So much goodness is happening with our UU Asheville youth — and spoiler alert, YOU get to be a part of it too! Read about some of the special things our high schoolers are doing together and check out the information about the upcoming *Big Event* and YRUU worship service below too. We hope you’ll reserve some time for the fun and meaningful ways our youth serve this community! 

Rose, bud, thorn. Do you know that check in practice? A common one in youth programming, it’s a way of sharing with the group something good, something prickly, and something ready to bloom in your life. My check in is about our high school teens at UU Asheville.

Rose: My heart is glowing after a full day and eve of winter retreat happenings for both of our youth groups this past Saturday.

The Coming of Agers defined UUism in Madlib form and in UU elevator speeches as an introduction to credo formation; completed a fun, mission-based scavenger hunt; tuned in to their inner selves in a labyrinth walk; and bonded with their mentors and peers – all as rich ways to grow in community and to explore their values, beliefs, and UU faith.

Our YRUU (Young Religious UU) youth group had a full day and evening too! They volunteered at First Presbyterian’s Saturday Sanctuary, dug into YRUU worship planning work, and also walked the labyrinth as a new spiritual practice.

Both groups had playful and spirited blended time together in the evening with games; conversation & competition; campfire & s’mores; and some older teens sharing pearls of wisdom with younger youth. It was truly a beautiful (double!) retreat and heartwarming to witness the growing bonds and support they freely give one another. 

Our UU Asheville teens are inspiring, playful, mature, funny, willing and helpful, spirited, serious… they are beautiful humans, and we are fortunate to have them in our community! We hope you will honor them and attend the upcoming winter and spring happenings involving our children & youth.

Buds: Upcoming events — all are invited and encouraged to attend! 

You’re invited to the Big Event! Get your tickets this week for an evening of dinner and entertainment on Saturday, January 24 at 5:30pm in Sandburg Hall. Get ready for a family-friendly evening of ENTERTAINMENT, TRIVIA, BAKED ZITI, and COMMUNITY, hosted by our youth families. They’ve assured us it will be fun! Tickets are sliding scale with suggested donation: adults $15-20, children $7-10, and family tickets are $40-50. Click here to purchase tickets in advance or buy them at the table in Sandburg Hall this Sunday. If you want child care for your littles under 8, contact Kimberly Mason ASAP at masonfab5@gmail.com. Funds raised will support the summer youth work trip to West Virginia. 

Save the date for the annual YRUU-led worship on Sunday, February 22. We hope you’ll join us for that special service!

As well as the…

• Faith Formation worship service: March 22.
• Coming of Age credo service: May 17. 

We are deeply grateful for the good UU adult guides who work with our youth! This year’s YRUU advisors: Jim Gamble, Margaret McAlister, Emily Pegram, Connie Silver, CoA facilitators: Allison Hardesty, Brett Johnson, Langdon Martin, Kelly Wedell. CoA mentors: Nancy Bragg, Allen Currens, Iris Hardin, Patrick Hester, Lisa Horak, Mike Horak, Tom House, Steve Lapointe, Sharon LeDuc, and Matt Reynolds. Thanks also to recent spiritual practice activity leaders: Joanne Fox, Gini Jones, and Fredda Mangel. Our youth programs thrive because of their dedicated and skilled time and energy.

Oh, and the thorn? A few youth couldn’t attend the retreat due to wrestling tourney, play performance, sickness, end of semester tests or missing the memo. That will happen but still a bummer they couldn’t be there and the group missed them. 

Thanks so much,

Jen Johnson