Roots and Wings
Faith Development Newsletter, January 19, 2023
Our Faith Development Theme for January: Finding Our Center
It may not be possible to do "nothing else," but here's wishing you a few quiet moments with your morning cup today!
What's Happening in Faith Development
- January 22nd
- Babies-Kg (Temporary Nursery Room 106)
- 1st thru 5th - Room 206
- Youth 6th-12th - Library
- K-2 OWL Parent Interest Meeting 11:05am Room 205
- 4-6th Grade OWL Mandatory Parent/Child Orientation 11:05 am Room 203
- Voices of a Movement Room 105
- January 27th - Board Games & Dinner 5:00-8:00pm (RSVP for Dinner!)
- February 5th-
- K-2 OWL Mandatory Parent/Child Orientation 11:05 am Room 205
- 4-6th OWL Room
- Adult RE Voices from the Movement 11:05am (sharp)
May you be filled with happiness, may you be filled with peace, may you be filled with love
Chris
Upcoming Activities
Youth & Young Adults
Spiritual Practice
Finding Our Center Through Discussions at the Table
At the Table questions explore the monthly theme through a discussion for all ages. They are designed for a family gathering - maybe during a Friday night meal, a quiet moment in the living room or before a board game night.
Introducing the Activity
Family members who are readers can alternate who reads the questions. Those who are not readers are invited to share their own impromptu questions. Discussion partners might answer as thoughts come to them or take turns in a circle. If you want to spice up and “gamify” your group question experience, check out some options here.
Discussion Questions
1. What space feels like the center of your home? (This may be the physical center, but it may also be where everybody hangs out the most!)
2. If you called your family members’ names, and they called back, “I’m in the middle of something important!” what would they most likely be doing? What would that important thing be?
3. Who and what do you carry in the center of your heart?
4. What did your life revolve around last year? Has that changed at all?
5. What is the best quality of each of the family members (i.e. their “centers”), including yourself?
6. What’s best about being a singleton (only) child? The oldest? Middle? Youngest?
7. What is the gathering place of your friend group? Home? Church? The skating rink? The park? An online chat platform?
8. Have you heard your parent(s) or adults in your life talk of being “middle age”? If so, what impressions do you have of “middle age”? What do you hope it’s like for you?
9. When it’s totally quiet, such as right before you fall asleep, or when you’re finished a test before other people and there’s no talking aloud, where does your mind usually go? What does your inner voice most often talk about?
10. Describe how the middle of winter feels where you live. What do you like and not like about it?
11. Have you been to the middle/center of your city? Of your state or province?Your region? Of the country? What were your impressions?
13. When you are feeling “off balance,” what do you do?
14. Who in your life seems the most grounded and at ease?
15. How do you know when you’ve gotten to the heart of an issue or problem, to the clear vision and full understanding that make moving forward possible?
Return to the Discussion Throughout the Week
Thoughts develop with time. Find opportunities to bring up particularly compelling questions again during the month, maybe on walks, rides home, when tucking your child into bed, etc. If thoughts grew or changed, notice together how we are all evolving beings, opening ourselves to new truths and understandings as we live our lives and connect with others.
January UU Music Box
What A Miracle by Hap Palmer
This song is not in the UU songbooks but found at www.happalmer.com.
Principle 1 Each and every person is important.
Source 1 The sense of wonder we all share.
Source 6 The harmony of nature and the sacred circle of life.
Hap Palmer has written many songs that celebrate self-discovery and day-to-day activities. This is a fun, upbeat song that can be enjoyed by groups of all ages and abilities. It is written as a call and response, meaning that one person or group sings a line, then it is repeated by the rest of the group.
Discussion Topics
· What makes you special?
· What is a miracle? Why are everyday actions like clapping your hands or stamping your feet a miracle?
· The song seems to assume that everybody has the same kind of bodies and can do the same movements, but does everybody have exactly the same abilities?
· Can I still be a miracle if I can’t do some of the things that you can do?
Movement
Movements of each body part are described in the song. As each body part is named, point to it on yourself, then do the action. You can do this seated or standing.
Activities
On the recording, an adult sings the call, and a group of children sing the response. With your group, listen to the call and sing the response. Everybody joins in on singing “Oh what a miracle am I” and on the chorus. Take turns being the person who sings the call. The person singing the call can decide which body part to sing about. See if you can come up with different body parts to sing about.
Parenting Resources
About Us
Email: dlfd@liveoakuu.org
Website: https://www.liveoakuu.org/
Location: 3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar Park, TX, USA
Phone: 737-240-3127