Aug 25, 2022 | Weekly Message
We are excited to start the 2022-23 year with all of our Religious Exploration groups meeting in person this fall, starting Sunday, September 11. We have been imagining and planning a robust program with 4 different *OWL classes, a PreK and Kindergarten class, 2 groups for elementary aged children, a world religions class with field trips for middle grades, high school youth group, and (NEW!) some all ages – that’s ALL ages, young to elder – spiritual practice and religious exploration opportunities, and family ministry events! We are enthusiastic to try some new things with y’all this year and to host some vibrant, enriching, faith deepening and justice oriented experiences at UU Asheville.
Our goals this year are to develop in all of our children and youth a strong sense of UU identity, an understanding of our principles and sources, a sense of belonging and being held by our congregation, and the understanding of why it’s important to organize and act for the rights of all marginalized peoples. Our curricular choices reflect that, with our elementary choices coming from the UUA’s Tapestry of Faith curricula, as well as a new (to us) World Religions curriculum, Crossing Paths, from Soul Matters. Our YRUU (high school) youth group will explore a combination of youth group theme materials from Soul Matters, OWL, justice learning and projects, planning and executing our beloved YRUU worship service, some fun traditions and new experiences, and a summer youth trip.
*OWL = Our Whole Lives, a comprehensive, faith based sexuality education program that was largely and unfortunately suspended for 2 years due to the pandemic preventing consistent in person gatherings. (We did offer a virtual parent/caregiver support group and a few high school OWL sessions in person.) We know that it is important, lifesaving information and are dedicated to getting the curricula to as many children and youth as possible this year. We are able to offer OWL to 7th-9th graders (2 different year-long classes!), 4th/5th grade, and 10th-12th graders. Leading OWL requires an intensive offsite weekend training, and we are grateful to the volunteers committed to this valuable program.
Please register your children and youth to stay in the loop about all the happenings in RE and Family Ministry at UU Asheville. This also provides us with important information to best support your child(ren)/family.
Serve in Religious Exploration! Our children and youth need a village of caring adults to know them and to help guide their faith exploration. Kids thrive by growing up in a loving community of adults who pay attention, laugh, create, listen, play, teach and learn alongside them. Young adults to elders are encouraged to join our amazing team of volunteers; this is not just a job for parents. No expertise needed; open minds, loving hearts and helping hands are the name of the game. We will train and help you, and the lesson/game plans are provided! Will you join our younger generation and explore Unitarian Universalism with them? We’re especially seeking some more people to care for babies in the nursery, assist our PreK-K staff, and lead/assist in our elementary aged groups (younger and older elementary). It is transformative work that can nurture your own spirit. In order to sustain the program we envision and our families desire, we need your support! Please contact us — and come to the RE volunteer training this Saturday, August 27 (begins at 9:45 in Sandburg Hall).
Religious Exploration will launch on Sunday, September 11. On that date, we will happily return to our pre-pandemic ritual of everyone gathering together in the Sanctuary each Sunday for the chalice lighting, opening, music, and wisdom story. Children, youth, and RE volunteers will be sung out to their classes following that Time for All Ages.
Note: we will also have periodic 9:30 RE for all ages and 11:00 all ages worship. Watch for those announcements in the Weekly eNews.
Still have questions? Contact us! If your child is Nursery-8th grade, please email Kim. If your youth is in 9th-12th grade, please email Jen.
Jen Johnson and Kim Collins, Religious Educators
Aug 24, 2022 | Justice Ministry
During this 2022-23 church year, you’ll be hearing a lot about our efforts to shed white privilege and adopt behaviors indicative of equity and justice and liberation for all. There will be a jillion opportunities for you to join in the fun and the learning. Here are a few that can be accessed immediately. Why wait? A few opportunities to support our 8th Principle work from board member Mary Alm:
- August 25 – September 10 – Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective presents Blood at the Root, a play by Dominique Morisseau.
