Religious Education Update: June 1, 2008
Weaving Connections
At the UUP retreat this past weekend, three of our young teens decided to tie themselves together with long strips of fabric, as if they were mountain climbers crossing a glacier. Their cloth ropes forced them to communicate with each other as they traveled around Four Springs. I overheard one of them say to another, “Tell us if you’re going to go somewhere!” The three girls- Amy, Bailey, and Lizzie- had already bonded as friends during previous times together, but now had a temporary physical connection that was fun to watch. Later, at our Sunday worship service, Diana Spaulding and Rev. Ben spoke of community and connections, and led all of us; children, youth and adults, in creating a colorful weaving of fabric strips.
These fabric constructions symbolized for me a weaving of community that creates a spiritual home. We create this fabric by spending time together, whether by singing into the night, breaking bread together, practicing laughing yoga, or engaging in heartfelt conversations.
I know that I have a spiritual home at UUP, and am very grateful to the people behind the scenes who work so hard to make this community possible. My thanks begin with the founding families who were brave enough to dream of their own home in Petaluma. The founders were the architects and planners. Next, I think of the board, the staff, and committee chairs who do the behind the scenes logistical work. They are the infrastructure- the beams and the pipes. My thanks then extend to the volunteers who greet people, make the coffee, teach RE classes, and create worship. They are the custodians, the plumbers, carpenters and electricians. Finally, my thanks go to everyone who makes time in their busy, busy lives to come to worship and learn on Sunday mornings. They are the beloved family who inhabits my spiritual home and enriches my life. I love you all.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
At the UUP retreat this past weekend, three of our young teens decided to tie themselves together with long strips of fabric, as if they were mountain climbers crossing a glacier. Their cloth ropes forced them to communicate with each other as they traveled around Four Springs. I overheard one of them say to another, “Tell us if you’re going to go somewhere!” The three girls- Amy, Bailey, and Lizzie- had already bonded as friends during previous times together, but now had a temporary physical connection that was fun to watch. Later, at our Sunday worship service, Diana Spaulding and Rev. Ben spoke of community and connections, and led all of us; children, youth and adults, in creating a colorful weaving of fabric strips.
These fabric constructions symbolized for me a weaving of community that creates a spiritual home. We create this fabric by spending time together, whether by singing into the night, breaking bread together, practicing laughing yoga, or engaging in heartfelt conversations.
I know that I have a spiritual home at UUP, and am very grateful to the people behind the scenes who work so hard to make this community possible. My thanks begin with the founding families who were brave enough to dream of their own home in Petaluma. The founders were the architects and planners. Next, I think of the board, the staff, and committee chairs who do the behind the scenes logistical work. They are the infrastructure- the beams and the pipes. My thanks then extend to the volunteers who greet people, make the coffee, teach RE classes, and create worship. They are the custodians, the plumbers, carpenters and electricians. Finally, my thanks go to everyone who makes time in their busy, busy lives to come to worship and learn on Sunday mornings. They are the beloved family who inhabits my spiritual home and enriches my life. I love you all.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 12:29 PM
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