Pre-K & K Heart Talk Empowers children to create peaceful relationships and value themselves and others. Helps children to use tools to experience more peace, love, and connection in their lives. Children will understand more about their feelings and know that all people share the same needs for safety, food, choice, respect, love, and more. Teaches with fun activities like stories, art, games, crafts, and songs. Teachers: Debbie Baumoel, Beth Painter, Mary Murphy.

First & Second Grade In Our Hands (Aug-Dec) Involves children in exploring their own knowledge and feelings about the issues of peace and justice. Helps children to learn about their own feelings and understanding about conflict and unfairness and to explore constructive ways of both resolving conflict and promoting peace and fairness in their personal relationships. Teachers: Tom Kibby, Sonya McGowin. (Jan-May, Heart Talk, see above)

Third, Fourth & Fifth Grade It Starts with Me! Designed to teach children about community service and the idea that one’s work, volunteer or otherwise, can be a form of creative expression of one's passions, talents and abilities. Enhances understanding of compassion and fosters the spirit of giving. Children learn about different forms of service and social activism with an emphasis on kindness, human rights, and environmental protection. Teachers: Steve Harvey, Melissa Cynova

Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Grade Heeding the Call: Qualities of a Social Justice Maker Explores linked oppressions in our society and encourages participants towards personal growth in values that counteract the marginalization of others. Workshops on empathy, courage, abundance, joy, and other qualities ask participants to recognize how these standards can be tools for justice. Additionally, the program includes more concrete tools, such as suggestions on how to be a good ally and tips on the language of conflict resolution. True stories of courage, sacrifice and collaboration, roleplays, games, and a program-long justice project will feed youth's rising realization that as people of faith we are all called to love justice - not just with our words, but also with our deeds. Teachers: Lauren Lyerla, Jim Beale.

(High School) Youth Youth Led RE, Youth Group, CON, and a Service Trip Our Youth will spend the year leading their own discussions in a covenant-group style for Youth Led RE Sundays. They will also enjoy several social events and community building on Youth Group Sundays. During the fall months the youth will be busy planning for the District Youth CON: "UnCONditional Love," that they are hosting at the Rockford UU Church in early November, and the remainder of the year they will be planning all aspects of their service trip to take place in early spring. Teachers: Chris Gamlin, Alice Stix

Joys & Concerns forms are located on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please remember to fill one out if you have something to share this week!

Children will wait in the hearth room at the close of worship in Children's Chapel for parent pick-up.  At the end of RE hour, children will wait in their classrooms (summer, in the Hearth Room) with their teachers until a parent or caregiver arrives to collect them.  Thank you for your help!