RE Weekly Newsletter:  April: Liberation

All Calendar Events have been cancelled until cleared. FIND US ON INSTAGRAM Follow us here! . PARENT RESOURCES Learn more about Soul Matters curriculum guides . Welcome to the for the month of April! This month we’re exploring the many ways our UU faith invites us to become “a people of liberation.” Since April is a month packed full with powerful religious and secular holidays, we’re going to take them one by one and lift up how each distinctively invites us into liberation. To get at that, the sessions are built around the liberating messages of: Session 1. Passover - “We are liberated together and liberation takes time.” Session 2. Easter - “Loss and defeat never have the last word. We can be liberated from hopelessness.” Session 3. Earth Day - “Saving the Earth is saving us. Our interdependence liberates us.” Session 4. Ramadan - “Make room for and remember what matters most. We are liberated from the material into the spiritual world.” Take a look at the 'Calendar Connections' for the month and see what they mean by clicking the button below. Each date has a hyperlink that will define its day! Calendar Connections WELCOME Greetings! "In the spirit of liberation, we hope that you find one of these holiday messages that pops for you and your family, or maybe even all of them! May you experience moments of liberation from the isolation and stress of running a volunteer program. May these moments be filled with liberating joy and bright gems of connection and spiritual rebirth."  -Katie, on behalf of the entire Soul Matters Team DRE for Soul Matters  Check out this wonderful video made by Courtney Allen for our Pledge Campaign! With our growing congregation, we are optimistic we can build on the progress of recent years, even as we face the challenges of COVID-19, but only with your help.   Pledge online today ! Paul Craig, Member and Treasurer

Religious Education Classes K-12th

Ms. Trish's K - 3rd Grade Class "Exodus" video. Turn on the CC link at the bottom to see the Closed Caption words they are speaking. Guided Visualization for Passover Seder or Shabbat Shirah Allow your eyes to close. Inhale and exhale. Listen to the sound of your breath. Do you not hear the distant sound of an ancient sea? Listen to your breath from that part of your heart that remembers being there at the time of the Exodus from... Read more www.reclaimingjudaism.org To watch Ms. Trish's video, click the link below!

This month’s theme is liberation, and liberation takes time. Session Goal : Explore the Jewish Holiday of Passover and its message that “ We are liberated together and liberation takes time .” Passover holiday is April 8 – 16. We’ll learn more about it through our story, meditation, and activity. Last week’s activity:  We’ll discuss how the outline of a hand, and the theme “Our Body’s Wisdom” ties into this week’s lesson. The importance of hand-washing and the hand-washing Song; this song will help you wash you hands for 20 seconds and to remember why it’s important to wash them often.  Wonder Box Surprise : The item inside will help introduce the story of the Hebrew’s plight and eventual liberation from slavery in Egypt.  Reflecting on the Meditation, What were you imagining? You can watch the video “ Exodus ”. Story: Miriam and the Passover Story  “Miriam's people would face many hard years of wandering before they found a land where they could settle down and build their community in freedom.” This is a very famous old story, which you can view by clicking the video to the left. Activity : Listen to Hava Nagila and watch a troope of children perform the traditional dance to go with it.

Ms. Jeanay's Class 4th Grade & Up Session Goal: Explore the Jewish Holiday of Passover and its message that “We are liberated together and liberation takes time.” Calendar Connection: Passover (Jewish) - April 8 - 16 Meditation: “Allow your eyes to close. Inhale and exhale. Listen to the sound of your breath. Do you not hear the distant sound of an ancient sea? Inhale and exhale and hear the moving of the waters echoing in your innermost ear as you inhale and exhale. Keeping your eyes closed, look up as if you were looking at the top of the pillar of cloud that is guiding us out of Egypt. Observe the form and color of the cloud and feel the hope and promise that this pillar of cloud represents. Feel its pull on your soul drawing you toward freedom” Activity: “Sunshine” - experiences outdoors, in nature, or with movement Millions of Jews head to the outdoors for Passover in Israel, taking advantage of the mild weather and a week off. Invite the children to go outdoors if possible, and enjoy the spring season, too! To echo Moses’ parting of the Red Sea, plan some water games, weather permitting, such as here or here. View Ms. Jeanay's video link below!

Activity: Making Tambourines Activity: Making Tambourines Activity time: 15 minutes For Paper Plate and Jingle Bells Tambourines: A stiff paper or plastic plate for each participant, jingle bells, curling ribbon, string or yard, a hole-puncher, and scissors For Plastic Lid ... Read more www.uua.org

Family Resources

These Family Resources are here to provide helpful tools for your household during these times. Although we are indoors more often than ever, it is imperative to still get those bodies moving in some form of physical activity. A quick jog or a brisk bike ride while adhering to the safety guidelines set forth can continue to keep us motivated. Yoga and Qi Gong can help with the energetic flow of our vessel. Think of this stage as the chrysalis point of the metamorphosis of self. What can we do now that we have this time on our hands? The time is now to expand in all of the things we have out off for so long. Now, is the time to put our desires to action. What have you done since the stay-at-home order? Send in your pictures! To view the flyers below, click to expand.

Family movie night idea! Pete's Dragon (2016) - Movie Review Parents need to know that Pete's Dragon is a delightful remake of Disney's 1977 live-action/animated classic. It's a throwback to Disney movies of the past: wholesome, sweet, fun, and exciting. Read more www.commonsensemedia.org

Family Resources offers free family and individual counseling for children and teens ages 6 0 17. Counseling services are confidential and provide in a welcoming environment. Our goal is to help find solutions to inspire and empower positive change. Some areas address: Anger management bullying out of control behavior self esteem communication skills Contact the office to schedule an appointment: North Location (727)298-3900 South Location (727)552-1010 www.family-resources.org

SoulMatters team consistently put together some wonderful tunes that flow with each theme of the month. Click the buttons below to listen to playlists on both YouTube and Spotify!

YouTube Playlist

Spotify List

Yoga For Kids Kennedy Space Center Education Clever Log-In Online Class for Teens & Adults SkillShare

Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg is not affiliated nor a sponsor of the community events posted on our UUSP RE e-newsletters. The information is derived from PeachJar.com, The Parent's Guide Magazine and City of St. Petersburg Events page, PlayLargo.com and various applications for family engagement strictly for informational purposes only. The information posted is not for profit or for monetary gain unless specified to contribute to a fundraiser in whereas the donations are to UU and/or UUA affiliates such as UUSC. If you have any questions or concerns about this statement, reply to this email. Share the Newsletter to Social Media! If you have any submissions for the RE weekly newsletter, please submit your information to email  the Editor  by noon every Tuesday to have it posted to the newsletter for Thursday's e-print.

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