Murray Church Religious Education

Postsession - 2011

2011-07-26T12:08:00.021-04:00

Youth Sunday - May 22, 2011

2011-05-22T19:52:00.032-04:00

Thank you to our Youth Sunday Photographers, Mike and Dawn Casstevens

Teacher Appreciation Breakfast - May 15, 2011

2011-05-22T18:41:00.014-04:00

Easter 2011 at Murray Church

2011-04-27T08:57:00.017-04:00

March in Religious Education

2011-03-27T23:43:00.012-04:00

February in Religious Education

2011-02-27T21:06:00.030-05:00

A Very Snowy Winter at Murray Church - 2011

2011-01-30T15:43:00.004-05:00

Indoor Drive-In Movie Night - January 2011

2011-01-30T14:48:00.014-05:00

Just some of the children and teens in attendance.

Lee settling in.

Zachary waiting for the movie to start.

Daniel cozily ensconced in his sleeping bag.

Settling In

Gabby and Charlotte "Building" the Cars

Youth Group at the Soup Kitchen - January 2011

2011-01-25T21:37:00.009-05:00

January 2011 in Murray RE

2011-01-25T21:28:00.011-05:00

Time for a Game in the Second-Third Grade Class

K-1 Class Having Fun Together

K-1 Class

Grace, Lee, and Daniel enjoying a game.

Middle Schoolers

Middle School Class

Middle Schoolers Studying Buddhism

Happy Preschoolers

Second and Third Graders

Youth Group

Fourth and Fifth Graders

Kindergarteners and First Graders

Kindergarten-First Grade Class

Preschool Class

Christmas Pageant 2010

2010-12-19T16:02:00.015-05:00

Sunday Morning, December 19th

Eight Annual No-Fuss, No-Frills, Come-As-You-Are, Christmas Pageant

Liv and Logan (Shepherds)

Gabby (Narrator)

Cameron and Lee (Shepherds)

Chris (Narrator)

Lee (Shepherd)

Chris, Stephanie, Arlyss, Danielle

Chris and Stephanie

Parents of Cast Members: Allison, Maura, John, and Don

Nancy, Vanessa, and young Ella

Angels and Shepherds Lining Up

Young Cast Members

Taking the shortcut to the Sanctuary.

Angels waiting for the start of rehearsal.

Jessica and several of her fellow narrators.

Isabel (Narrator)

Isabel (narrator), Laura (innkeeper), Rhys (Joseph), Kristina (Mary), and Sabrina (Jesus)

Evan (Narrator)

Kristina (Mary) and Sabrina (Jesus) during rehearsal.

Pageant Rehearsal

Rehearsal

More Rehearsal

Singing "Angels We Have Heard On High"

Sandra (Minister) and the Narrators: Nick (hidden), Evan, Gabby, Jessica, Isabel, and Chris

Mary, Joseph, and the Angels

Away in the Manger

Wise Ones: Chris, Stephanie, and Kethry

Pageant Dads: Jeff, John, and Mike

Angel Grace with older brother, Gabe and dad, Bryan

Nick (Narrator)

Pageant Rehearsal

Nick (Narrator) and the cast

Wrapping up rehearsal.

Singing Angels

More singing angels

Rhys (Joseph), Kristina (Mary), Sabrina (Jesus), and Danielle (Angel)

Thank You to Our Pageant Photographers, Dawn C. and Dave L.

Sunday, December 12th - Advent Spiral, Book Buddies, and Toys for Tots

2010-12-19T15:28:00.015-05:00

Robert sorting toys.

Robert delivering toys.

Gabe reading to Isabel.

Rhys reading to Daniel.

Stephanie reading to Katelynn.

Gabby reading to Kendra.

Seth reading to Neil.

Cameron reading to Logan.

Bryan, Izzy, and Gabe enjoying a bit of literary conversation.

Kendra, Gabby, Holland, and Sarah sharing a book.

Sarah and Holland enjoying a snack.

Keisha designing a cover for the Pageant Sunday Order of Service.

Many, many toys were donated to Toys for Tots this year.

