As we wind down this church year, May brings us First Church traditions and transitions that celebrate our families, youth and children.
Religious Education Sunday service is on May 18 at 10:00 a. m. This year some of our beloved high school seniors present their “Senior Credo Statements” and will be honored. We have songs to sing, as well as children and youth’s accomplishments to recognize. Our RE Sunday Service will feature ceremonial recognition of certain groups, including 4-6th Grade OWL graduates, all the RE & OWL volunteers, and Kindergarten graduates.
I hope everyone will attend to recognize the contributions of so many during the joyful celebration of our 2024-25 Religious Education program! The children have also decorated some dazzling gifts of appreciation for all our volunteers, which will be distributed from the RE Table on behalf of the CRE team. This multigenerational service will be held at 10:00 a.m. only, followed by a potluck and then our First Church annual meeting at noon.
On May 26, the following Sunday and Memorial Day weekend, there will be no RE programming to offer our staff the time off on this holiday weekend.
I will take the first half of my sabbatical directly after RE Sunday, starting on May 20 through to August 1, 2025. The Children’s Religious Education Team and our core RE volunteers have taken the lead in covering most of the teaching roles in my absence. Fiona Higgins will be helping with directing summer RE sessions, as well as handling the administrative aspects of the program.
The summer is a good time to support our families by volunteering in RE. We could use a few more friendly folks to help out downstairs each Sunday!
I am grateful to serve a Unitarian Universalist faith and church that prioritizes self-care and wellness as a vital resource for ministry. Thank you for your prayers and patience in my absence. I am excited to rejoin you in our faithful goal to advance our values amid threats of fascism, and energized to support faith formation at First Church.
In gratitude,
Rev. Kimberlee
Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, Minister of Religious Education