Children’s Programs
Building Community by nurturing loving hearts,
curious minds and joyful spirits!
We believe that faith is something we live, not something we learn.
Being a part of a loving community strengthens a child’s love for others, themselves, and the world.
Nurturing a child’s curiosity about the big questions of life gives them confidence to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Living with a sense of wonder and reverence everyday deepens a child’s capacity for joy and connection.
We also believe worship is something we engage with, not something we sit through. Worship is when we pause to take the time for wonder, love and gratitude for all that is our lives. Our children’s worship is active and participatory. Each week, on Sunday morning, children will gather to experience the love and connection found in our beloved community. Adults and children begin together in the Sanctuary for the first 10 minutes or so before the children are dismissed to go to their RE program with their adult leaders.
This Spring, we are introducing a program called “Woodland Wonderland” for children in Preschool through 8th grades. Each Sunday children will join their families in the Sanctuary for the first 10 minutes of the Sunday Service, and then will then head outside with the Director of Religious Education and adult volunteers to explore our Unitarian Universalist values and principles in our natural classroom outside.
Our overarching goal this church year is to reconnect after spending nearly 2 years apart and let Mother Nature guide our exploration of our Monthly Themes and our core values, Faith, Community & Love.
Sign your child up for our Children’s Program for the 2021-2022 year!
Childcare (6mo – 2) Exploring our World.
Loving and age-appropriate care is available for children during Sunday morning worship services. Our youngest children are “mentored” by older children eager to help them learn.
Pre-K (ages 2 – 4) Making Friends.
We make friends with other people, the world around us and with ourselves through play, children’s worship, and service to others. UU message: “I know that I am loved.”
K-3 (ages approx. 5-8) Exploring Our Stories.
We explore the stories that ground us in our Unitarian Universalist faith, with wisdom from the worlds’ religions and insight from many cultural perspectives. UU Message “I know that I am a valued member of this UU church.”
Gr. 4-6 (ages approx. 9-11) Soul Matters.
We build our church community by worshiping together, asking and seeking answers to life’s big questions and being of service to the wider world. UU message “I know what Unitarian Universalism is and how it affects how I act in the world.”
Gr. 7-8 (ages approx. 12 – 13) Creating Connections.
We create meaningful connections while learning about ethics and safety in personal relationships. We also create meaningful connections to our faith by composing and presenting our credo statements in Coming of Age. UU message: “I know what I believe.”
Gr. 9-12 (ages approx. 14-18) Living Our Faith.
By the time we reach high school age, we are ready to live our faith in the world through service, celebration and involvement in the wider church and U.U. community. Our teens gather weekly for Youth Group where they delve deep into how to live their UU faith. UU message “I live my UU identity in my communities.”
Young Adults: Deepening Faith Formation.
I support my community and work for justice, to grow my soul and heal the world. We do this through worship, social justice, volunteering, and faith formation classes. UU message: “I continue to grow and change and develop my faith and spiritual practices.”
This we believe.
The Unitarian Universalist Principles, simplified here in terms we can understand at any age, provide the context for developing and practicing the values family seek to reinforce.
- Each and every person is important
- All people should be treated fairly and kindly
- We should accept one another and keep learning together
- Each person is free to search for what is true and right in life
- All persons should have a vote about the things that concern them
- We should seek a peaceful, fair, and free world for all
- We should care for our planet Earth together, the home we are sharing with all living things.
Kids ask a ton of questions…
Google can only get you so far!
Is there a God?
What happens to me when I die?
Is there a Heaven? How about Hell?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Do dogs go to heaven? How about cats? Hamsters?
Does God answer prayers?
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How do we teach our children values and make sure our messages resonate above the mixed messages in the Media?
Our weekly Sunday morning gatherings helps connect the dots.
Empathy…Appreciating the joys and concerns of others.
Responsibility…Lead, serve, fundraising for a meaningful cause.
Compassion…Learn about the hardships of others, volunteer at Community Table, join in the Hunger Walk.
Kindness…Honor diversity, learn inclusiveness and acceptance.
Commitment…How to make a serious promise or covenant to one another.
Justice…Fight for what is right. The Heifer Project, marriage equality, habitat for humanity, mission trips.
Stewardship…Taking care of our church and our environment. Green sanctuary.
Creativity…Lead worship, participate in children’s choir, visit our play unit and volunteer.
Sexuality…Honest and accurate sexuality education for all and encourages acceptance.
