For WUU Families: The Practice of Presence

by Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education

Hello families,

Our December theme is The Practice of Presence. In the month of December, with all the winter holidays and the business that go with them, taking time to explore the practice of presence can be a powerful antidote. We will explore the practice of presence as mindfulness and explore tools of quiet and calm and the practice of presence as a gift we give to others. We will explore the presence of the divine within all of us and how we stay present with things we’d like to avoid, like darkness and grief.

At home this month you might explore the Practice of Presence as you celebrate the holiday season. The holidays can be lovely and special, but they can also be incredibly stressful, especially for parents who feel responsible for creating all the holiday magic. We’ll be exploring some spiritual practices, sometimes introduced as games or art projects, of calm and focus in youth group this month. Ask your youth to share what they thought was useful and try it at home too!

Or try some practices on your own, such as:

Let's Get Creative: Fractals are Fantastic!
Mindful Painting/ Circle Painting / Mindful Art /

Here are a few articles we thought might be helpful for you this month: 

• 7 ways to manage family stress during the holidays | Mental Health | UT Southwestern Medical Center (utswmed.org)

• 8 Mindfulness Tips During the Holidays | Psychology Today

• Merry and Mindful: How to Navigate the Holidays — Stressors and All (lifetime. Life)

 
If you have any questions or concerns, I'm here for you.
 
Warmest regards and wishing you happy holidays.