The Advent Spiral is an annual tradition. Children quietly walk through a spiral of greens. A few photos were taken this year, but most did not come out well.

Book Buddies--Older children read to younger children. We also collect books to be donated to children who do not have many books of their own. This year more than 100 books were donated.

Learning About Diwali - Intersession -2010

2010-12-05T14:51:00.021-05:00

RE - Autumn 2010

2010-11-30T23:13:00.003-05:00

Children's Thanksgiving Choir Rehearsal

2010-11-30T23:11:00.002-05:00

Murray Church Halloween Party - 2010

2010-10-23T21:58:00.012-04:00

Youth Sunday May 2010

2010-05-27T08:09:00.006-04:00

Easter Sunday 2010

2010-04-28T08:03:00.010-04:00

Murray Church Teen Nights

2010-01-28T23:05:00.002-05:00

January 2010 - Movie Night - Back to the Future

January 2010 in Murray RE

2010-01-27T23:13:00.013-05:00

Advent Sprial and Yule Logs

2009-12-10T08:43:00.006-05:00

Thank you to Greg W. for the photos.

Sunday School and Youth Group - September 2009

2009-09-22T20:31:00.006-04:00

Welcome Back!

Third and Fourth Graders

Youth Sunday '09

2009-05-25T23:14:00.008-04:00

Young Greeters

K-2 Rehearsal

Preschoolers keeping busy during Youth Sunday Rehearsal

Organ Presentation for Children and Teens

2009-04-19T16:13:00.004-04:00

On Friday afternoon, April 17th, Dr. Kevin Birch delivered a lecture followed by a brief concert on Murray's historical organ.

Social Hour - A Sunday in April 2009

2009-04-19T16:02:00.010-04:00

K-2 Class - Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt

2009-04-19T15:54:00.010-04:00

Preschool Explorations - April 2009

2009-04-19T15:50:00.004-04:00

Easter Sunday 2009 - Children's Choir Rehearsal

2009-04-19T15:42:00.003-04:00

Getting the "sillies" out before singing.

Seventh Annual Talent Show - April '09

2009-04-04T22:53:00.024-04:00

March Madness Murray Night

2009-04-04T22:47:00.008-04:00

Christmas Pageant '08

2008-12-21T15:49:00.012-05:00

Approximately two dozen children, teens, and adults participated in this year's pageant. Additional adults and teens assisted with costuming, props, and lighting.

(photos taken by parents, Dawn C. and Rachel K.)

2008-12-15T20:38:00.003-05:00

The Seventh Annual, No-Fuss,
No-Frills, Come-As-You-Are Christmas Pageant

Sunday morning, December 21st

Casting Call Begins at 9 a.m. Sharp
Fellowship Hall

Children and adults of all ages

are invited to join in the fun.

Intersession: Yule Logs and Advent Spiral

2008-12-15T20:02:00.012-05:00

December 2008

Making Ornaments for Toys for Tots Drive

2008-11-30T15:09:00.018-05:00

On Sunday, November 30th, all of the Sunday school classes worked together to make ornaments for the Toys for Tots tree.

Preschool Class in November

2008-11-18T18:12:00.008-05:00

During a recent class, the preschoolers learned about self-esteem.

Middle School Class Visits Adams Historical Site

2008-11-09T21:33:00.013-05:00

On Sunday, November 9th the Middle School Class visited the Adams Historical Site in Quincy.

Social Hour Memories -- November 2008

2008-11-09T15:50:00.006-05:00

K-2 Class Building a Just Community - November '08

2008-11-09T15:35:00.013-05:00

Indoor Drive-in Movie Night -- January '06

2008-11-08T22:23:00.008-05:00

A Blast from the Past

Philosophers' Cafe

2008-11-06T21:21:00.015-05:00

A Rainy Thursday Evening in November at Philosophers' Cafe

The Gospel According to the Simpsons

2008-11-03T09:34:00.002-05:00

Teaching the Gospel according to 'The Simpsons'

BY GLORIA LaBOUNTY/SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
It's Sunday morning and Homer Simpson refuses to get out of bed and go to church, no matter what his wife says.

"It's church. You have to go,'' says Marge.

