Childrens Program

Our Religious Education program for Children and Youth follows a Faith Development model that strongly encourages and supports intergenerational participation. The congregation does not just have educational programs; the church is an educational program.  Our comprehensive program reflects the value we place on community and the idea that faith development is a shared journey.

  • Children and youth join us in the sanctuary every week for the first 15 minutes or so, and then go to Religious Education classes after a Conversation with the Children and Youth
  • Our children participate in some worship services, and the teen group leads one service each year
  • They assist in social action projects
  • They study and explore what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist in a world of many religions and philosophies
  • Youth discuss socially and philosophically relevant topics and have additional community-building and leadership opportunities
  • High school youth serve on our Board and Committees

Our program is organized around several age-appropriate curriculums. We are excited about our 2010 Summer Program:

Childcare

While children of all ages are always welcome to stay in the service with their parents, professional childcare providers are available for children ages 0-4.

 

Elementary  Grades    (Grades K - 5)

Using "The Picture Book of World Religions" curriculum by Kate Tweedie Covey, the Elementary grades will look at Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.  Each lesson is built around a story and related activities.  A Take Home Page is provided each week to keep the family informed.

June 6: Field trip to Phoenicia Specialty Foods

June 13: Intergenerational Flower Communion Service

Islam

June 20: Sacred Places  This introduction to the curriculum looks surveys sacred places of many religions.  The children color a mandala and create a collage.

June 27: The Hundredth Name  In this introduction to Islam, the children learn that Allah has 100 names.  They use sand paper to make desert pictures and egg cartons to make camels.

July 4: The Day of Ahmed's Secret  The children learn about calligraphy and practice making different kinds of letters.

July 11: Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr  The story follows a family as they fast each day, go to the Mosque on the Night of Power, and enjoy a delicious snack.  The children make a no-bake snack.

 

Hinduism

July 18: Fieldtrip to Hindu Mandir

July 25: Savitri  The children hear a retelling of an epic from India about a princess who becomes a heroine because of her mind and heart, not her beauty.  They make crowns or tiaras.

Aug. 1: Lighting a Lamp - Diwali  The children learn about Diwali, the popular Hindu Festival of Light.  They work with rangoli designs and make a clay diya.

Aug. 8: Lights for Gita  The children learn about the Hindu gods and how Diwali is celebrated in the United States.  They experience a guided meditation using 'OM.'

 

Buddhism

Aug. 15: Buddha in the Garden The story introduces the four signs of enlightenment.  The children make a Zen Garden.

Aug. 22: Intergenerational Water Communion Service

Aug. 29: The Mountains of Tibet  The story revolves around the concept of reincarnation.  The children make kites.

Sept. 5: Zen Shorts The children experience several short meditations.  They make black and white paintings.

 

Youth   (Middle and High School)

All Sundays June 20 - August 15, Sept. 5

 

The Youth will view a series of episodes from the

TV show "The Simpsons."  Each episode is accompanied by a lesson plan that invites the Youth to consider the episode through the lens of Unitarian Universalist Principles and values.

 

Other Sundays of note:

 

June 6:   Field trip to Phoenicia Specialty Foods

June 13: Intergenerational Flower Communion Service

Aug. 22: Intergenerational Water Communion Service

Aug. 29: Youth attend worship service to hear new minister

 

Quick Links

Up coming children and youth topics

 

Please contact our Director of Faith Development, Patti Withers, at dfd@tuuc.org  if you have questions or would like more information.

Heres what some of our children and youth have said about why they come to TUUC:

  • "I get spirituality here."
  • "I can be more myself here."
  • "The environment is more comfortable than school."
  • "I can speak my mind without being looked at as being weird."
  • "A lot of the people here are my best friends."
  • "Even though I may not know you as well as my friends,I can tell you things that I cannot tell my friends."
  • "This is an opportunity for spirited intellectual discussions."
  • "There is a diversity of personalities here -- I like the diversity."
  • "I come to hang out."
  • "I come for the check-in."
  • "I enjoy being with you, hearing about your lives, and then going away."
  • "This is a place to come back to."
  • "People are nice and friendly."
  • "This is a place to be with friends."