Latest RECY News
For the latest information about the Religious Education for Children and Youth progream (RECY), scroll down on the Children/Youth page and see what is new!
Moving Into Mesa Verde!
What will the new RE spaces look like at our new building? We have been working diligently to prepare RE rooms with clean carpet, bright windows, and gleaming indoor hallways linking everything together! The classrooms will seem familiar and at the same time, completely new. You’ll recognize the books, toys, and furniture but we think you’ll be mesmerized by the view the first time you visit. It’s truly a change of scenery! Getting ready for RE classes to begin at…
Sharing Our UU Values: Talking to Children About Violence
Dear OCUUC Community- This holiday season has been overshadowed by the tragedy at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut. OCUUC children will be participating in creating snowflakes to send to the surviving children at their new school. Adults are invited to stop by and create a snowflake this Sunday at the Religious Education table. This will be in addition to the note-writing that Rev. Ed will be coordinating over the weekend. …
Co-Creating Our UU Community
It’s moving time at OCUUC! Please join us for Religious Education Pack ‘n’ Move on Friday November 23rd from 10am – 3pm. We will need people to help us pack at the Victoria church and move boxes and smaller items to our new Mesa Verde church site. This will help burn off those holiday calories. Snacks, lunch and fun are included! As I have inventoried and packed up materials from years of operation of our Religious Education program, I have experienced many emotions. …
OCUUC Pride, A Church on the Move!
I am so proud of OCUUC for following through on our decision to move to a new location. I feel this move is crucial for our congregation. We have so much to offer Orange County! Our expanded space and parking will provide a strong home base to assist us in getting the UU message of compassion and tolerance out to the larger community. Here is the announcement and update: https://ocuuc.org/onthemove/ As a denomination we struggle to keep our membership levels…
Looking Forward, Looking Back at OCUUC RE!
As we finish up the curricula for our children and youth for the year and prepare for summer programs, and possibly bigger changes around the corner, it is fun to take a look back and see what we have accomplished as a religious education community. This year we registered over 50 children and youth in our Sunday program, and each child and family brought their own unique gifts and energy to OCUUC. Our special days, including our Christmas Eve pageant,…
Religious Education Teacher and Volunteer Sunday
Dear OCUUC Teachers and Volunteers- It is such a joy to watch the face of a child light up when we have an RE activity, lesson, story or song that connects that child to our faith and community! This Sunday, we want to honor all of you who make this happen regularly at OCUUC. Our Religious Education Teacher and Volunteer Sunday is the community’s opportunity to acknowledge your time and commitment this past year, and to thank you. Please attend…
Justice General Assembly in Phoenix 2012
Justice General Assembly is just around the corner. I hope to see many of you there. We will be exploring border justice issues with plenty of hands-on opportunities to work with other organizations around this social issue. If you have any questions about the Youth Caucus, here is a great place to start: http://www.uua.org/re/youth/events/gacaucus/faq/index.shtml Our 1st-6th grade class will be holding a sock drive in June in support of the No More Deaths Ministry. I will deliver the collected socks…
Justice General Assembly, June 2012
Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. It is a huge gathering of UUs from all over the country; from all over the world, really. I love going to our UU General Assembly. As an employee of the church, it is now an expectation that I go, but I started loving GA long before I began working as our OCUUC Director of Religious Education. My very first two General Assemblies were in Phoenix, where this year’s GA will be held and in our…
Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is coming up for grades 10-12 at OCUUC! OWL provides accurate information to young people so that they can make informed decisions about their bodies and their lives. It’s a lot of fun too! We still need one male facilitator for a Saturday if anyone from another UU church is available who has had the OWL training. Mandatory Parent meeting Monday March 26 6pm-10pm Friday March 30 5:30 (potluck 5:30-6:30) pm through Saturday March 31, 6…
The Year of the Dragon and the OWL at OCUUC
The New Year is a time of reflection and celebration for many of us. Reflecting back on our growth and expanded activities over the past year is a great source of joy for me. The months of January and February also held so many fun and activities for our children, youth, parents and volunteers at OCUUC. Our families and volunteers make it all happen! Our Year of the Dragon is off to a great start. Thanks to the help of…
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the Four Noble Truths
Dear OCUUC Community- Our December 2011 worship theme at OCUUC is world religions. Here is my Time For All Ages presentation that compares Unitarian Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the Buddhist Four Noble Truths. Dickensians around the globe will celebrate his 200th birthday in February 2012. Happy Holidays to All! Rayna Hamre, OCUUC Director of Religious Education ~~~~~~~~~~~ Once upon a time there was a man named Ebenezer Scrooge. He has become famous, many of the grown ups know…