Boy, do I have the best job ever! I got to spend a big chunk of this past Sunday hanging out—IN PERSON—with our Senior Youth, and then later in the day with the 6/7/8 March class! To say it felt good to see these folx in person would be a major understatement!

Everybody met in the backyard of Waters House and, while it was certainly roasty toasty (especially with the Youth meeting at noon!), we had blue skies and sunshine—we’ll take it! Everybody came masked, most with folding chairs—those who didn’t have one used a UUSS plastic folding chair, and we all did a pretty good job of maintaining social distance. Not perfect, but darn good. Also, who is that young person sitting on the patio with that awesome long brown hair? As I step onto the patio, I hear them say, “Hey, Robin.” Hmm, I don’t recognize that deep voice, and their hair is blocking their eyes. Of course, he IS wearing a mask. I am greatly relieved when he pulls his mask back super quickly, just long enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face and for it to finally register. I know this kid!! Those masks—AND the last 15 months or so—have done too good a job of disguising just who everybody is! But he was under there, andwe were all together, in person…

The Youth met in the shade of the midday sun. While the shade didn’t do a whole lot to cool us, we did our check-in and ended up engaging in some inspiring, interesting, informal conversations. Then we blinked and it was time to leave. Already.

The 6/7/8 March Children even managed to have a bubble bonanza during our time together, all while remaining masked. Imagine, if you will… It’s early Sunday evening, it’s cooling down just a little bit, and there’s great energy and excitement in the air as parents drop their kids off at Waters House. The kids unfold their chairs and form a large circle around a chalice in the backyard. All 3 of their terrific teachers and the DLRE (Director of Lifespan Religious Education) are present too. We do a thoughtful check-in and an impromptu assessment of the March books, which they’ve spent this past year reading and discussing. The March books are a graphic novel trilogy written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, which tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of John Lewis, a (now deceased) civil rights leader and US congressman. The teachers have distributed bubble tubes to everyone, as well as squirt guns and Frisbees (Sorry about some of those wet kids!). We start off with the bubbles. Hundreds, probably thousands, of them. Terrific Teacher Kay Schlembach tells us that she’s recently observed bubbles bouncing on water, so we all head over to the fence that lines the creek that runs alongside Waters House, and using a myriad of techniques, we fling and flail our bubble wands every which way, and the bubbles go up, down, and all around. Some even did, in fact, bounce on the water! I couldn’t ask for a more delightful way to spend an evening!

Religious Education Classes:

K/1/2 MORAL TALES had their final meeting of this church year this past Sunday. A big THANK YOU to terrific teachers Joel Best, Sarah Tyo, and Dyana Warnock, along with all the K/1/2 Children, for working their way through these extraordinary times, sharing learnings, and showing up for each other.

3/4/5 CARTUUNS will meet online for their final class on Sunday, 6/13/21, at 9:30. They’ll be meeting with terrific teachers John Cornett, Ed Kautz, and Alexandria Onderdonk-Milne. A big THANK YOU to these teachers and to this group of awesome Children! They’ve spent the year enjoying interesting and fun video shorts as well as lively discussions. And maybe a few technical glitches, but that’s been par for the course during these Zoom-heavy days of COVID. Luckily, they’re all super patient and very good sports!

6/7/8 MARCH had their final class of this church year this past Sunday. A big THANK YOU to terrific teachers Morgan Myatt, Kay Schlembach, and Mark Vermilyea–and to this fabulous group of kids–for showing up in Zoom land at 7 pm on Sunday nights, to discuss the topic of Civil Rights and racism. Heavy stuff. Luckily, they did manage to get in a little bit of fun along the way too. Keep an eye on these kids—they WILL make a difference!

SENIOR YOUTH (grades 9-12) will be attending the online service this Sunday, 6/13, to participate in or support their peers in the bridging ceremony! You’ll find the link near the top of today’s Circuits. The Youth have expressed a desire to continue meeting on Sundays for the time being as we head into the summer. Where/how we’ll meet is yet to be determined. Watch in Circuits for more info. A big THANK YOU to my outstanding co-advisors Mark Hyland and Aaron Tyo and to our amazing Youth!

Please remember to wear a mask, socially distance, take time outside, and wash your hands!

-Robin Ahearn, Director of Lifespan Religious Education