanda Esko at .
Save the Date!
Our annual Halloween Party will be on October 29th at 6 pm. Plan on dinner, games, dance party, and a sing-along at Friendship Manor. As the date gets closer, look for more information in the Order of Service and the Religious Education Newsletter, The Match.
Welcome back! As the ease of summer days falls into the routines of fall, we look to places, like First Church, to provide our families with the centering connection of community. When RE marches into the sanctuary during Ingathering, take a moment to marvel at this community. Our youth are artists, athletes, activists. And just like their adult counterparts, they are committed to social justice, spiritual growth, and their friendships here at First Church. Welcome our youth back into the sanctuary. Thank their parents and teachers for bringing them, teaching them, and being an integral part of our First Church community. As an RE team, we’re all so glad you’re here.
Teacher Recognition
Our RE program could not function without the time and talent of our amazing volunteer teachers. Our teachers are parents, non-parents, and grandparents in our community. They dedicate themselves to the care and love of our youth. Please thank them when you see them in Eliot Hall!
Kindergarten/First Grade- Carrie Black, Kira Kilmer
Second/Third Grade- Melissa Bond, Kevin Emmerson
Fourth/Fifth Grade- Kendra Smith, Raleigh Smith
Sixth/Seventh Grade- Karin Baumgartner, Kris Lander, Adam Mansfield, Brie Pinales, Usha Spaulding
Eighth/Ninth Grade- Heather Heaton, Erin Johnson, Nancy Moos, Phil Moos, Marlin Taylor
Tenth-Twelfth Grade- Cooper, Derek Gersdorf, Jennica Davis-Hockett, Kristin Quinn, Dot Verbrugge
Thank You!
A big thanks goes out to Steve Quinn for leading a basic first aid training for RE teachers during teacher training. Thanks Steve!
RE Registration Is Up!
Please register your youth for RE today! Registration gives us updated family information, allows us to make accurate class rolls, and helps us plan activities. Follow this link to register!
Ingathering
Ingathering is September 9th! Please meet your youth’s class on the plaza, so we can all march into the sanctuary together. Look for your teacher holding your class flag!
OWL
8th/9th Grade- OWL parent orientation is on September 11th at 6:30 pm in Eliot Hall. This meeting is MANDATORY. Additionally, if you have friends who are interested in having youth participate, they need to email Amanda at as soon as possible. Due to the nature of the class, new students will not be able to register after September 23rd.
Kindergarten- 2nd Grade- Two sessions of Kindergarten- 2nd grade OWL will be offered this year! The first session starts on September 30th and goes until November 18th, and the second session will run from January 27th to March 17th. Follow this link to register for either session. Priority is given to families registered in our RE program, but we welcome and encourage friends to participate as well! Please register as soon as possible for either session.
Classroom Volunteers
Each family is required to volunteer in classes in the lower school. Parent volunteers do a variety of tasks, from helping take roll, to assisting with activities, to gathering snack. No preparation is required, just a willing spirit. Parent volunteers will meet the teacher in Little Chapel just prior to class. Follow the links to sign-up to volunteer in your youth's class!
Coming Up!
Family Fun Night August 6th 6pm, weather permitting we will be outside. Forget cooking and hang out with us!
RE Teacher Training August 19th
Here are some things to put on your calendar for next year!
OWL- Next year we are offering Kindergarten-2nd OWL in the fall and the winter! 8th-9th grade OWL will run during RE(11-12:00) all year. If you have friends who are interested in signing up for these programs, please have them email Amanda at , as soon as possible. We will have a few open spots in each class for visitors!
Back to RE- Our Back to RE night will be September 10th during Family Fun Night. Join us to find out all about next years programming!
MDD Fall Con- For our high school youth, MDD Fall Con is going to be held at First Church for the first time EVER! The Con will be on October 19th-21st. For more information or if you want to help, email Amanda at or Lissa at . Stipends are available for people willing to organize and manage food!
Teachers Needed!
