Taryn Strauss

Director of Religious Education

REflections

May 2010

I want to thank two incredible Religious Education teachers. I want you to know who these dedicated, talented UUCA Members are so they may inspire and move you as they do for me. Bryan Morrisey (’02) started teaching Coming of Age (COA) three years ago. For the past three years, he has taught practically every single Sunday. He has organized Social Justice field trips and has given his Saturdays to ropes courses and wilderness retreats. Mostly, he has worked to improve our weekly curriculum. Under Bryan’s leadership, I have watched this COA program transform and become an exceptional learning experience, grounded in deep spiritual questioning. Our youth enjoy walking in the door and finding Bryan there, with his calm demeanor and wealth of ideas in store for them.

Kristen Kershaw (’05) has offered the same high level of leadership and dedication for the past two years. Kristen has also given countless Saturdays and weekend overnights, all to offer a transcendent year of self-discovery and deep bonding. Kristen’s enthusiasm for our youth filters into all of her work with COA. Year after year, I hear from parents who are amazed at how much their youth have grown up and matured as a result of the COA program.

Each year, I am bowled over by gratitude for the time, expertise, and heartfelt efforts of these two volunteer RE teachers. They take their commitment to teaching seriously, and for that I hope you will join me in honoring and celebrating their efforts. I know Kristen and Bryan have both grown spiritually as a result of their involvement in COA. Through teaching this course, they delved into the inner landscape of their own faith development, asking themselves the same questions they ask of the youth. The relationships that are formed and the spiritually satisfying work they do in this program will last a lifetime. Next year, I hope you will consider joining these two RE teachers, and open yourself to a new experience that will surely feed your heart and soul.

Sign up in Sandburg Hall, May 16, or contact Taryn (DirReligiousEd@UUAsheville.org).