Invest in our youth and gain personal rewards by participating in our ever-important Religious Education Program this year. Welcome the littlest of Uu’s in our nursery with play and exploration. Get to know Unitarian Universalist ideas and values through stories, song, games and interactive lessons in the K-5 classes. Build community with middle and high school age youth through conversation and fun. All you need is a loving heart, a willingness to share our values and a desire to learn from each other to find an interesting niche for yourself. And you will have lots of support built in to make your part doable and fun. To Register as a volunteer in any capacity click here.
OPTIONS:
Be part of a team of lead teachers, assistants, and substitutes for the nursery, grades K-2, or 3-5, class that meets during the worship service;
Be part of a team of youth advisors to mentor middle and high school age activities, discussions, and service learning projects that meet after the worship service;
Be a parent volunteer be a safe second adult in the classroom to help as needed;
Be a Class Parent to welcome new families and help them connect with other parents and the congregation;
Be an RE greeter and staff the check in table at the start of each RE Sunday;
Be a liaison with a participating ministry team, (e.g. Grounds, Porchlight, Auction, Indigenous Connections, Welcoming Congregations, Giving Tree, etc.);
Be a Sex Ed Teacher with the Our Whole Lives program;
Help plan and implement seasonal events for families;
Care for young children in the nursery during congregational events;
Admin and Library weekday help;
And/Or, contact me for short, 1-3 hour opportunities!
SUPPORT for TEACHERS and FACILITATORS:
Amanda will provide a choice of two training sessions, one Sunday, September 6 from 12:30-2:30 PM and another Saturday, September 12 from 9:30-11:30 AM and ongoing coaching for those working with our children.
A separate team of other volunteers will assist Amanda to provide the needed lesson plans, activity guides, resources, and supplies.
Volunteer teams will set up their rotation and communication systems to ensure coverage and allow members to attend worship on a regular schedule.
The Children and Youth RE Ministry Team will encourage related ministry teams and other interested adults to participate in RE in their areas of expertise.
Please contact Amanda Uluhan, Director of Religious Education, at [email protected] or LeAnne Struble, RE Coordinator, at [email protected] with any questions you may have. Thank you, and I look forward to a dynamic and exciting year!
You are welcome to speak to the Religious Education Ministry Team members at any time. They are: Carrie Bowman, Adam Kennedy, Martin Cox, and Doug Strombom and can be reached at [email protected]
by Amanda Alice Uluhan, Director of Religious Education
I love the idea of spring cleaning—out with the old and in with the new. The season is changing from cold to warm, the days are getting longer as is the grass and oh! All the green!
During spring cleaning, we often envision the sun streaming through perfectly washed windows into an organized kitchen. The reality? I’m just happy to wipe the refrigerator shelves, dispose of whatever is lurking, and open the doors and windows for some extra oxygen and wind!
As I get older, I find “spiritual” spring cleaning is more needed for myself and my family. There’s still the joy of out with the old and in with the new, of breathing new air and life into the stale parts of our mind, body, and spirit. It means taking time to reflect and identify those behaviors and habits in me that don’t affirm the kind of person—or parent—I want to be.
This season, my spiritual “de-cluttering” is focused on ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts. An ANT is a negative thought that comes up as a reaction to a stressful moment. At home, we’ve been reading “Captain Snout and the Super Power Questions.” Just like the tiny pests that find their way into a kitchen the moment the weather warms up, ANTs crawl into our minds uninvited and make us mad, sad, worried, or upset. Left unchecked, these thoughts can wear us out, leave us feeling pretty bad, and completely get in the way of joy!
There’s a lot of different kinds of ants. Five common ANTs are the “All-Or-Nothing” ANT, the “Just-The-Bad” ANT, the Fortune Teller ANT, the Mind Reader ANT, and the Blaming ANT. Things like “I always mess up!” “No one ever helps me!” “This is the worst day ever!” “Things will turn out horrible” or “They’re all laughing at me” are the types of ANTs we’re looking out for.
Spiritual spring cleaning is about spotting these ANTs before they take over the house (our mind!). So, we are learning to observe our thoughts and start spotting them. When an ANT appears, we can pause and ask ourselves: Is this thought true? Is this 100% true?
This helps us learn mindfulness, patience, and positivity. This spring, if the windows stay a little dusty but our minds are a bit clearer of ANTs, we’ve done the most important cleaning of all.
May RE Programs
Seabeck UU Family Retreat (May 22-25): Sign up your family and ask about scholarships to help make it an easy financial lift! Help volunteer in the children’s program at the Seabeck Memorial Day Retreat. Contact the Children and Youth Program Director to help.
Kids Night In June 5: Drop off the kids at church for the night. We have dinner, games, and will be rehearsing for our Sunday Bridging service.
Annual Bridging and Blessing Service: Our annual service celebrates transitions from the youngest who are ready to shift from the nursery to RE classes through those finishing High School and entering young adulthood.
