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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
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NOTE: Childcare is available, with two week's prior notice, for activities held at the church. Please plan ahead. Ask your committee or group leader to arrange it. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Child Dedications - Parents have the opportunity to dedicate their children in the Unitarian Universalist church. This ritual is a way for parents to “name” their child in front of their religious community, speak aloud their hopes and dreams for their child, and for the community to commit themselves to supporting the parents and children as they grow. Each child is sprinkled with water and given a rose. This ritual is performed by the minister and the Director of Religious Education, and is offered at different times during the year. Watch the newsletter.
Easter Activities - On Easter Sunday, we offer fun crafts and activities, and make Pagan, Christian and Jewish connections in our lessons around this topic. A non-competitive egg hunt is often held after each service.
Halloween Party - Costume parade, cake walks, fortune tellers, carnival games, and crafts. A Haunted Forest walk is organized by the spooky dramatic types and the Pumpkin Memorial Garden is set up for folks to bring a carved pumpkin in honor of loved ones lost. This is truly a magnificent intergenerational event. We involve parents in the planning of the Halloween Party and the Haunted House committees, as well as photographers.
Secret Pals - The intergenerational fun of "Secret Pals". An adult is matched up with a child or youth. The sneaky adult pal leaves notes and hints and small treasures for their other half. After two months, there is a Secret UU party where everyone gets to meet.
Advent Garden - a spiral of evergreen boughs is laid upon our sanctuary floor. As beautiful music is played, children and then adults walk the path through the spiral to the center where one candle stands lit. Each person lights their own candle from the center light, placing it on the spiral as they return back along the path. It is a wondrous and peaceful beginning to the holiday season, reminding us of the true gift of inner light revealed in each of us, one by one. The garden is presented the Sunday evening of Thanksgiving weekend. Planning and set up led by parents is helpful.
Honoring Beginnings and Endings - At the end of the school year, children and youth who are making major transitions are honored on the 2nd Sunday in June in the worship service. Children and Youth entering Kindergarten, Middle School and High School participate in a “Moving Up” ceremony during the service.
>>Youth who are moving into adulthood are honored through a “Bridging Ceremony” on Youth Sunday, the Sunday after Mother’s Day each year. The youth are given an opportunity to stand before their congregation and share what has been meaningful to them about their connection to the church, larger UU community and youth group.
>>All children and youth participate in a “Closing Circle” on the last day of the church year, to share thank yous and to honor other children who are moving into new age/class groups.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) - This curriculum is the updated replacement for the highly acclaimed About Your Sexuality series for middle school. OWL is designed as a lifelong learning curricula and there will be age appropriate units for Kindergarten through adulthood. OWL will provide an educational and trusting environment for participants to get information, discuss feelings and ideas, create their own sexual value systems, and learn how to maintain healthy relationships. Registration Forms
Coming of Age (COA) - This rites of passage program is designed to honor the transition from 8th and 9th grade to Youth, a major step on their way to adulthood. The program includes credo writing (statement of beliefs), a mentor program, leadership and team building retreats, a Vision Quest, and ropes course. Middle School OWL and COA program rotate every other year. We hope to offer more levels in the future.
Teacher Appreciation Dinner at church - We thank volunteers for their participation on the planning committee.
Parent Education and Support Classes - these classes are offered occasionally by the minister, the DRE and other UU parents. Some titles include "Parents as Resident Theologians," "Being a UU Parent," "Side by Side - Mothers and Daughters Exploring Selfhood and Womanhood Together."
Overnights - Sleepovers are occasionally offered each year for children ages 6-12. Parents and other church community members supervise a night of cooperative games, worship, food and movies.
Family Worship - first Sunday of every month from 10:20-10:40am between services - Lots of stories, songs, guest musicians, sharing time and fun. Many services are put on by children and youth in our congregation.
Summer Day Camps - OWL camp and Wizard camps are planned for summers.
Summer Sunday FUN DAYS - The Summer program begins in June and continues through the last Sunday of August. Volunteers are needed to work with the groups. Please contact Candee if interested at uucedre@gmail.com or 743-0641
Young Adults On Campus - Students and non-students welcome. We meet twice per month on campus (and twice per month or more at the church) for sharing, worship, discussion and projects.
Plus:
Holiday Pageants
All-RE Family Potluck
Pizza Parties
Monthly Family Outings
Family Karaoke Night
The marvelous playground on church grounds
Field Trips
and more
YOU can get involved as a teacher or teacher's assistant, in work parties, in planning, supervising, guiding, as song leader, Family worship coordinator, storyteller, musician, playground repairer, driver, cook, sleepover assistant, costumer, RE librarian, advisor for different age groups, on the Religious Education Committee, in contributing to the Children's program newsletter. We Appreciate YOU. More at Volunteers
Unitarian Universalist Church
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