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Religious Education ProgramsThe RE Newsletter The great end in religious instruction... is not to stamp our minds irresistibly on the young but to stir up their own; not to make them see with our eyes but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own; not to give them a definite amount of knowledge but to inspire a fervent love of truth; not to form an outward regularity but to touch inward spring... Rev. William Ellery Channing, 1837 Our Religious Education (RE) program focuses on the growth of spirituality with the Seven Unitarian Universalist principles as our guide. Once the children have been given a strong foundation in the UU faith, spiritual exploration expands to include appreciation of world religions. As our children reach middle school age, they are introduced to the rewards of service, which is a vital aspect of our UU faith. Our children attend the first part of the service with their families. We request that families sit together and model appropriate behavior. This portion is planned with the children in mind, and includes music, joys and concerns, and a children's moment. Then the children leave the service to attend religious education (RE) classes. These are age appropriate, but you as the parent are always the final judge of where your child will be most comfortable. Nursery (Ages 0 to 3)
Nursery care is provided by two youth leaders at all times, and we try to keep those faces as consistent as possible because continuity is so important to small children. This is available from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. in the conference room. Preschool (3-4 years old)This year, we have very few children in this age group. If their numbers increase, perhaps a parent led co-op will form. There are excellent UU curricula available for this age group. Early Elementary Program (through Grade 2)Our class has spent the last two years learning about ourselves and our UU faith as it is reflected in the Seven UU Principles. Now we are ready to expand our circle of knowledge to include other faiths. Through games, songs, and activities, we will move through two years of "Holidays and Holy Days ", a UU curriculum that I have used in the past with much success. We will see what we have in common with other spiritual paths, and how we are different, but above all, we will open our hearts to the idea that "we're all a family under one sky." Tess Starecheski, our Senior Religious Educator (SRE), teaches this class.This class meets in the Art Room. 
Late Elementary Program (Grades 3-4)This class is led by Jane Dorney, and meets in the cafeteria. Our curriculum is called " We Believe: Learning and Living our Unitarian Universalist Principles ". Through discussion, activities, and worship, the children learn more about our Unitarian Universalist heritage and values in an interesting and engaging way. Project Reach Out (Middle School and High School)Project Reach Out is a creative community service program based on Unitarian Universalist principles. Our service projects occur on service Sunday mornings, but sometimes run longer than the service time. We also meet monthly on Sunday evenings to plan future service events. Some of our service projects have been hosting fellowship dinners, serving at the Valentine's dinner, baking for Meals on Wheels and the Ronald McDonald House, working on the trails at Mills Riverside Park, making neck warmers for children for the Child Care Resource Center, working for the Special Olympics, walking in the COTS walk and reading to refugee children. Project Reach Out gently helps our youth become aware of issues in our community, and helps them to channel their natural compassion into the habit of service. After the ServiceAdults and children convene for coffee and conversation following the service. At this time we ask that parents be responsible for their children, keeping them in eyesight at all times. We also ask that everyone be responsible for all of our children, modeling good behavior, and speaking to a parent or RE staff person if they feel uncomfortable with what's going on. These principles are outlined in our care covenant. The Care CovenantIt takes a fellowship to raise a child.
This covenant is in effect whenever and wherever the Fellowship is together.
A Child's Version of the Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles
Monthly Newsletters
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