East Shore Summer Camp: Sign up for Week 1 (July 27) and Week 2 (August 3). Counselor roles available for grades 6–12. Sign up for ESUC Summer Camp at esuc.org/summer-camp/
Cascadia SUUmmer Con (August 16–20): Register rising 6th–12th graders. Full and partial scholarships are available from East Shore. Register for N-Sid-Sen SUUmmer Con pwr.uua.org/youth/cascadia-suummer-con and contact us directly for scholarship information.
Stay connected—Reach out to our staff to ensure you are on our email lists for enrolled youth.
Amanda Alice Uluhan, Director of Religious Education
At Easter time, we celebrate the life of Jesus and the way his spirit is still with us. Jesus was a beloved teacher whose teachings form the basis of the Christian religion, which is why many Unitarian Universalist congregations remember him. At other times, we celebrate other prophetic people whose wisdom has made the world a better place. I invite you to wonder with your kids: What can his spirit, words, or deeds teach us today?
What can we learn from the story of the life and death of Jesus Christ?
“The Life of Jesus: A long time ago, in a land far away” By Amanda Uluhan
A long time ago, in a land quite far from here, a bright star appeared in the eastern sky. In the small village of Bethlehem, a child was born to his loving and miraculous mother Mary and her husband Joseph. As a child, Jesus learned to be a carpenter. While not much is known about his early years, he had a sharp mind and a large heart, taking the religion of his people so seriously that it set him apart from his earliest days.
When he grew older, he started teaching about being a loving person, being kind, and helping those in need. Soon, whenever the crowds learned where he was, they followed him; those people were called his disciples. As the community grew, he taught that God’s kingdom was not a far-off dream, but something real within and around each of us to be worked for. He looked down on those who put money first and people second.
Jesus also taught about transformation—taking what seemed hopeless and transforming it into love and abundance. Whether it was five loaves of bread feeding five thousand people, or empty vats suddenly full of wine, his life was full of care. Jesus went to those cast out by society: people tormented by madness or suffering from diseases, bringing them back to the circle of love.
Once, Jesus found a house of worship that had become a market. He flipped the tables over, declaring that the needs of the community were greater than money and that the people needed a place to be healed.
Jesus and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. They entered on what we now call Palm Sunday. As the crowds grew, Jesus knew he was upsetting the people in power. He taught that God loved all children and that being loving was more important than being powerful. Both religious and state authorities felt threatened by his radical egalitarianism.
The night before he died, on Maundy Thursday, Jesus shared a Seder dinner with his community. Breaking the bread, he spoke deliberately: “I am working to create infinite justice, and I will never stop as long as I live.” He knew there was a price on his head, but refused to cave to threats, as that would mean losing his integrity.
“Just as this bread is broken so that the hungry may eat,” he said, “so my body will be broken because of my efforts toward the liberation of everyone marginalized and oppressed. Whenever you share bread, share in the work of my body. Work for justice and remember me.”
That same night, a friend betrayed him. The next day, when Jesus was only 33, the priests and bankers went to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and demanded his arrest and execution.
News spread that Jesus had been killed, and many were heartbroken. At sundown on Saturday, Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb to honor him with spices. When they arrived, they steeled themselves and stepped inside. But a body is not a person; they did not find Jesus there. While his body was placed in a cave, his spirit never needs to die. His followers began to talk about his teachings and the impact his life had on them.
— Amanda, Director of Religious Education
April RE Programs
April 5: Community Easter Egg Hunt – Join us Tuesday, March 31, for an Easter Egg packing party.
April 12: Fun with Puppets – A day of learning to express our emotions.
April 19: Earth Care – We will be spending time outside; please dress for the weather.
April 24-26: Youth Spring Con – A regional gathering for grades 8-12 in the Pacific Northwest. Register here.
Stay connected—Reach out to our staff to ensure you are on our email lists for enrolled youth.
I’ve been reading and ruminating on a new report from the Fuller Youth Institute — it’s called Gen Alpha and Faith. I want to share some of the highlights as I process them and ask for your thoughts, ideas, and feedback.
The first item that stood out to me regarded the use of the internet in faith development.
From the article:
1 in 4 say it’s mostly or totally true that “My faith has changed because of things I’ve learned or people I met online,” and 1 in 3 say they learn about faith or spiritual topics online more than in person.
I was surprised to see such a high number of youth exploring their faith in online spaces. In fact, later in the study it mentions that 50% of youth are most comfortable practicing their faith alone or at home with family.
What spaces are YOU using to learn about faith online? Do you use social media to explore your faith? How do you practice your faith as a family at home?
Please share your answers! I’d love to create a resource for parents with lots of ideas and suggestions
March RE Programs
March 1 –Purim Play
K–2 OWL continues with Workshop 6: Pregnancy and Birth (10:30–11:45 AM). All other grades attend our Purim Worship Celebration!
March 8 – OWL Session 1 & Ramadan Learning
K–2 OWL continues with Workshop 7: Babies. All other classes learn about the traditions and significance of Ramadan. Our Grades 7–9 OWL program officially begins with Workshop 1: What Is Sexuality? (1:00–3:00 PM).
