John Munger
Christina, Brian and I were deeply gratified by the congregational response to our request for support for volunteers for the Summer Session and for the coming RE year.  So as each of you are planning your summer activities out, I want to ask you to keep some dates in mind.  We need the congregation and all RE families and all RE kids to put this date on their calendars:  July 27^th!  On this Sunday, we intend to hold a free pancake breakfast and outreach service for the neighborhood from 8:30 to 11:00.  We need cooks, servers, setup, cleanup, the whole nine yards!  It will be a blast!  We have heard that there are plenty of willing arms and legs, now we just need to see it get better organized and see it through to completion.  As I mentioned those last words, I realized that they were mostly directed at me!  If there was a particular failing of mine this last year it was that I failed to communicate both early and often!  I hope that those of you that indicated a willingness to help with Summer Session events won't mind me contacting you by phone or email.  We can only move forward with your help.  Tentatively, we plan to call July 27^th Sam Cook Sunday!  Any and all ideas are welcome, especially if they are attached to willing arms and legs!  And don't forget the TUC Block Party on August 23rd.

Also over the summer Christina, Brian and I hope to firm up plans for the coming RE year with your help and input.  Working with our kids is the most fun you can have on Sunday!  RE is the place to be at 10:00 and 11:00!  Next year we need someone to help with toddlers at the 11:00 hour.  We also need a group of three volunteers to accept the opportunity to teach one group of kids during the entire church year.  These volunteers would be able to work together to shape curriculum and then take turns teaching.

If you are already deeply involved with TUC ministries, don't think you have to do more!  But I sure hope that you will strongly encourage others to sign up to participate.  Our goal is to make the TUC volunteering pie bigger!  Studies show that well-run RE programs have a tremendous impact on the decision of visitors to regularly attend a new church.

Finally, just one last thought.  Years ago, I took a lot of pleasure reading the columns of Sydney J. Harris, the Chicago Sun-Times columnist and the author of Things I Learned En Route To Looking Up Other Things.  As he researched he would discover interesting "stuff" that was unrelated to his primary task, and he would collect this "stuff" and later write about it.  Life for our kids at TUC is kind of like this too.  My goal for every RE activity is both the event itself as well as all of the little things that creep in around the edges when the kids aren't looking.  While working on a breakfast, our kids might get to know someone in the congregation better.  And then later on, maybe it isn't so hard to ask a question of them or join them during service.  All along the way, who we are as UU's seeps into the consciousness of our kids.  As I reflect back on my childhood, I can't say I remember a single sermon. But I do joyfully remember all sorts of events that took place. 

Let's make some memories for our kids!  I hope to see you all during our Summer Session!