RE Voices March 2026

March 2026

Are we done with winter yet?  The month of March marks the Vernal Equinox, which is also known as the first day of spring, but rarely do we actually get sustained spring-like weather this early in the year.  If we’re really lucky, we’ll have some crocuses and maybe even daffodils.  Personally I am hoping that we get an early spring after all this snow, especially since the sooner the outdoor temperatures stay over 50 the less work our boiler at UUSGU will have to do to keep the building warm.  And it has been working hard (when it’s been working).  There will be a congregational meeting mid-month to talk about the boiler -- it is currently scheduled for March 15th and I will be offering childcare during the meeting in the Big Classroom downstairs so that parents can attend.

Our theme for March is equity.  Equity is something that has been getting derided in the current political environment for the past year, because it is part of the ‘scary’ acronym DEI that certain people seem to love to hate.  However, equity is also one of the UU Values that were adopted by the UUA two years ago, and, in my opinion, one of the really important ones.  Along with its companions in the acronym -- diversity and inclusion -- equity helps us build a beloved community that is open to everyone.  I think I get into more arguments on the internet about equity lately, than about any other topic.  And it was one of my growth edges for most of my young adulthood (although I did not know the term equity at that point).  I think that many people don’t fully understand what equity means and how being equitable helps everyone.  We like to talk about ‘fairness’, and sometimes practicing equity just does not feel fair to us. “Why does he get extra time on the test?  I don’t!  It’s not fair!”  It can be hard to explain -- although I’ve found it is actually harder to explain to people my own age than to children.  

If you were at service on February 15th at Apple Tree Arts, you heard my Time for All Ages about the Love Our Neighbors challenge.  We’ll be kicking that off on Sunday.  When you come in take a look at the RE bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall for the Love Our Neighbors posters and add ways that your family has shown love for each other, friends, family, neighbors, complete strangers, and etc. by writing about or drawing your loving actions on the appropriate poster.

Last Sunday in RE

After we decorated the wreaths at the beginning of Jazz Funeral, the children went downstairs for a lesson about the Roman god Janus, who could look both ways at the same time.  They practiced walking our balance beam both forwards and backwards and tried out tossing bean bags to a partner while standing back to back.  Even the smallest children got in on that activity.  Then they had the option of building a LEGO portal (Janus is also the god or doorways), drawing themselves as Janus seeing the past and the future, or doing a little physical activity and making an archway with their bodies.  Ask your children which activity they chose.

Coming up in March

Save the date for our next Family Game Night on March 15th.  Bring a family favorite game or bring one of your own!  We’ll take care of dinner, too.  This month’s dinner will be a taco bar.  We’ll have meat, vegetarian black beans, salsa, various vegetables, and both hard and soft taco shells.  As always, the food will be GF (except for the soft taco shells) and there will be non-dairy cheese and sour cream upon request.  Please RSVP by March 13th to give me time to shop for dinner.

Our Vernal Equinox spirited multi-gen service will be on March 22nd.  Here Comes the Sun will be my theme as I design the service.  We’ll turn the wheel of the year and plant a few seeds of wheat grass to take home.  And maybe a few seeds of equity as well.  I hope to see everyone there. 

Adults Needed in Childcare Room

We have two youth available to provide childcare for children 4 and under during service, but we can’t open the Little Lights childcare room without a CORIed adult to ‘supervise’ them.  If you would like to volunteer to staff the room one Sunday a month, please email me at re@uusgu.org and we can get your CORIed and trained.  I’d like for people who aren’t parents to take a turn at this so that parents can enjoy the service. 

RE Family Nature Walks?

I’m thinking ahead to some potential spring programing and I’d like to gauge interest on the possibility of having one or more Signs of Spring nature walks in early to mid-April.  We could do this on one of the Grafton Land Trust trails (most likely the Hasanammesit Woods) or we could meet at an Audubon property like Broadmeadow Brook and walk there.  Please let me know if you would be interested in participating.  The walk would most likely take place on a Saturday morning or Sunday after lunch.