May 2022
The children and I have been watching Spring slowly bloom in our FUSF Grove over the course of the past month. The trees in the parking lot are all in leaf now, but several weeks ago they were all white with blossoms. I wish that you all could have seen them.
Despite all of the changes that the past several years have seen, our program has been able to reprise several annual traditions this season. We had an easter-egg hunt in the Grove. We danced around the Maypole – the one that I made last spring. We made cards for Mother’s Day. This week I’m busy preparing for our trip to Ferry Beach – and I went last year, so this is a returning instead of something totally new. We are continuing old traditions in new forms.
However, and this may be just the nature of this time, it feels like we are still traveling and have not come to rest. Like we are a seed on a journey, carried by birds, floating on the breeze, washed downstream, picked up by a child, and placed in a pocket. We are going, but we aren’t putting down roots. I keep thinking that this is not ok, but maybe it is.
Last month the RE committee met to look at our program. We realized that we had an opportunity to look deeply at our foundational structure. Why did we exist? What was our purpose? What were the most important things?
We felt that the most important thing for our program to provide was a space where children felt that they were seen and accepted for who they are. That FUSF was a safe place for them to grow up to be themselves. This was unanimously more important to the committee than teaching specific ideas, or doing certain activities. We saw FUSF as the chalice that supports, protects, and lifts high the growing light of our children.
Here is the draft of what we came up with:
Purpose: To be the loving chalice from which the flames of this community’s children can shine, that they may be seen, supported and celebrated.
Vision: A vibrant, joyful program that is known in the Franklin community to provide enrichment and support to family life, attracting and serving people in alignment with FUSUF’s purpose, vision, mission, and values.
Mission: The Grove provides programming that supports the age- appropriate development of UU values in children and families from birth to age 21. Our program gives children
- The foundation of UU identity: through congregational traditions that connect families and children with the FUSF community
- The richness of UU sources of faith: through diverse learning experiences that explore many spiritual paths.
- The experience of UU faith in action: through active involvement in congregational life and service in the wider world.
- The freedom of creating their own UU path, supported in their journey by a community that sees, supports, and celebrates them for who they are and who they are becoming.
Our challenge now is to continue the conscious creation of this chalice. The Religious Education Committee is actively seeking new members to be a part of this exciting work. We are already looking towards the fall and are looking for teachers too. Will you join us on this journey? Please contact me and let me know how you would like to be a part of this next unfolding chapter of children’s RE at FUSF.
Onward and Upward!
Diana Tesni, Director of Religious Education