Announcements – Page 268 – All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana

Introducing BOLTS (Bearers of Light and Tradition) — 17 August 2013

BOLTS (Bearers of Light and Tradition) training for children and youth will happen on Saturday (17 August 2013) at 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Because our worship services will involve our entire multi-generational community each week, we will be seeking to involve more of our children and youth in the worship experience, in ways befitting their ages, abilities and interests. To that end, we plan to offer a training this Saturday that will cover these various ceremonial tasks of worship:

Lighting candles for the Principles and Sources
Lighting the chalice
Speaking into the microphone /reading the chalice words and other readings, reciting the Principles and Sources
Taking the offering (Serving with our adult ushers)
Passing out Orders of Service / Greeting our members and guests (Serving with our adult greeters)

Parents — please encourage your children and youth to take part in this session. They will need to take the training before they can participate in the service in these ways. We would like to make our worship services as much of a community experience as possible. If they are interested in the training but cannot make this session, don’t worry, we will do it again.

Religious Education Teacher Training — 17 August 2013

Please join us on Saturday (17 August 2013) from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM for “Religious Education for Children and Youth: Teacher Training.”

Please call/text Susan Caldwell at 318-465-3427 or email her if you want to sign up — also let her know if you will need child care.

If you’re not sure about teaching, attending the training is a good way to find out what’s involved.

Training Includes:

An overview of our curriculum, the philosophy behind it and tips on how to use it
Information on upcoming changes in RE and Worship
A “Supply Scavenger Hunt” to help you find things in the building
Tips on classroom management
An exploration of the spiritual development of children
Helpful information and interactive activities to illustrate multiple intelligences and learning styles, and a chance to find out your own!
A big pack of resources to reinforce what you learn, and to keep for later reference.
An overview of our Safety Policy and a presentation by Chris Chandler on developing our awareness of potential abuse situations in the lives of our children and youth.

11 August 2013 Worship Service and Swim Party

Please join us this Sunday (11 August 2013) at 11:00 AM for “The Deep End,” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell. This is our annual Water Communion Service. The All Souls Choir will sing and the Children and Youth will remain in the sanctuary to take part in the service.

Water communion is an end-of-summer tradition for us and many other Unitarian Universalist congregations. We reunite bringing real and symbolic water from our experiences of the summer — whether far way, in our own backyards, or within our own hearts. We are welcome, as we are so moved, to mingle our water into a common bowl with that of previous water ceremonies, and to share our stories. We then boil, filter and freeze a portion of this combined water for use in child dedications, future water communions and other ceremonial occasions of our community.

Join us afterward for yet another water celebration, our annual Swim Party at the home of Laurie Lyons and Henry Walker (441 Drexel Drive, Shreveport LA) after the service until 3:00 PM.

Continue reading “11 August 2013 Worship Service and Swim Party”

10 August 2013 Building and Grounds Work Day and Religious Education Classroom Clean-up

On Saturday (10 August 2013) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, we will have our monthly building and grounds work day.

In the heat of August, this is a mostly an inside work day. We will wash windows (inside and out), polish and wax the pulpit, altar table, pew ends and backs.

We will also clean out, purge and organize our Religious Education classrooms in preparation for the new church year. Lots of tasks for all ages and abilities, so many hands will make much lighter work!

4 August 2013 Worship Service

Please join us on Sunday (4 August 2013) at 11:00 AM for “We Are the Ones — Our Unitarian Universalist Heroes: The Men” featuring dramatic portrayals of Michael Servetus, Francis David, and Rev. James Reeb.

We will have a visit from three of our Unitarian Universalist heroes — two of our 16th Century Unitarian forebears who died for their heresies and one 20th Century Unitarian Universalist who answered Dr King’s call to Selma and ultimately gave his life. Don’t miss the chance to meet these men who have stepped out of our history to share their stories.

Food Drive Continues: The children and youth are conducting a short-term food drive for the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank during the month of August. You can bring your contributions of canned and packaged foods to the Social Hall.

Coming 25 August 2013 — “Our Unitarian Universalist Heroes: The Women.”

Pam Carlisle — July 2013 Volunteer of the Month

As a dedicated member of All Souls, Pam contributes her time to Buildings and Grounds work days, teaching and serving as a last-minute substitute teacher in our Religious Education classes, singing in the All Souls Choir, and serving as a worship associate.

Effective 18 August 2013 — New Sunday Worship and Religious Education Schedule

Starting 18 August 2013, the Sunday schedule will be a full hour of Religious Education classes for children, youth, and adults (9:00 – 10:00 AM) with a half-hour break before we have our Sunday Worship (10:30 – 11:30 AM).

The Sunday Worship will be for all ages together in the sanctuary every Sunday. We will still offer nursery care for all children under the age of 7 during the Sunday Worship. The Religious Education classes for children and youth will cover the pre-school through high school age ranges — infants and toddlers will have nursery care during the Religious Education class time.

26-27 July 2013 Yard Sale — Church Playground Fundraiser

On 26 and 27 July 2013 starting at 7:00 AM, we will be having a Garage Sale (145 Ockley Drive, Shreveport LA). Proceeds will benefit OPA (Operation Playground Awesome).

To arrange for drop-off or for more information, email Robin or Jason Drury or call them at 318-564-7624. Donate only clean, working items and children’s clothing in good conditions.

No adult clothing please — If you have adult clothing to donate, drop by the church office for some Goodwill bags to hold your donations for Goodwill.