Our April Soul Matters theme of joy is a joy in and of itself. Right now, it is providing me with the opportunity to wallow in the joy that our UUCM children, their grownups, and my beloved Family Ministry Team mates bring to my life. I will use the rest of this article simply to itemize a few of the joys that I routinely experience as I serve the families of UUCM.
Joy #1: As you likely are already aware, we currently serve a group of children ranging in age from 18 months to 10 years old. We run a version of the one room school house upstairs. Multi-age grouping of children often brings out the very best in those children lucky enough to experience it. I am filled with joy when I witness a 5-year-old boy stop what he is doing to assist a toddler with her activity, and then openly states “she is a baby and we need to help her.” Similarly, joy arises for me when I watch a ten year old girl spending much of her time upstairs cuddling and entertaining a toddler. Our older children frequently become nurturers because the younger children are with us. And our very youngest children watch the older children, following and copying them, thereby reaching beyond their current developmental levels in an effort to keep up. I have watched with amazement as children not yet three years old learn how to build our alter by watching their older, more experienced peers do so. The benefits of having an 8-year range in our children’s ages are on full display upstairs on Sunday mornings. Watching our children’s interactions play out in the various settings we have upstairs is a constant source of wonder, and yes joy, for me.
Joy #2: Gradually, the average number of children attending Kids’ Connection on Sunday mornings is increasing. A year ago, we were averaging 2.5 kids per Sunday, with some Sundays having no children in attendance . We are now averaging around 6 children each Sunday, with several Sundays of late having 8, 9, or even 10 children in attendance. I am filled with joy not only because our numbers are on the rise, but also because of why they are on the rise. Several of our long-time, core families have been encouraging their neighbors, friends, work colleagues and extended family members to bring their children to our Kids’ Connection program. I am so pleased that these long-time, core families have found the program to be of enough value that they would recommend it to others. And I am especially tickled by the instantaneous connections between the grownups that come along with this version of growth. More and more I see the grownups socializing together when they come upstairs to pick up their children. I am filled with joy to know that the program is special enough that our families want to share it with others.
Joy # 3: I want everybody at UUCM to know about the many joys of working with Lindsay, Linda, Corrie, Jenny, and Shannon. These women, who are central not only to Kids’ Connection but to UUCM generally, are the sort of people who make other people’s lives better, easier, and happier. You can count on them to show up, and to do so with warmth, enthusiasm, creativity, and competence. In January and February, I was sidelined on two separate Sundays when I was scheduled to be upstairs with the children. All I had to do was throw my dilemma out there in an email, and these women came up with a plan to cover for me, twice! I am actually having a hard time finding the words to adequately express the depth of my confidence in, respect for, and love of these women; they are the foundation of my UUCM life. I can only wish for you and your UUCM life the kind of joy that I have found in my connection with the members of my Family Ministry Team.
Let me just end by saying—if you would like to get yourself some of this Family Ministry joy that I have been describing in this article, please connect with me (Cheryl Spaulding) or Lindsay Dunckel. You can do so at FamilyMinistry@uugrassvalley.org or in person, upstairs or downstairs, whenever you see one or the other of us.