As December opens up before us, we welcome in the gift of reflection. We turn toward our holiday celebrations and search for common threads of meaning. We begin with Yule, the winter solstice, and we are invited to explore duality, cycles, and seasons, and to witness the Holly King being overcome by the Oak … Continue reading You Are the Holiday Miracle by Gwen Matthews

    Family Grace: Thank you for all my loved ones who are seated around this table. Thank you for the food that you have provided for us this day. Thank you for this season when we can find JOY in the all the blessings of this season of giving. Amen. ~ adapted from Beth … Continue reading December Spiritual Practice

If your family hangs ornaments on a tree at this time of year, create blessing ornaments.  With a clear plastic ornament found at craft stores, you can create a reminder of what graced your life in the past year. Place small photos or trinkets, beads and ribbons, or glitter to make them sparkle.  What is … Continue reading December’s Bringing it Home

  The Wonder Box technique of storytelling was created by the Reverend Christina Leone-Tracy, senior minister of the Fox Valley UU Fellowship in Appleton, WI. This interactive way of sharing the story for all ages, integrates the message of the Wonder Box into the theme of the service. “Wonder” can be a noun and a verb. As a noun it means a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by … Continue reading Why the Wonder Box?

Spiritual practices come naturally to children. Spiritual practices are time-honored ways that people use to get closer to the sacred; to family, friends, and community; and to the world around them. They can teach children and adults about being present, enthusiasm, imagination, play, and wonder—to name just a few. Here are some ideas for how families can encourage our children’s spirituality. 1. Give thanks before you … Continue reading October’s Bringing it home: Encouraging Children’s Spirituality

Spiritual practices come naturally to children. Spiritual practices are time-honored ways that people use to get closer to the sacred; to family, friends, and community; and to the world around them. They can teach children and adults about being present, enthusiasm, imagination, play, and wonder—to name just a few. Here are some ideas for how families can encourage our children’s spirituality. 1. Give thanks before you … Continue reading October’s Bringing it home: Encouraging Children’s Spirituality

  The Wonder Box technique of storytelling was created by the Reverend Christina Leone-Tracy, senior minister of the Fox Valley UU Fellowship in Appleton, WI. This interactive way of sharing the story for all ages, integrates the message of the Wonder Box into the theme of the service. “Wonder” can be a noun and a … Continue reading Why the Wonder Box?

  I dragged myself to the early morning Theme Talk, even though it was the last day of a week at church camp and I was tired from staying up late singing with friends and dancing my fool head off. A panel of old-timers was talking about the early days of SUUSI—Southeastern UU Summer Institute, … Continue reading The Wisdom Tree by Meg Barnhouse

  Encouraging Children’s Spirituality Spiritual practices come naturally to children. Spiritual practices are time-honored ways that people use to get closer to the sacred; to family, friends, and community; and to the world around them. They can teach children and adults about being present, enthusiasm, imagination, play, and wonder—to name just a few. Here are … Continue reading October~Bringing it Home