Did you leave our Coming of Age and High School service feeling inspired by our youth? Are you a grandparent missing your grandbabies and want to stay connected with youth? Come and work with Religious Education in the fall! We’re looking for volunteer for several age groups. Have a passion for bible literacy? Join our 2nd and 3rd graders! Want to explore Unitarian Universalist traditions and values? Hang out with our Kindergarten and 1st grade! Think exploring other faith traditions leads to a deeper understanding of your own faith and world, especially in this time of global crisis? Our 6th and 7th graders will be doing just that!We are always able to work around schedules and vacations. Please email Amanda Esko at for more information!
Social Justice Throughout the Summer
Our volunteer commitments do not end simply because it’s summer! In continuation with our work with the VOA Homeless Youth Shelter, we will continue to make sack lunches, but during Family Fun Night. Not able to make it to Family Fun Night but would like to contribute? We have the answer! If you would like to donate supplies(such as bread, meat, chips, etc.), please visit our signup page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4baead28a6fc1-summer . Labeled donations can be left the the RE fridge on the Sunday before Family Fun Night.
Due to the increased need in the summer, we will also be collecting cases of bottled water for the VOA. Please leave any cases on the stage in Little Chapel. Cases of water can be left throughout the week.
Questions? Email Amanda Esko at for more information!
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UUA 2018-2019 District High School Youth Event Dates
9th-12th grade youth are invited to Mountain Desert District youth events. Please contact Jessy Hennesy, MDD Youth Conference Coordinator, with questions, at .
- October 19-21, 2018 - Fall Con, First Unitarian Church, Salt Lake City, Utah (bus will be available from Denver Metro)
- November 9-11, 2018 - Leadershop Development Con (limited space available), First Universalist Church, Denver Colorado
- January 19-21, 2019 - MLK Con, First Unitarian Society of Denver, Colorado
- February 8-10, 2019 - Worship Arts Training (limited space available), Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, Colorado
- April 12-14, 2019 - Spring Con, Foothills Unitarian Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
- June 30-July 6 - QUUest Camp (and Spirit QUUest Camp for middle school youth), La Foret Conference and Retreat Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Party With Us Throughout the Summer!
- Every Thursday- 6:45 pm
Join us in the garden for our Garden Parties! We’ll tend our garden plot and play outside for these long summer nights! - Every Friday- 10:00 am
Our weekly playdates will continue throughout the summer. Have a cup of coffee and a doughnut on us all while strengthening community! - July 2nd and August 6th- 6:00 pm
Family Fun Nights continue throughout the summer! All summer long we’ll be outside, eating and playing(usually with water!). Forget cooking and hang out with us!
Coming Up!
Here are some things to put on your calendar for next year!
OWL- Next year we are offering Kindergarten-2nd OWL in the fall and the winter! 8th-9th grade OWL will run during RE(11-12:00) all year. If you have friends who are interested in signing up for these programs, please have them email Amanda at , as soon as possible. We will have a few open spots in each class for visitors!
Back to RE- Our Back to RE night will be September 10th during Family Fun Night. Join us to find out all about next years programming!
MDD Fall Con- For our high school youth, MDD Fall Con is going to be held at First Church for the first time EVER! The Con will be on October 19th-21st. For more information or if you want to help, email Amanda at or Lissa at . Stipends are available for people willing to organize and manage food!
Teachers Needed!
Did you leave our Coming of Age and High School service feeling inspired by our youth? Are you a grandparent missing your grandbabies and want to stay connected with youth? Come and work with Religious Education in the fall! We’re looking for volunteer for several age groups. Have a passion for bible literacy? Join our 2nd and 3rd graders! Want to explore Unitarian Universalist traditions and values? Hang out with our Kindergarten and 1st grade! Think exploring other faith traditions leads to a deeper understanding of your own faith and world, especially in this time of global crisis? Our 6th and 7th graders will be doing just that!We are always able to work around schedules and vacations. Please email Amanda Esko at for more information!