So he gets up and gets dressed, but rips his "church pants,'' giving him the excuse he sought.

He stays home, and the family goes off to worship, but ends up shivering through the service because the church's furnace broke down.

Homer, on the other hand, is toasty at home, making waffles, walking around in his underwear, watching football, and even winning a call-in contest.

"This is the best day of my life,'' he declares. "I'm never going to church again.''

Even God reinforces his choice when he appears to Homer in a dream, then sits down for a chat and admits that "sometimes even I would rather be watching football.'' God even agrees to let Homer worship him in his own way.

But, after being rescued from a house fire he accidentally set, Homer reconsiders and ends up in church one Sunday, sleeping in the pew and dreaming about God, who won't answer his questions on the meaning of life.

That's one of hundreds of episodes in the life of "The Simpsons,'' the long-running cartoon on the Fox Network saturated with satire that spares no aspect of American life, including religion.

The show's faith-based plots have been explored in such books as "The Gospel According to the Simpsons'' by journalist Mark Pinsky, which in turn spawned a study guide that has been picked up by discussion groups nationwide.

It's now in use at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church in Attleboro in a series of weekly discussions that explore the religious issues raised by one of television's most unlikely moral figures.

One media analyst found that about 70 percent of the episodes contain at least one reference to religion, and at least 10 percent had plots that center on faith.

Initially decried by various religious leaders when it debuted more than 15 years ago, the show has since been getting a second look from church groups, who now see select episodes as tools for moral teaching, or at least for soul-searching.

"I didn't know it could be so deep,'' said Nan Loggains, director of religious education at Murray who ran a five-week series on the Simpsons last fall, and is now doing another five.

She thought the study program would be perfect for Murray, a church that welcomes spiritual seekers from all religious backgrounds.

All are touched by The Simpsons, a show that plays fair when it comes to faith. Every religion is subject to its lampooning, said Eric Mazur, professor of religion at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, who co-authored the book, "Homer the Heretic and Charlie Church.''
He calls the show groundbreaking.

"For years, it was probably the most religious program on television,'' Mazur said in a telephone interview. "It was the only show where people actually went to church.''

Although it criticizes institutional religion, he said, the show upholds the moral values that are the basis of those religions.

And while religious stereotypes abound, they are used to mirror American society, Mazur said.
He likens Homer to Archie Bunker of "All in the Family,'' who also made offensive statements that people recognized as ludicrous, but that often reflected their own prejudices.

"If you look at the show, you get a good idea of how religion is treated and understood in contemporary American society,'' he said.

Lisle Dalton, professor of religion at Hartwick College in New York, who co-authored the book on the Simpsons with Mazur, said the show uses stereotypes not to reinforce them, but `` to hold the general social impulse to stereotype up to a critical lens.''

The show artfully mocks faith while affirming its value, Dalton said. Although the family turns to religion for guidance, Dalton said, "the catch is that these activities are often satirized or developed in ironic ways that don't exactly conform to what religious traditions teach.''

In the late 1980s, before "The Simpsons'' first aired, religion was not a common topic on television, especially in sitcoms, she said. But "The Simpsons'' bucked that trend, and now religious themes are much more commonplace.

"'The Simpsons,' '' she said, "helped open the door to more religious content in prime time.''
Religion-based episodes such as "Homer the Heretic'' ended up becoming one of the all-time favorites with many fans, she said, and is perfect for a study group.

It was that episode that the Murray group of more than a dozen adults and teens dissected this past week.

There was Homer, refusing to go to Sunday service with his family, and there was the group at Murray, asking each other if going to church should be a duty.

Stephanie Paquette of Attleboro said she used to think so while growing up Catholic, but no longer.

But is being part of a church community a necessary aspect of faith, Nan Loggains asked in guiding the group?

Some agreed with Homer, who wondered why it was such a big deal to go to a building every Sunday.

"Isn't God everywhere?'' Homer asked.

Vanessa Wade of Plainville and a member of Murray said faith continues with or without a building to house it. Wade said she felt forced to go to church during her Catholic years, but now "it's a choice on Sunday, and I look forward to it.''

