Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of Lafayette
Greetings fellow UUs and supporters!
We are meeting IN PERSON
and on Zoom until further notice.
Our theme for July is Play.
Playing is important for both children
and adults. It can help build a bond
between adults and children that lasts
forever and lets the child know they are
loved and appreciated. Joining children
in their play can increase their
vocabulary and advance their brain
development, setting them up for
academic success. It also provides
opportunities for adults to support
children in mastering new skills and to
praise good behavior, reducing behavior
problems. Play can also teach children
problem-solving and emotion regulation
skills, which are foundational for
success in various areas of life. Adults
can benefit from play as well, as it can
increase social well-being and intimacy
in relationships, relieve stress, and have
a positive impact on mental health 1, 2, 3, 4,
5.
—
Sunday, July 30th: Where The
Watermelons Grow
In this sermon, Rev. Loadman-Copeland
uses the classic children's song "Down
By the Bay" to reflect on how the
imaginative playfulness of summer
allows us to go deeper into life rather
than just faster. He explores symbols of
summer like watermelon and
distinguishes between finite games with
winners and losers versus infinite
games where the goal is simply to keep
playing joyfully. Loadman-Copeland
asserts that life should be lived as an
infinite game and that summer provides
a metaphorical playground to embrace
play as spiritual practice and
transcendence. He reflects on childhood
summers characterized by their depth
rather than just duration and calls on
adults to recapture the spirit of play. The
sermon's message is appreciating
summer as an opportunity for
imagination, transcendence, and depth
through playfulness.
Please visit us either in person at 1119
Johnston St. or on Zoom:
tinyurl.com/zoomuufol or via the link at
uulala.org. We now have Religious
Education for pre-teen children. We visit
with coffee and snacks from 10:30-11
am. The service runs from 11 am until
12 noon. After the service we will lunch
at Zeus at 4100 Johnson St.
(Mediterranean food.) Free lunch
coupons available on the Chalice Table.
Everyone is invited!
Service slides Sermon video
Service Outline Facebook event
—
(Last) Sunday, July 23rd: An
Evangelical Christian and a Unitarian
Universalist on a Plane
Rev. Tandi Rogers, a growth strategist
for the UUA, was on a plane back to
Seattle after attending a conference.
She sat next to two men who were
fundamental Christian evangelicals. The
men talked about their experiences at
the conference and their plans to plant
new churches. She listened in and took
notes on what they said. After a while,
she introduced herself and told the men
that she was a Unitarian Universalist
minister and explained that Unitarian
Universalists believe in many different
things, but they all share a commitment
to love and compassion. She also talked
about her own journey as a bisexual
woman who found acceptance and
community in the Unitarian Universalist
church. The men were moved by the
author's story and they began to talk
about their own struggles with faith. By
the end of the flight, the author and the
two men had formed a connection, had
shared their stories and listened to each
other with respect. They found common
ground in their shared commitment to
love and compassion. Rev. Rogers was
grateful for the opportunity to connect
with the two men.
Service slides Sermon video
Service Outline Recorded Live Stream
—
Useful Links:
Past services slides & Recorded live
streams
Our Fellowship photo album
—
Please sign the 2023 Membership Book
on the table at the church entrance.
Thanks!
Scott Ferguson and Shouka attended
the LA-AID Vigil Monday evening to
remember immigrants who died in
detention and to support those who are
still detained.
(photo by Shouka)
—
—
Touchstones Journal for July:
Email: uulalafellowship@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/uufol
You Tube: youtube.com/@uufol
—
Source: Conversation with Bing, 6/28/2023
(1) Playing With Your Child - Child Development
Institute.
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/pla
y-work-of-children/pl5/.
(2) Play | Psychology Today.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/play.
(3) The Importance of Play for Adults - Psych Central.
https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-importance-of-play-for
-adults.
(4) The Benefits of Play for Adults - HelpGuide.org.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/benefit
s-of-play-for-adults.htm.
(5) Importance of play for kids and adults, according to
science | CNN.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/19/health/play-fun-adult-
mental-health-wellness/index.html.
—
END
