"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."
Psalms 127:3
Welcome to YouthEd News!
Our YouthEd News provides families with up to date information on our Youth & Family Ministry program, as well as additional resources to support spiritual growth.
Each post will include a note from your YFM Director, current and upcoming YouthEd happenings, a “Kids Corner” with fun activities, and a “For Parents” section with information and resources to further support you and your family.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Youth & Family Ministry Director at youthed@unityofmadison.org.
Thank you to all of our Youth Ed volunteers! Volunteers like you are the reason why our program can exist.
This week I’d like to give a shout out to one of my regular volunteers, Kay.
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When I first met Kay, I knew we were going to be friends. We immediately connected over hummingbird tattoos, Peruvian adventures, energy work and shamanism. Like me, Kay also loves embracing her inner child in class, which makes our time with the kids fun, playful and silly- all things that make my heart sing!
Kay is passionate about helping Mother Earth through using less plastic, shopping second hand as much as possible, and saving things from the landfill by donating and re-homing usable items, as well as reusing single use items like veggie bags, cardboard, etc.
Kay also tutors kids with dyslexia, and is committed to financially supporting Moses, Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity.
Moses’ mission is to ”build collective power to dismantle the systems of mass incarceration and mass supervision and to eradicate the racial disparities in our community that contribute to them.” Learn more here https://mosesmadison.org/
Thank you, Kay, for all that you do for Unity, our kiddos, our greater Madison community, AND the planet!
WANNA LEARN ABOUT YOUTH ED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?
Seeking Volunteers (super easy & fun, I promise!)
Facilitating the spiritual kids circle on Sunday mornings has been fulfilling beyond what I could have imagined. Thank you to everyone on the Unity board and congregation for allowing me the honor to do this important work.
For the wellbeing of all, we need 2 adults in the classroom for all Sunday services.
Here are some options:
1) You can simply show up and follow my lead for our class (it's about 1-1.5 hours per time)
2) We can co-plan your volunteer day to share something you're passionate about
3) You can lead or share, and I will follow your lead
Activity ideas off the top of my head:
- Crafty things
- Anything with movement, instruments
- Play
- Outdoor activities
- Storytelling
So far our activities have centered around things like gratitude, self love, empowerment, kindness, showing love to Mother Earth, kindness, community building, supporting each other, etc.
Since Unity's principles are so universal, we can easily weave in most volunteer ideas while staying in alignment with Unity's principles.
Please contact me at jessica.riphenburg@gmail.com if you’d like to talk about volunteering!
A Note from Our YFM Director
At this time, a one-room schoolhouse is being provided focused on preK to elementary aged programming.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: YouthEd is looking for teaching assistants for our 10am program. If you would like to serve our wonderful children and their families, while growing spiritually, please contact the Youth & Family Ministry Director at youthed@unityofmadison.org. We would love to have you!
Kids Corner
Prayer connects us to the God within.
Jesus taught us how to pray by going apart, to a quiet place, where we can talk with God.
Here is a wonderful video of young person explaining the power of prayer as Jesus taught it: Celebrate Wonder - The Lord's Prayer.
For Parents
As we enter our third year of the pandemic, families and their children continue to need support to weather this Covid storm. From the HeartMath Institute, here is a 30-minute podcast episode that offers some sound and sage advice for all those caring for children during this challenging time. Tune in: Helping Children Manage Pandemic Stress and Anxiety.
SILENT UNITY MEDITATIONS: Being parents, in addition to other various responsibilities you shoulder, can be a lot, even on a good day! A few minutes of meditation is not only a great way to take care of yourself, but also models mindfulness and self-care for your children and familes. Silent Unity offers a variety of meditations on different topics that nourish the mind-body-spirit. Check them out here: Silent Unity Meditations.
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs.”
Matthew 19:14