A recent lesson focused on the concept of judgment. The scripture was
John 7:24. “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
We used the book The Ugly Duckling. You probably remember the story
of the swan egg which is large, different, and hatches a swan in the midst
of the duck nest. It is disliked and treated unkindly because it is different.

Concepts that were involved included:
Judging by appearances is a mistake, because things are rarely what
they seem.
When you judge you are overlooking the Christ in them which connects
to the Christ in you.
There is a great difference between being judgmental and using good
judgment.
You can love each person’s divine essence but may not agree with
what they do.
A first grade student commented that the egg was not liked by the
mother even before it hatched because it was different. It is exciting to
see how perceptive children are and how easily they can grasp Unity
Principles. We talked about how the duck felt as it was judged and an
outcast. Children can identify with concepts presented in a story. We
related concepts from the story to specifi c events in their own lives.
After the story and discussion, we drew a picture of how they thought
the duck felt when no one liked him and how he felt when he realized he
was a swan and was accepted. They were able to see the harmful results
of judging from appearance. We closed with the affi rmation, “Thank you
God, for the Christ presence within me. I now look for the Christ presence
in everyone else.”

We have dedicated teachers and assistants who offer one Sunday a
month to share Unity Principles and make a big difference in the life
of a child. Thanks go to Kate Cusamano, Patty Marsh, Michelle Katz,
Cathi Brandon and Vicki Hauth. Please contact Janet Wilson at 749.9009
or jwils@comcast.net if you would like to inquire about joining our
education staff.

by Janet Wilson

Children on the Quest is a curriculum designed for ages 5 through 11. We are currently exploring these lessons in our classes for 1st and 2nd grade and with the older students in grades 3 through 5. The curriculum includes Children’s literature in addition to Bible stories or verses. Our children are attracted to the combination. The materials lend themselves to every day applications of Unity principles. Concepts are presented in a simple, understandable manner. We encourage discussion, questions, and are often amazed with the creative thinkers developing at Unity.

Families from our Youth Education Program gathered the first Sunday of April to share bagels and donuts and meet one another. We will continue to meet the first Sunday of each month at 10:15 am in the pre-school room adjacent to the playground.

Parents attending are interested in meeting other families who are expressing Unity principles in their own lives and sharing them with their children. We want to provide a wonderful support system for families with opportunities to learn, grow and have fun together. Our next 2 meetings will be May 4th and June 1st. Please join us.

Kid’s Camp, a fun and spiritual Unity Camp for students who have graduated from grades 2-5, will be held near Wrightwood, California from June 22nd – 26th. Some of the activities included are archery, canoeing, swimming, morning chapel, vespers, campfires, arts and crafts. Camp can offer a memorable, life changing experience for children.

Complete information regarding Kid’s Camp has been distributed to many Unity families. The deadline for qualified registrations is May 16th and will be accepted on a space available basis. If you have not received the information and are interested, please contact Janet Wilson at 749.9009 or jwils@att.net.

OUR GOALS
are to provide a positive, caring
environment that allows children to
experience success and build self-esteem, as well as prepare each child emotionally and
developmentally for elementary school.

SUMMER CAMP
starts May 28th, 2008
Please call Marilyn 577.3300
for more information