March 15 – K–2 OWL Celebration
K–2 OWL holds its final session, Workshop 8: Celebration (Parent/Child). Grades 7–9 OWL continues with Workshop 2: Values and Sexual Language (1:00–3:00 PM). Youth in Grades 8–12 will begin preparations and registration for the upcoming Spring Con in April.
March 21 – ESUC Auction 2026 (Saturday)
Join us for “Grateful Hearts, Abundant Bids” from 5:00–8:00 PM. While adults attend the sanctuary event, kids (through 5th grade) have a movie night in Spring Hall. Teens (6th grade+) serve as “Wait Staff” to earn community service hours and raise funds for youth programming!
March 22 – Regular RE Classes
Grades 7–9 OWL meets for Workshop 3: Anatomy and Physiology (1:00–3:00 PM). Other classes continue their learning units, and our high schoolers will have a dedicated check-in for Spring Con logistics.
March 28–29 – OWL Overnight
Grades 7–9 participate in a highlight of the program: a pizza party and overnight session at ESUC. The session runs from Saturday at 4:00 PM to Sunday at 11:30 AM, covering Workshops 4, 5, & 6 (Puberty, Gender Identity, and Orientation).
Stay connected—middle school and high school advisors continue to send emails directly to parents of enrolled youth. You can also reach out to our staff to make sure you are on the correct lists.
by Amanda Alice Uluhan, Director of Religious Education
That’s a distinction Unitarian Universalism has offered the world over and over: love is something we do, not something we wait for. It’s built through action, through care, through choosing to believe that what we do today matters tomorrow.
At East Shore Unitarian Church, we see love every time a child exclaims at observing a candle’s dancing flame, every time a family gathers in worship, every time a volunteer says “yes” to helping young people build a relationship with their inner world.
Two years ago, our faith made a conscious decision to name love as the value that holds all our whole faith together, holds all of us together. Not because the world is easy right now—but because it isn’t. Love reminds us why we invest in children, why we protect nature, why we keep showing up for community and for each other.
I can say with confidence: love is alive and well—carried in the singing voices, curious questions, holding hands, shared laughter, and the steady belief that nurturing love today shapes a more compassionate, more resilient tomorrow.
With gratitude for all the ways you practice love with us,
Amanda
February RE Programs
February 1 – Whole Church RE
We continue our all-ages program focusing on gender, sexuality, and allyship as we work together on the Progress Flag Mosaic. Adults can add their contributions during Coffee Hour.
February 8 – Winter Con at Quimper UU (Grades 8–12)
Middle and high school youth (8th–12th grade) travel to Port Townsend for Winter Con, Friday through Sunday. Younger children and elementary classes have a regular RE Sunday on campus and explore the traditions of Mardi Gras.
February 15 – Family Sunday
Celebrate Mardi Gras with our annual shoebox parade. All children are welcome to participate fully in worship on this Family Sunday. Worship bags and rug spaces will be available. Regular Religious Education classes do not take place on Family Sundays.
February 22 – Regular RE Classes
All programs meet. K–2 OWL continues, and other classes explore age-appropriate discussions of fairness, moral choices, and courage.
Stay connected—middle school and high school advisors continue to send emails directly to parents of enrolled youth. You can also reach out to our staff to make sure you are on the correct lists.
Art & Community Summer Camp 2026 invites children into a collaborative space centered on art, nature, and creativity. Summer is a time to play, imagine, build, and be together—and this camp offers space for children to grow in a supportive environment. Campers work on individual and shared projects and spend time together building friendships. We try out new ideas and learn from one another through a variety of activities, both in the classroom and outdoors. Families may register for both back-to-back weeks or choose just one week.
Week 1: Building a New World: July 27–31, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
This week is all about imagining and building together. Campers will create a new world using LEGO, cardboard, birdhouses, fabric, recycled materials, and other open-ended supplies. We’ll build, problem-solve, tell stories, and work collaboratively as we think about earth systems, how communities are made, and what we need to thrive.
Week 2: Around the World in 8 Desserts: August 3–7, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Campers explore desserts and sweet traditions from different cultures. We’ll spend time in the kitchen learning basic cooking skills, food safety, and where ingredients come from, while making and sharing desserts along the way. We’ll also take a field trip to the Mercer Slough blueberry farm to pick blueberries together.
Who Can Attend
Campers: Children entering grades K–6 in Fall 2026
Counselors in Training (CITs): Youth entering grades 6–7 in Fall 2026
Teen Camp Counselors: Teens entering grades 8–12 in Fall 2026
Cost
Campers (Grades K–6): $300 per week
CITs & Teen Camp Counselors (Grades 6–12): $40 per week
Scholarships and tuition discounts or waivers are available. No one will be turned away for financial reasons.
Camp Counselor Training (Required for CITs and Teen Counselors): July 20–21, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Youth entering grades 6–12 who wish to serve as Counselors in Training or Teen Camp Counselors must attend this mandatory two-day training. Training focuses on working with younger campers, safety and supervision, leadership skills, and how to help create a camp environment that is fun, inclusive, and supportive. Teens who are unable to attend the training may participate in camp as campers.
