We invite you to join us at Unity Center of Peace on Sundays at 11:00am with your younger family members. While you enjoy our Celebration Service in the sanctuary, they will benefit from participating in our robust, loving, nurturing curriculum for children and youth. All programs are age-appropriate and are led by our carefully selected, and fully background checked, Spiritual Education staff members.
Our YFM rooms are in the upstairs part of the building and Sunday School resides from 11am-12:10pm. Please be sure to sign your child in using the clipboard on the door. Near the end of service, the children will be brought downstairs by the Youth Ed teacher to give a brief announcement about what they did and what they learned and to receive a special UCP blessing by the minister and congretation. We currently do not have a program for teens (Y.O.U). Teens are encouraged to sit in the Sunday Service with their parents at this time.
We envision young people growing up with a clear grasp of their spiritual nature and power, living from their ability to make a difference in the world, to express love, to choose kindness, to relate authentically, and to model spiritual values.
For more about our Youth Education Director (YED), Shannon Preto, see the page: Minister, Board Members, and Staff
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Contact Email: shannon.p@unitychapelhill.org
Learn more about the Persimmon" Fundraiser Here!
Sunday, November 8
This past Sunday we talked about how to loosen our grip on the thoughts and actions we either deem too precious to let go of or the thoughts and "pushes" that keep us down. We created hand puppets that easily curl our fingers into a fist, but require prayer and positive affirmations to open our fingers one-by-one; see picture. It was both a challenging and empowering craft and thought experiment.
This coming Sunday, we'll go on our semi-annual "Treasures Hunt", where the children will seek and find white river stones with one of the 12 Powers written on them. But unlike Easter egg hunts, we'll walk the children through a process of letting go so that they only select the Powers that speak to them more resoundingly. Additionally, we'll also suggest to the children to give away a few of the other Powers to those who might need some of their Power. We'll also build more of these hand puppets for those children who missed this past Sunday.
Join us and let's explore the Process/Power of Release.
Sunday, November 1
On Sunday, we started our exploration of the Power of Release, which is the power to let go, relief, free(dom), unleash, liberate, loosen, deliver, ease, discharge, absolve, clear out, launch, sacrifice, and forgive. It is a lesson that is very important and needs to be practiced again, again, again, and then to let go of that expectation of that practicing. The children were told the story of Noah's Arc. Near the end of the story Noah releases a dove three times to determine if the great flooding has subsided. He releases the dove with the faith that it will come back. On the third time, the dove does return with an olive branch. The children made paper plate doves as symbols of what they would release in Faith and as an offering of forgiveness to someone who has harmed them. They released a second dove to symbolize what they release in ?Love about a feeling or a thought they may be in alignment with their next higher self.
Next Sunday, the YFM class will "hold lightly" that which they cherish, and then metaphorically Release it as an act of sacrifice for another. Releasing what they cherish is a holy act of prayerful giving. How can we Release our most powerful self so that those who suffer can experience a sense of joy and Christ like Love.
We invite you to join us and experience Release, Light, and Love.
YFM October Focus:
In October, looked at ways to feel and express our Power of Zeal to our Divine Nature - outside and inside our body/mind, to God, and to one another. It will be this Power of Zeal that will bring us closer in times of trouble or darkness. It will be the large and small joys that create ritual within our mealtimes or time for bonding. It will be the aligning of internal feelings and external expressions of Excitement, Joy, and Enthusiasm that will reinvigorate our wholeness.
September – Power of Order
We explored the Power of Order through the intentional use of space in our relationships, homes, sacred spaces, and within ourselves. The children learned about personal boundaries and proxemics, explored feng shui and positive energy flow, and discovered how organizing our inner and outer spaces can foster well-being, connection, and a deeper experience of the Divine.
August – Power of Will
We introduced the Power of Will through the concepts of choice, commitment, and willingness. The children explored how the Powers of Release, Understanding, Love, Life, and Faith support our everyday choices and began a creative flower project, adding petals representing the spiritual Powers and affirmations that help us grow
July – Power of Understanding
We explored the Power of Understanding through curiosity, empathy, and self-awareness. Using creative collage, the children reflected on Unity’s 5 Principles, explored the Jackal and Giraffe metaphors from Nonviolent Communication, and considered how curiosity, compassion, and Love can help us navigate misunderstandings and deepen our connections with others.
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