"Faith is everywhere,'' said Debra Fobert of North Attleboro, who attends a Congregational church.

Yet she said as she gets older, she feels the need for the support of friends who believe as she does.

Jim Loggains of Murray said church sometimes fills a social need, but 12-year-old Hunter Parent-Wetmore said if that's the case, then people could just skip the service and go to the coffee hour.

Loggains said church offers more. "It's a time to think about religion,'' he said.

Yet Robert Armour of North Attleboro said if he had to listen to the Rev. Lovejoy's boring sermons as Homer had to, "I probably would be in bed, too.''

But what about Homer's other argument?

"What if we picked the wrong religion? Every week we're just making God madder and madder,'' Homer argues to Marge.

Loggains said few people seem concerned that they may be backing the wrong church.
"No one acts afraid that they may be wrong,'' he said. "There's no self-doubt,''

Except, of course, among Unitarians, who continue to doubt year after year, said Greg Wehmeyer of Plainville. But he said, "we have a lot of faith in that doubt. ''Yet following the certain and safer path may be easier, he said, because then, "you spend a lot less time worrying about being wrong.''

Armour said if he were God, he would want diversity. "I would not want everyone praying and saying the same thing to me,'' he said. `` That's so boring. I would want many different voices.''
Maybe, he said, "God is a Baskin-Robbins kind of guy.''

Homer, however, sees the vengeful side of God, and thinks that God responds out of anger.
Stephanie Paquette said some religions preach that view so people will fear God and go to church. Once there, they hear how sinful they are, she said, rather than positive advice on how they can live a better life.

Homer understands. He hates boring sermons, and in his dream, God agrees with him, and says Rev. Lovejoy displeases him so much that he may even give the minister a canker sore.
Unitarians especially need good sermons, Armour said, because without them, there would be no reason to go to church, since there is no threat that they have to go.

Yet when Homer resists going to church, God agrees to let Homer worship in his own way. For Homer, that means staying home and falling asleep on the sofa with a cigar in his mouth that falls onto the floor.

Jeremy Paquette of Attleboro noted that Homer's way ends up nearly burning his house down. Then, he said, the very people Homer shut out of his life, namely his neighbors of other faiths, end up saving his life.

Why then, in the end, does Homer give church another try?

Stephanie Paquette had this thought: `` So all can go back to normal at the end of `The Simpsons.' ''

Buffy the Vampire

2008-11-03T09:16:00.004-05:00

What Would Buffy Do?

Local church asks: What would Buffy do?
BY REBECCA KEISTER / SUN CHRONICLE STAFFTuesday, February 27, 2007 12:18 AM EST

ATTLEBORO -- It's a world filled with vampires, demons and other made-up monsters, with plot twists that rely on the supernatural and a love affair between a teenage girl with "un-human" powers and an immortal man who "unlives" a tortured (sometimes literally) existence.

The appeal and success of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which ran for seven seasons on the WB and UPN and developed a cult-like following, was in its obvious absurdities - that the characters dealt with fictional monsters that flocked to their town, which was built, naturally, on a hell mouth.

Doesn't sound much like a basis for religious discussion, but at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, pop culture often finds its way into God's house.

"It's about taking something that's very popular and mining it for religious and philosophical ideas," said Nan Loggains, director of religious education.

Building on the success after last year's series on "The Simpsons" - which explored religious issues raised by some truly unlikely moral characters - Loggains is running a new series titled "What Would Buffy Do?," using the vampire slayer herself as a moral guide.

The most recent class focused on a Valentine's Day episode from early in the series called "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered.

"The episode focuses on Buffy's friend Xander and his budding romance with the ego-driven Cordelia.

Taunted by her friends, Cordelia breaks up with Xander on Valentine's Day. Hurt and angered, he blackmails their witch friend Amy into casting a spell that will make Cordelia fall back in love with him, just so he can publicly humiliate her.

But the plan backfires, and soon every girl, and grown woman, in town is throwing herself at Xander, and their obsession boils over into danger.

All matters are resolved in the end, of course, and Xander steps up to the plate by turning down the ill-conceived advances of Buffy (with whom he is in love), and Cordelia chooses Xander, standing up to her friends.

