Children and Youth religious education this fall
– Margaret Rogers, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
It’s hard to believe we have reached the end of summer. This back-to-school season has elements of familiarity but of course brings a lot of changes and new ways of doing things. I still bought my grid paper composition notebooks on sale in August, and they make me happy. Here at our home, we have moved furniture around to prepare for school that will take place in the living room and prepped supplies for each learning space. We will soon see if we guessed correctly about what will help make everything go smoothly. I am imagining all the ways that Northlake families are preparing for a new school year, what might be the same, what will be very different. Through all of it, I want you to know that you are not alone. We are thinking of you and we are here to help you navigate what’s coming.
Usually, we switch from summer programming to fall programming shortly after our Ingathering Water Communion service. This year, we will be holding steady on our Sunday morning and afternoon classes for children and youth, though we will take a short break from Wednesday storytimes after Water Communion (the last storytime for September will be September 9th). With so much changing, I want to give all of us time to settle into the new routines that this fall will bring. Later in September, I will be asking for feedback to make some choices for programming for Children’s Religious Education, and I would love to have you start thinking about what would fill your family’s needs. Would you be interested in receiving kits of materials to complement some Unitarian Universalist activities for exploring at home? Would you like virtual materials with ideas but no supplies? Would you like more opportunities for gathering virtually, the same amount, or fewer?
In mid-September I will be sending families a survey to ask these questions and fine tune our plans. Please take a moment to fill it out when you receive it. In the meantime, I am asking that families register for our Children’s and Youth Religious Education program so that we have updated records for everyone. You will see a couple of additional questions about the best ways to communicate with each of you, including a text reminder option.
On September 13th we will celebrate our Ingathering service, and we have a revised Backpack Blessing planned. If you plan to participate in the drive-through portion of the service, be sure to pick up your Blessing bag. Blessing bags will also be available for those not able to pick up on September 13th, so please be in touch to receive yours.
Sending you strength and courage for the journey ahead! Remember, we are here to support you and your family as you meet new challenges and experiences.
Our House of Belonging
–Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee, Minister
As we move into this new church year (which begins officially this Sunday!), we are going to emphasize the way our church can be a home for each of us. This is important to remember during a year where we won’t actually be in the building due to the pandemic.
Finally, as we enter the summer season next June, we will discuss how we enjoy the house we have built and that we live in.
Look for the theme of our house throughout the year as we will ask you to make flowers to decorate the garden, leaves to place on the tree, write on blue paper that will form a river that flows through the yard, etc.
Welcome to our house of belonging. You are part of this growing, nurturing, loving home!
Northlake’s Women’s Group 2020-21 schedule
– Carolyn H.
The Women’s Group is open to all members and friends of Northlake who identify as female. Member gatherings usually include a check-in and then discussion and sharing of experiences regarding a designated topic. Our goal is to help members become better acquainted with one another and to have a chance to share what is happening in our lives, in addition to discussing a topic of interest. When we get out from under pandemic restrictions, we will again schedule a variety of field trips around the community. Past trips have included the UW Arboretum, the Nordic Heritage Museum, the African American Museum and the Kirkland Holiday Home Tour.
New members are always welcome. We maintain our own e-mail list to facilitate communication among our members. If you would like further information, read about us on the website. Contact Carolyn H, if you have further questions or would like to be added to our e-mail list.
The NUUC Women’s Group, which meets via Zoom at 6:30pm most 4th Mondays, held a fruitful planning session in August. We set our schedule for the year with an abundant number of volunteer facilitators.
- September 30, 2020 – Kate C – Favorite outdoor places
- October 26, 2020 – Diane D – End of Life Transitions
- November 23, 2020 – Sue B – Favorite art sharing
- December 28, 2020 – Mary Ellen R – Impactful holidays
- January 25, 2021 – Dee O – More holiday stories
- February 22, 2021 – Joyce W – Picture Books
- March 22, 2021 – France G – Our Families
- April 26, 2021 – Melissa & Mariana – Poetry
In addition to selecting facilitators and discussion topics for the year, we filled vacancies on our Steering Committee:
Carolyn H, Melissa A, Kate C., Diane D., Mary Ellen R.
In addition, Kate C agreed to help us update our section of the church website, which can be accessed by this link: https://northlakeuu.org/groups/womens-group/
September’s board meeting
Board meetings are open to all NUUC members. If you have an issue you’d like to discuss or a request to make, please email Board President Ellie P. at [email protected] to ensure you are added to the agenda. Board meetings take place the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00pm, via Zoom.
Our next meeting will take place September 2nd. Contact Ellie to learn how to join via Zoom.
Read previous Board meeting minutes →
NUUC Climate Action Team book discussion
Please remember that the NUUC Climate Action Team will be sponsoring a series of three discussions on the UUA Common Read book Justice on Earth.
These discussions will offer us the opportunity to:
- Explore religious reasons for individual Unitarian Universalists and our faith movement to work at the intersections of race, class, and environmental justice issues.
- Challenge participants to act from their Unitarian Universalist values, beginning or deepening partnerships and learning to follow the lead of those who bear the brunt of environmental injustice.
- Prompt us to consider how we as a congregation can respond to climate justice issues.
The sessions will take place in September
- Wednesday, September 16 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm
- Wednesday, September 23 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm
- Wednesday, September 30 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm
While it would be best to participate in all three discussions, people may join one or two of the sessions.
We are suggesting that people read the first 4 chapters for the first session, the second 4 for the second and the final 4 for the third session.
We have books available, so if you would like to obtain a copy, please contact Diane F. at 425 822-5082.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact:
928-277-9845