Religious Education Update: March 15, 2009
Joys and Concerns
A week ago Saturday, a sizeable group of adults and children from UUP attended a play, “The Miracle Worker” at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium. Our very own Harley Boatsman was part of the cast, as the ghost of Annie Sullivan’s younger brother. During the play, we UUP adults felt pride in watching one of our youth doing such a great job, and our children looked quite entranced in seeing someone they knew from RE classes up on the big stage. Afterwards, someone suggested that we ask Harley for his autograph. We surrounded him after the play, as he happily signed program after program.
Later in the week, I received an email from a church member sharing that our Theo Hardy was one of the top spellers in the city wide spelling bee. Theo, a fourth grader, competed against the top 4th, 5th and 6th grade spellers from each elementary school in Petaluma, and placed in the top five overall. This is a tremendous feat for any student, but even more impressive for a fourth grader.
Sometimes, our children and youth also face difficult times. I learned this week that seven year old Isabel, daughter of Paulette Carles, has been hospitalized all week in Oakland undergoing chemotherapy for her leukemia. Isabel and her younger brother, Gabriel, sang in the children’s choir at Christmas Eve, and have been a wonderful addition to our RE program this year. You may remember that Isabel wrote in her letter to President Obama, “I wanted to vote for you, but I am only six.” She is a sweet, adorable and very bright child. I will search for ways to support Isabel in this challenging time, and I may ask for assistance.
I believe that one of the most important lessons we teach our children is the power of community to support each other in both good and hard times. It is fun to share the joys, and uplifting to assist with the sorrows.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
A week ago Saturday, a sizeable group of adults and children from UUP attended a play, “The Miracle Worker” at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Burbank Auditorium. Our very own Harley Boatsman was part of the cast, as the ghost of Annie Sullivan’s younger brother. During the play, we UUP adults felt pride in watching one of our youth doing such a great job, and our children looked quite entranced in seeing someone they knew from RE classes up on the big stage. Afterwards, someone suggested that we ask Harley for his autograph. We surrounded him after the play, as he happily signed program after program.
Later in the week, I received an email from a church member sharing that our Theo Hardy was one of the top spellers in the city wide spelling bee. Theo, a fourth grader, competed against the top 4th, 5th and 6th grade spellers from each elementary school in Petaluma, and placed in the top five overall. This is a tremendous feat for any student, but even more impressive for a fourth grader.
Sometimes, our children and youth also face difficult times. I learned this week that seven year old Isabel, daughter of Paulette Carles, has been hospitalized all week in Oakland undergoing chemotherapy for her leukemia. Isabel and her younger brother, Gabriel, sang in the children’s choir at Christmas Eve, and have been a wonderful addition to our RE program this year. You may remember that Isabel wrote in her letter to President Obama, “I wanted to vote for you, but I am only six.” She is a sweet, adorable and very bright child. I will search for ways to support Isabel in this challenging time, and I may ask for assistance.
I believe that one of the most important lessons we teach our children is the power of community to support each other in both good and hard times. It is fun to share the joys, and uplifting to assist with the sorrows.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 7:47 PM
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