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UUCM Home > Religious Education >
Children & Youth
Religious Education
Children & Youth
Religious Education
Sunday
mornings - 10:30 to 11:45 September through June
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2009-2010
Programming
Worship
Programming
Most Sundays find our children and youth in the sanctuary for either
Classroom Sundays or Intergenerational Sundays. On Classroom Sundays
our children and youth begin the service in the sanctuary, then they depart
for their classrooms after the Time for All Ages with their volunteer
teachers. On Intergenerational Sundays, the children and youth are in
the sanctuary with their families for the full service. In the
fall, our Intergenerational services are for Ingathering, the annual Ferry
Beach Retreat, and Thanksgiving. Winter Intergenerational services
include Chanukah, the Living Nativity and Wholly Family. Some of
spring’s Intergenerational services are Easter and Mother’s Day. On
Father’s Day our children and youth co-create an Intergenerational worship
service with the DRE and Music Director. Most months have at least one
Chapel service. This year’s Chapel theme is World Religions. On
Chapel Sundays, the youth and children begin the morning in Nichols
Library. The DRE, guests, children, and youth lead chapel services.
Classroom
Programming
Our children’s
curricula, selected from the UUA’s Tapestry of Faith programming, have a
general focus on four themes: “Living Faith, Seeking Truth, Creating Love,
and Serving Community”. Our youth programming for 7th grade
and up is focused on Coming of Age classes and activities, which will inform
the youth’s personal spirituality. For 2009-2010, our specific
curricula are:
pre-K-1st grades: Wonderful Welcome
The Wonderful
Welcome curriculum engages and challenges leaders and children alike to
explore how and why we are willing to welcome others into our lives. We
welcome not only strangers, but family, our peers, our neighbors and even
entities that are not people such as our animal friends and nature itself.
2nd-4th grades: Faithful Journeys
Participants embark
on a pilgrimage of faith, exploring how Unitarian Universalism translates
into life choices and everyday actions. Stories about real people model
how participants can activate their own personal agency – their capacity to
act faithfully as Unitarian Universalists – in their own lives, and children
have regular opportunities to share and affirm their own stories of faithful
action. Over the course of the program, children discover a unity of faith in
the many different ways Unitarian Universalists, including themselves, can
act on our beliefs.
5th and 6th grades: Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
intends to help participants understand right and wrong and act on their new
understanding. Its purpose is to equip them for moving safely and
productively through the middle- and high school years, when they will be
continually tugged toward both ends of the ethics continuum. Through their
involvement in Amazing Grace, participants will come to recognize and depend
on their Unitarian Universalist identity and resources as essential to their
movement toward understanding, independence, and fulfillment of personal
promise.
Youth (7th grade and up): Coming of Age
The curriculum for
this year’s Coming of Age programming is split into two parts. The
first part of the year is UU Identity, with classes in UU History, UU Values
and UU Theology. The second part engages our youth with neighboring
faith communities through off-site visits and classes. Our youth are
encouraged to participate in worship, and to take part in service
activities. The program includes creation of a portfolio from all
classes, along with worship and service participation. Any youth
choosing to complete this portfolio will be eligible for the youth adventure
outing at the end of the year. In the later part of the year, youth
will be paired with Mentors from the congregation.
Special
Activities
Throughout the year
we hold different special events. These events include Chalice
Cupcakes, Ferry Beach Scavenger Hunt, Caroling in the Community, Easter Egg
Hunt, Youth Pizza Parties and other activities.
Registration
Children and youth
participating in Religious Education Programming and children in the
nursery must be registered. Registration includes a release form,
health information and special needs information. Registration packets
are available in the church office and online.
Attendance
Please
help your child/youth attend regularly so they can really get to know each
other and their leaders and feel comfortable in their church. As with adults,
regular attendance promotes a feeling of being a part of our larger community.
It also enhances their learning and exploration of faith.
Our
Collaborative Program
There is no fee for
registering your child or youth. Our program is collaborative in
nature. From supplies and snacks to teachers and chaperones, we rely
not only on our members’ pledges of financial support, but commitments of
time as well. Please speak with the DRE to find the best way for you to
contribute your time and talents. Please contact the minister if you
are interested in membership. Occasionally, there may be fees for
off-site activities with other organizations. If you need assistance
paying for such an activity, please speak confidentially with the DRE or
minister
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