Religious Education for Children

Church School

Nursery Care
Infants through children who are two years old this September spend their morning in the nursery, which is filled with toys and activities. The warm, accepting atmosphere, where trust can be formed helps the children feel safe and happy in their first associations with the church. The nursery opens at 10:30. Parents should expect to stay for a few minutes to allow time for their child to adapt to the space and get acquainted with the caregivers. Parents who use the nursery are expected to take turns volunteering.

Three and Four Year Olds
“Celebrating Me and My World”
The introduction to our Church School program is designed to help our preschoolers experience themselves as lovable, competent, and growing individuals within our church family. Each week the focus is on one aspect of themselves as unique and special persons or the wonder-filled world they live in.

Kindergarten and Grade One
"A Discovering Year"
This year gives the children an age-appropriate introduction to Unitarian Universalism by focusing on four UU Principles that guide the experiences offered in each session.

• That each person is special and important
• That we should treat each other fairly and kindly
• That we should accept each other and learn together
• That we should take care of the earth, the home we share with all living things

Grades One and Two
"Free to Believe”
The first two-thirds of “Free to Believe” uses the UU Principles as a starting point for exploring values, beliefs and what it means to be Unitarian Universalist. The last third examines some of the “big questions through the perspective of UU sources.

Grades Four and Five
“A Kingdom of Equals, Jesus’s Radical Path to Love and Justice”
This year is an introduction to the life and teachings of Jesus. The emphasis is on his most consistent, underlying message: the “good news” that all people are created equal and have an obligation to bring about true justice for everyone.

Grades Six, Seven and Eight
“Holidays and Holy Days ”
Each week the class learns about and celebrates a holiday or holy day from one of the world’s cultures or religions. Each celebration is valued both for itself and for the opportunity it presents for the class to reflect on related UU values and traditions. In addition to enjoying the content of this curriculum, the young people in the class are greatly appreciative of the opportunity to eat lots of new foods that are part of the lessons.

Junior Youth Group
For the first time in several years, we are going to offer a once-a-month opportunity for the young people in grades six through eight to get together one or two evenings a month for fun, fellowship and service.

Senior High Youth Group
These young people meet every Sunday at 12:15 in the parlor for fellowship, service and study. For the past several years, a service project/trip in April has been one of their main focuses. They welcome everyone in grades nine through twelve.