A post-viewing discussion centered on the topics of moral ambiguity, how love happens, and whether passion is a virtue or a vice.

"I am always interested in Xander as the everyman, the one powerless guy," said Jim Loggains, Nan's husband.

"He's at his lowest point and it's how he deals with that."

Loggains is far from the first to touch on the moral lessons and values behind the dilemma-driven subjects that appear in Buffy episodes.

Joss Whedon, the series creator, has said he sold the script with the metaphor of "high school as hell" in mind.

Most Buffy episodes use the problems that Buffy and her friends encounter with various creatures and events as metaphors for situations teenagers and young adults might encounter, including dealing with broken hearts, duties and obligations, social ladders and sacrifice.

There are more than a few books on the subject, including "What Would Buffy Do: The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide." Topics inside that book include "The Monster Inside: Taming the darkness within ourselves," and "Death is our gift: what death can teach us about living."

Loggains said that, not being a huge Buffy fan, she read about five of these books to prepare for the class. Those who signed up vary in age and gender and in their level of Buffy-devotion.

The discussion on whether people choose love or love chooses you generated a big buzz. Though the group of eight attendees seemed to agree that it's most likely a combination, there weren't a lot of devotees to destiny in the bunch.

Which might be taken as ironic, since the premise of "Buffy" was that she was destined to help save the world.

Somewhat unstructured, the discussion didn't lead back to Buffy's world too often, and turned instead to big-theory topics like the existence of free will.

But the tie-ins were there.

Jim Loggains, a self-proclaimed Buffy fan, has seen most, if not all, of the series' episodes.

"You're looking at life, and serially so, and every character falls by the wayside," he said. "But they're always redeemed in one way or another. I think it teaches you that the way you are today isn't necessarily the way you're always going to be - the test of you is how you adapt to the changes in your life."

Nan Loggains, director of religious education at Murray Church in Attleboro, holds up one of the books she drew on to put together her class on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." (Staff photo by Mike George)

("What Would Buffy Do?" will meet again this Wednesday and next Wednesday at Murray Church, 505 North Main St., Attleboro. For more information call 508-222-0505.)

REBECCA KEISTER can be reached at 508-236-0336 or at rkeister@thesunchronicle.com.

Hanging Out During Social Hour

2008-11-02T19:26:00.008-05:00

K-2 Class and the Interdependent Web of Life

2008-11-02T17:03:00.008-05:00

Children in the K-2 class recently shared their pictures about the interdependent web of life.

Third-Fourth Grade Class Learns About Peace

2008-11-02T16:33:00.012-05:00

Children in the Third-Fourth Grade Class listened to the story of Samantha Smith. Then they expressed their own desire for peace in letters and drawings.

Youth Group Service Project

2008-11-02T16:11:00.006-05:00

On Sunday morning, November 2nd several members of the Youth Group and their advisors raked the yard of one of our older Murray Church members.

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

2008-10-31T15:55:00.003-04:00

This Sunday morning the Youth Group will meet in the Purple Chat Room and then carpool to the home of a Murray member to rake leaves. Please be sure to dress for the weather. Bring along a rake and gloves.

The Murray Teen Book Group in the News

2008-10-28T18:33:00.002-04:00

THE READING ROOM: Local teen book club defies the gender odds BY KATHY HICKMAN for The Sun Chronicle
Monday, March 3, 2008 5:44 PM EST

When 70 percent of a teen book club's members are male, you can't help but wonder: What in the world are they reading? Club moderator Nan Loggains is well aware that her Murray Teen Book Group is unique.

"As I'm sure you know, boys often drift away from reading by the time they hit their teens," she notes. So she is especially delighted that the group she "loves" has so many boys in it.
The abundance of tasty snacks on the back table would have been enough to entice most kids out on a frigid night. And truth be told, a fair amount of them were devoured the Tuesday evening I visited. But these young men and women gather with a far more voracious appetite for passionate discussion, and an easy camaraderie born of shared experience.

Several core members originally belonged to a children's book club sponsored by the Attleboro Area Homeschoolers. It met from 1999-2002 at the Attleboro Public Library with Nan as its facilitator.

