Faith Formation News – 10/29/2020

Dear SUUS Families,

We had an amazing Halloween Party last Sunday thanks to Faith Formation Social Connections Pillar, Jennifer Swenson! We crafted, played Bingo, danced, paraded and enjoyed the company of one another. It set the tone for our week and definitely got us into the spirit of Halloween. Thank you, Jennifer, Scott and Sarah for hosting a Spooktacular Halloween gathering for us all. It will be one for the memory books!

Faith Formation Happenings

WORSHIP

Sunday, Nov 1 at 10:30am – Online Worship Service “Walking as a Spiritual Discipline” including a “Story for All”
In these times, many of us have taken up the practice of walking. What is the relationship between healing movement and spiritual practice? In what ways can it be a meditative practice? How is active movement combined with passive being? How will you continue in the coming season? This service is also our Annual All Souls Service, where we remember loved ones lost. Please have on hand a small memento of anyone you would like to remember (you may also share their name during the service).

CLASSES

Sunday, November 1 at 1pm – McKinney Wildlife Refuge Walk
733 Old Clinton Road, Westbrook, CT 06498

This Sunday we will take a nature walk at McKinney Park in Westbrook. Please bring a painted rock with a kind message, thought or in remembrance of a loved one lost, and we will place them along our path. Please also bring your masks and a canned good for the Semilla Food Drive. I will have a bin in the trunk of my car. Please note: there are no dogs allowed on the trail. Our furry friends will have to join us next time!

For more information about Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge please click here: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Stewart_B_McKinney/about.html

Sunday, November 8 at 1pm – Gardening

Please save the date for a gardening activity. We will plant garlic and give our Peace Post garden bed some TLC.

Sunday, November 15 at 1pm – Faith Formation Gathering TBA

Sunday, November 22 – Faith Formation Activity (Time TBA)

If your child or youth is participating in any Faith Formation activities, we ask that you kindly complete the online registration form below. Thanks so much!

Faith Formation Registration Form: https://shorelineuu.breezechms.com/form/769f58

YOUTH/COMING OF AGE

Firepit at The Swensons
Please hold Sunday, November 1 – Time TBA
In preparation for the trip to MA, we will gather around the firepit to learn more about Walden Pond, Thoreau and what to anticipate for the upcoming trip. We’ll share thoughts as we toast marshmallows around the fire! BYOS (Bring Your Own S’mores ingredients)!

Saturday & Sunday, November 14 & 15 – Walden Pond Park in Concord, MA
Parents & CoA Youth: please save the weekend of November 14 & 15 for a trip to Walden Pond. On Nov 12 or 13 we will decide whether to go on Saturday or Sunday. Each family will travel in their own cars and leave around 9a to get there for 11a. Please bring lunch, masks, hand sanitizer and bags for trash. The cost for parking is $30 per car. Once there, we’ll walk the trail then have lunch on a wall by the beach.

If the parking lot is full when we get there, we will detour to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepy_Hollow_Cemetery_(Concord,_Massachusetts), where Thoreau and many other famous folks are buried.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

FOOD DRIVE

Faith Formation is collecting food for the Semilla Collective of New Haven. There are labeled and covered plastic bins at the top of the exterior stairs at SUUS. Items needed are as follows:

  • RICE
  • CANNED TOMATOES
  • BEANS
  • GRANOLA BARS
  • MAC & CHEESE
  • DIAPERS size 3 or larger

A great way to engage children and youth in this initiative is to have them search for food items in your home and/or help to deliver food to SUUS. Please be in touch if your family is interested in making a drop-off directly to Semilla or learning more about ways to volunteer.

A special thanks to Soule Golden for inviting us to learn more about Semilla and how SUUS can help support their efforts. I also give a big shout-out to Laura Martino who has agreed to help organize social justice activities in relation to food scarcity with our Faith Formation Families. Thank you both for your leadership!

More about Semilla…
The Semilla Collective of New Haven is a grassroots collective formed in the fall of 2019 to fight side by side with immigrant and working families, and to host cultural events in our community. We have been running a mutual aid food distribution program since March in solidarity with our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic. For more information please visit: https://www.semillacollective.org/en/food-garage

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

Birthday Parades

We will continue to do our SUUS Birthday Parades and celebrate our children and youth safely! Please stay tuned for dates and times for upcoming parades from Jennifer Farmer Etzel and the Faith Formation Committee.

PILLARS

Thursday, October 29 at 7:45pm – Faith Formation Committee Meeting
The Faith Formation Committee will be meeting TONIGHT, Thursday, October 29 at 7:45pm via Zoom. Please check your email for agenda and zoom link.

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