In this episode we are excited to be joined by Lillian Drab Braddick and Moritz to explore the Stretching River — a place where communities face challenges, decisions, and opportunities that ask something new of them.

Sometimes those things that stretch us are challenges that arise naturally — in thinking about congregations this might be a board leadership transition, a new minister or staff person, or some moment that calls the community to respond together. But other times, they’re intentionally created — through games, learning experiences, or collaborative projects designed to stretch what a group can do together.

Click these links to learn more about Deeper Joy and Whole Church Religious Education.

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Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

In this episode, we are joined by Jen Shattuck and Lena McCain to explore the Forest of Affirmation — a place where community pauses to notice and affirm what’s growing.

Click these links to learn more about Deeper Joy and Whole Church Religious Education.

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Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

Our exceptional panelists Soyal Smalls and Mylo Way examine the times in community where boundaries, access and exclusion can actually be utilized to seed more belonging in our communities.

We mentioned:

Priya Parker Generous Exclusion

Click these links to learn more about Deeper Joy and Whole Church Religious Education.

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Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

Today we’re stepping into Bonding Harbor — the place on the Deeper Joy map where we begin to come together as a group. It’s that early moment where we learn names, get a sense of the group’s energy, move together through shared tasks and even play, and begin building the trustworthiness that makes community possible. Bonding Harbor is where we learn what we can do together.

Panelists Shannon Harper and Jocelyn Soules give their perspectives on how communities deepen their connectedness and build the trust necessary for crafting profound and lasting relationships.

Click these links to learn more about Deeper Joy and Whole Church Religious Education.

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We mentioned:
https://www.uua.org/lifespan/curricula/deeper-joy/deeper-joy-rpg

Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

When we are getting to know new people or new communities, we look for spaces where our stories feel that they are safely received. In Deeper Joy, this is represented by Opening Up Beach - a phase in community building that is about the courage to bring parts of ourselves forward as well as the care of receiving them. Our panelists, Reverends Tandi Rogers and Darrick Jackson, will share their own insights about how vulnerability and play take center stage in this phase of community building. Give it a listen!

Click these links to learn more about Deeper Joy and Whole Church Religious Education.

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We mentioned:

Deeper Joy Role Playing Game (RPG)

Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

Covenant is at the core of who we are as Unitarian Universalists. How can a Whole Church approach to religious education help us practice living into covenant across generations? Since we center covenant instead of creed in our approach to religious life, what difference does that make for how we aspire to live together in community?

These questions and so much more will be explored with panelists Jenn Blosser and Michael Molina in our second installment of this Season’s JUUst Breathe.

Instagram: @juustbreathepod

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/juustbreathelive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3355850741412013

Resources:

Learn more about Covenant: https://www.uua.org/lifespan/re-sources/threshold-conversations/theology-covenant

Learn more about Whole Church Religious Education: https://www.uua.org/lifespan/curricula/whole-church

Learn more about Deeper Joy: https://www.uua.org/youth/deeper-joy

LeaderLab: https://www.uua.org/leaderlab/leadership-technical-skills-reflections-on-right-relationship

Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

Guest panelists and long time collaborators, Jennica Davis-Hockett and Joy Berry, meet with Ember to discuss why Unitarian Universalists are embracing a whole church religious education approach and are deepening community connections across generations through a new, amazing resource called Deeper Joy.

Instagram: @juustbreathepod

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/juustbreathelive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3355850741412013

Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb

Episode 9 of JUUst Breathe explores the central tenet of all our Shared Values…LOVE - with fabulous panelists Avery Miller Fabregas and Rev Dr. Sofia Betancourt, the President of the UUA!

We are really excited to conclude this season of JUUst Breathe with a bang!

Instagram: @juustbreathepod

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/juustbreathelive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3355850741412013

Music: "Where Do We Come From," by Brian Tate performed by Rev Christopher Lamb