"I like that the group has a history," Nan says. "We still laugh about the times when the kids were younger and most of the girls were reading 'Pony Pals' and most of the boys loved 'Animorphs.'"

The Murray Teen Book group is fortunate to have Nan's impressively credentialed and enthusiastic leadership qualities. Her easy rapport with all of the kids, combined with gentle direction when needed, creates an open and supportive atmosphere for discussion.
Since 2002, meetings have been held at Murray Universalist Church in Attleboro. Currently, just over half of its dozen members are home-schooled. They and other students hail from Attleboro, North Attleboro, Norton, Sutton, and several communities in Rhode Island. The group is open to any area teens, 13 and up, and all are welcome.

Isabel Samuel, a North Attleboro Middle Schooler, is a case in point. She joined the book group at the end of last school year. "What I like best is that I connect to the kids. I keep coming back because I like the book, the discussion, and the group of kids," she says.

And the makeup of the group may well be another reason for its success. These are teenagers who sparkle with curiosity and bring an astounding array of eclectic interests and involvements to their book discussions.

Isabel, for example, plays the sax, sings in the school chorus, acts in Rhode Island's All Children's Theater and volunteers at a soup kitchen. Homeschooler Colt King is interested in Chanbara (Japanese fencing), Boy Scouts, Japanese history and culture, and snowboarding. Dylan Sahakian swims on the Foxpoint Swim Team and volunteers at the local Audubon Society. And aspiring writer Marisa Natale recently attended a writer's conference with Susan Cooper, author of the "Dark is Rising" series. Marisa, who enjoys the study of genetics, also volunteers for "Roots and Shoots," a program of the Jane Goodall Institute.

Like many of the kids, 15-year-old Robert Loggains, son of the moderator, is politically active. In addition to taking a class focusing on the 2008 election, Robert attends an AP government class in the DELVE program at MIT, and participated recently in the We the People state competition in Boston. Just to balance things out a bit, he has a part time pet-sitting job.

So what were they discussing the night I arrived? A contemporary superhero novel called "Soon I Will Be Invincible" by Austin Grossman. And it was clear that, for a group whose tastes characteristically run to more sophisticated fare, this book was both a departure and a disappointment.

The vocal, articulate Hunter Parent-Wetmore, a ninth grade homeschooler, was disgusted with the author. "He tries to write literature, but he's writing a comic book. He tried for satire, but it didn't work." Hunter adds, "I love discussing books and reading ones from genres that I don't usually read. I also like to use (the book group) to refine my abilities to take a story down to the base level and build it up from there. I prefer to do this in a talkative social environment." Hunter, who fences at the Rhode Island Academy and designs movies and documentaries, dreams of being a politician, "a mover and shaker."

Homeschooled ninth grader Christy Rozek said she initially found the book amusing, but in the discussion "others convinced me that I don't like the book that much." Christy joined the club five to six years ago. Her reading interests mirror those of many in the group, with favorites including Harry Potter novels and classics like "Animal Farm," "1984," "Catcher in the Rye," and "Black Like Me." A number of the boys rave about Janet Tashjian's young adult novel "The Gospel According to Larry," as well as the Pendragon, Redwall and Eragon series books.

But it's not just about the books. "Coming is just plain fun," comments 13-year-old Liam Kenney of Norton Middle School. "It gives me something to like about Tuesdays."

"We have such a diverse group that we never entirely agree on anything," said seventh grader Marisa Natale. "We all think differently and read books differently, so whenever we're discussing any given topic, we will have read the book in so many different ways that the people there always keep it interesting."

The Murray Teen Book Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. It is open to teens 13 and older. For more information, contact MurrayDRE@verizon.net.

KATHY HICKMAN can be reached at news@thesunchronicle.com.'

Preschool Bulb Planting

2008-10-27T20:09:00.008-04:00

On Sunday morning, October 26th the Preschool Class planted bulbs in the RE Garden.

Murray Church Halloween Party

2008-10-27T18:36:00.002-04:00

More than forty children attended this year's Murray Church Halloween Party. Fun was had by all.