Social Justice Throughout the Summer
Our volunteer commitments do not end simply because it’s summer! In continuation with our work with the VOA Homeless Youth Shelter, we will continue to make sack lunches, but during Family Fun Night. Not able to make it to Family Fun Night but would like to contribute? We have the answer! If you would like to donate supplies(such as bread, meat, chips, etc.), please visit our signup page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4baead28a6fc1-summer . Labeled donations can be left the the RE fridge on the Sunday before Family Fun Night.
Due to the increased need in the summer, we will also be collecting cases of bottled water for the VOA. Please leave any cases on the stage in Little Chapel. Cases of water can be left throughout the week.
Questions? Email Amanda Esko at for more information!
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UUA 2018-2019 District High School Youth Event Dates
9th-12th grade youth are invited to Mountain Desert District youth events. Please contact Jessy Hennesy, MDD Youth Conference Coordinator, with questions, at .
- October 19-21, 2018 - Fall Con, First Unitarian Church, Salt Lake City, Utah (bus will be available from Denver Metro)
- November 9-11, 2018 - Leadershop Development Con (limited space available), First Universalist Church, Denver Colorado
- January 19-21, 2019 - MLK Con, First Unitarian Society of Denver, Colorado
- February 8-10, 2019 - Worship Arts Training (limited space available), Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, Colorado
- April 12-14, 2019 - Spring Con, Foothills Unitarian Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
- June 30-July 6 - QUUest Camp (and Spirit QUUest Camp for middle school youth), La Foret Conference and Retreat Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Congregational Meeting Sandwich Fundraiser
COA and High School Parents! On May 20th, before the congregational meeting, we will be holding our annual sandwich lunch fundraiser. This is our last trip fundraiser for the year! We have several items still needed in order for this annual fundraiser to happen. Additionally, we are looking for adults to help supervise the making of and selling of the sandwiches. Please take a look at the signup sheet to see where your family can help!
Summer Garden Parties!
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Come to our garden party! This summer, RE is growing a garden for Harvest for Hunger, a local nonprofit, whose mission is to bring fresh foods to at-risk communities. Every Thursday night, starting on May 17th, we’ll be meeting in the garden around 6:45 pm to tend the plot and mingle. Join us!
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Teaching Youth How to Dissent is an Essential Part of Democracy
The past three months have been remarkable with students taking to the streets and to the media, corporations and Town Hall meetings in protest over gun practices and policies. Responses to our youth have been mixed. Some celebrate their actions, their passion, their intelligence and courage and, of course, the capacity to organize and lead!
Others exclaim that they are immature, manipulated by left-leaning adults, and that they don’t yet grasp critical issues surrounding the Second Amendment, let alone the First. Still others question the “voices” of the teens....
Like many in our congregation, I/we believe that an informed and educated response to senseless gun violence is essential. Churches and schools must prepare students to activate their civil rights, especially in the face of tragedy. Our young people have a right to engage in political dissent. But they need education that enlightens their ability to do so in a persuasive way.
Our laws enable us to disagree peacefully. When our well-being is in jeopardy, however, we have a duty to speak up. Only with this opportunity to dissent can we determine if our laws are working, and whether they are good and just. Our democracy requires consent of the governed. As maturing citizens, our children and youth are entitled to understand how democracy works. I am grateful for our high school youth program (YRUU) and for schools that teach conscious decision-making, coalition building, debate skills, persuasion, and how to track government processes in order to effect change.
All youth need opportunities to learn about the responsibilities of citizenship. This includes recognizing and supporting just laws, recognizing the difference between rabble-rousing as opposed to peaceful, informed dissent, and how to protest while not infringing on the rights of others, particularly those with opposing views.
In a flourishing democracy, informed and active citizens speak up and speak out when faced with unjust practices.
In Service
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Art FairThe Art Fair is right around the corner on April 21st and 22nd! RE youth have been diligently creating pieces of art available for purchase. The Jr Choir will also be lending their talents on Saturday night. This community event is always fun for the entire family. Come and see all the talents of our youth!
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