Religious Education
for
Children and Youth
We accompany our children in their spiritual development, encouraging them to question, wonder, and develop their own religious beliefs while confirming the religious values that we share. Religious Education is offered each Sunday morning. Excellent nursery care for those 3 and under is offered from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
On this page:
Religious Education - Registration Form for Children and
Youth
Join Us Every Sunday!
Classes for Preschool and Grades 2-5 are held at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Classes for grades K-5 are held at 11:30 a.m.
Classes for Younger Youth (grades 6-8) are held from 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Classes for Older Youth (grades 9-12) are held from 11:30
a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The "Coming of Age" class is held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m.
Children of all ages are always welcome to stay
with their families in the sanctuary during worship.
Nursery care is available for babies and toddlers from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Children in PreK through 12thgrades begin in the sanctuary with their families, and proceed to classes during or following the hymn after the first portion of the service.
Quiet boxes are available in the vestibule while the children are in church.
Parents of children in 5th grade and younger pick up their children in the Fireside Room after the service. You will find them singing – please join in for our Closing Circle!
Curriculum
Children and Youth start out in the sanctuary and leave from the worship service for their classes after the Time for Children and Youth. Older Youth meet until 1:00 p.m.. All others meet until 12:30 p.m. Children 5th grade and younger finish with a Closing Circle in the Fireside Room, where parents can join them and pick them up. Youth in Middle School and older will find parents in Channing Hall.
NURSERY (Infants to 3’s), First Floor
Excellent childcare staff is available for our youngest children.
9:30 – 10:30 (During the Early Service)Preschool (4’s and 5’s) – 1st Grade: Spirit
Play, Room 126 2nd - 5TH GRADERS: Theme Based Rotation Program,
Fireside Room |
11:30 – 12:30 (During the Late Service)Grades K – 1: Theme-Based Rotation Program,
Room 202 Youth from 8th and 9th grades who choose to participate, will attend the Coming of Age class. This class encourages youth to explore their beliefs within the UU tradition with both teachers and mentors. This class will discuss the monthly theme as part of their work. Youth from 9th to 12th grades: The high school youth’s curriculum is entitled A Place of Wholeness. It encourages youth to look inward for a clearer understanding of their personal faith and guides them to express that faith outward into the world. Discussion of the monthly theme will be part of their work. The high school youth will also continue to meet in GIANT, the social and leadership development portion of their group life, every other Wednesday evening. |
TopFAQ
Are classes at First Church like Sunday School at other churches? Yes and no. The structure is similar, but the content is different from many churches. In all our Religious Education classes, we seek to nurture continuous growth, keen, open minds, and compassionate hearts. We provide active support for people's spiritual journeys, but do not presume to provide ultimate answers.
Where do children go first? All ages begin together in the sanctuary. Children PreK to 12th Grades leave after the Story for children. Their departure time is clearly notated in the order of service.
Is there a fee for Religious Education? No. Religious Education plays an essential role in faith development and spiritual growth for children and adults throughout their lives. As such, RE is provided free of charge by this faith community. Pledges and contributions to support the vital work of this congregation are encouraged and gladly accepted.
Do I need to register my children? Yes, all families are asked to register their children each year. If you are visiting, welcome to our faith home. Please fill out a “How can we Reach You?” form when you first come with your children. The full registration form is online at http://www.formstack.com/forms/?983377-3tu6UPWsUh or you can pick up a Registration Form from your child’s teachers. We encourage you to join us as soon as you are comfortable here!
What time are classes over? Classes for Preschool and Grades 2-5 are held at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Classes for grades K-5 are held at 11:30 a.m. Classes for Younger Youth (grades 6-8) are held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes for Older Youth (grades 9-12) are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The "Coming of Age" class is held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
What should my children wear? Dressing casually is fine; so is dressing up. Wear what will make you comfortable and will help you and your children feel ready to focus, participate, and enjoy Sunday morning.
Special Events & Activities for Children & Youth
Closing Circle - Each Sunday, the children from
Preschool through 5th Grade end their session with 10 minutes of community
singing in the Fireside Room.- Service Auction Project - Each year the children make a craft project that is contributed to the church's Service Auction.
- Group Photo - Each year we take a snap shot of our children, youth and teachers at 10:30. Photos from past years are hung in Stairway "A."
- Pumpkin Carving - On the Sunday preceding Halloween, families gather in the Crane Fireside Room during Religious Education for Children time to carve or decorate pumpkins.
- Christmas Eve Service - The early service on Christmas Eve is designed with children in mind. Dec. 24th.
- Kite Day - In early spring, we leave after church for a city park to picnic and fly kites together. The Older Youth usually provide the food as a fundraiser for their activities.
- Easter Social Action Project - We have an annual drive for paper and canned goods. It culminates in an Easter Parade to to take the goods to a nearby service organizations.
- Water Ceremony - Each year, as members and friends return from summer adventures, they bring water to add to a communal bowl that represents the flowing together of our lives in this spiritual community.
- Bread Communion - The Sunday before Thanksgiving families and individuals are encouraged to bring bread from their ethnic or cultural tradition to share during a lively and delightful service of thanks.
- Feast of All Good Children - This annual ceremony honors the transitions of our children and youth as they move up to the next grade in school and our Religious Education program. We create one great cake from many sheet cakes and symbolically jump to the next level, and honoring the changes inherent in growing up.
- Youth activities are too various to list. This year there will be three weekend Rallies, conferences run by and for the youth. Ask a youth to tell you what else they are involved in!
Philosophy of Religious Education
Mission Statement: We will provide our children with opportunities to grow spiritually, develop a sense of personal and social responsibility, and experience joy, as a central part of a loving Unitarian Universalist community.
How We Fulfill Our Mission
- Teaching about the world's religions, including our own
- Fostering social responsibility and personal growth
- Helping them to find their own spiritual paths
- Teaching them in a safe environment
- Providing activities and rituals
- Integrating our children into our church community and the greater UU fellowship
Description of Philosophy
Our religious education program for children and youth provides children ages 3 to 18 opportunities to learn about our Unitarian Universalist Identity, Sources of Inspiration and history; issues of peace and social justice; and the interdependent web of nature. They have an opportunity to put UU principles into action through service projects.
We believe that the overarching goal of Unitarian Universalist Religious Education is to provide the children and youth with the ability to determine their own spiritual beliefs and discover their ethical compass. In order to help them on this quest, we provide lessons based on the wisdom of many faith traditions and a community where discussion and questioning are not only allowed, but actively encouraged.
Our Leadership
Natalie Browne is an experienced Religious Educator, with a Master of Education degree in Child Study, and background as a Professional Development Facilitator and as a Family Life Coach. As Director of Lifespan Faith Development, she oversees and coordinates Religious Education for Children and Youth, Adult Programs, and Family Ministries. She can be contacted by telephone at 713-526-5200 or by email at natalie@firstuu.org.
The Curriculum Team is leading our move to a theme-based curricula. Members of the team are Elsa Kapitan-White, Sue Steinhardt, Amy Bruce, Kathy Kinson, Charlie Burrus, Jessica Holland, Michael O’Laughlin, and Madelyn Mauritz Bosse. The team also serves as a sounding board for the Director of Lifespan Faith Development.
Our Childcare Coordinator is Jessica Pierce. She and other childcare personnel are available every Sunday morning from 9:00 - 12 noon. She can be contacted at childcare@firstuu.org