This bold new play is a striking ensemble drama based on the Jena Six; six Black students who were initially charged with attempted murder for a school fight after being provoked with nooses hanging from a tree on campus. It examines the miscarriage of justice, racial double standards, and the crises in relations between men and women of all classes and, as a result, the shattering state of Black family life. More info here.
- Saturday September 10 at 10:30 am – Books to Action discussion and walking tour at Stephens-Lee Center.
Buncombe County libraries are hosting a Books to Action book club and the first session is a discussion of How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi and the group will also participate in a walking tour of the East End Valley Street of Asheville with Hood Huggers International.
Image attached and more info here.
- Saturday and Sunday, September 10 – 11, 2022, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm both days – Racial Equity Institute Phase 1 Workshop sponsored by the WNC Racial Equity Collective.
An extraordinary experience, well worth the time. Often over-subscribed, if you cannot register for this session, at least get your name on the wait list so you will be informed of future workshops.
Please click the link below to find out detailed information and to register:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfob1iunRjFLEpkZxrmMoIV5w2tnIxJ-a-D6uvmWYamHZ_eGw/viewform
- Sept.19-Nov 14, meeting weekly on Mondays 7-9 pm – Building Bridges
Registration opens Monday August 22nd at NOON
Asheville’s locally birthed equity workshop. Again, well worth the time. Participants meet local leaders and learn about local realities. You will be changed.
To be on the interest list and receive registration instructions on Monday morning fill out the form linked below. If you have participated in a previous Building Bridges Session, they ask that you opt out of registering for this session as soon as registration opens. If they don’t fill up immediately, they will send out another invitation to register.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY-BJsNRfPECofWsvTWoeJ5QK9K2xzFOhcKuhVSpRub6382g/viewform
Questions? Email registration@bbavl.org
Aug 23, 2022 | Scoop
Natives or Not?
Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
We constantly hear how great native plants are for our landscapes. And this is true. With our sustainable landscape goals, native plants can thrive without human input of fertilizers, pesticides and maintenance. They are often resistant to local pests and have deep root systems that allow them to thrive without additional water as well as reduce runoff and erosion.
Native plants are rarely invasive, meaning they won’t out-compete surrounding vegetation and offer wildlife food and shelter, helping preserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem. Most are considered pollinator plants, something we are seriously concerned with in our sustainable landscapes.
That being said, there is also a place for non-natives. While it is a great idea to add natives to your landscape as you add or replace plants, there is certainly no reason to eliminate some of the beautiful plants native to other parts of the world. Unless they are invasive, of course.
As long as we do our research and understand how a plant will behave in the landscape, we can continue to enjoy some of the more exotic-looking plants that we love. For example, common milkweed is a prime butterfly plant. But if put into a typical home landscape, it will spread uncontrollably and can make a mess of the garden.
I, for one, don’t want to give up my hostas or Japanese maples, which are certainly not native. But I will add native Carolina sweetshrub and fothergilla to my landscape. It’s a matter of perspective and knowing your plants.
Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Aug 21, 2022 | Sermons
Sunday, August 21, 2022 11am In-person and on YouTube
Rev. Keith Kron, Guest Speaker
Religion, including Unitarian Universalism is at a moment in time. Can it survive? And what must it do in order to survive? What must we do? We’ll explore our place in today’s world, and why it’s metaphorical meteorites and not a comet that could wipe us out.
Rev. Keith Kron is the Director of the Transitions Office for the UUA, helping congregations and ministers as they navigate the ministerial search process.
He is the former Director of the Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns for the Unitarian Unversalist Association. He held that position for over 14 years from 1996-2010.
He has visited over 450 UU congregations across the continent, helping them in Welcoming Congregation work, Beyond Categorical Thinking workshops, and public witness.
A former elementary school teacher, Keith also has taught an online class for Starr King School for the Ministry, our UU seminary in Berkeley, on children’s literature. He also leads workshops on the enneagram, plays and teaches tennis, and collects children’s books in his spare time (He has over 9,000 of them.).
He currently lives in Providence, RI.
Friday, October 14, 7pm In person and on Zoom