Youth Religious Education
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ~ Nelson Mandela
The Fellowship’s youth RE classes are open to all children, pre-kindergarten through high school, who wish to participate in religious exploration, engage in social activities with other UU youth and learn new skills from enrichment activities that complement their religious exploration. Children are grouped together by grades and taught by volunteer teachers. RE classes, held concurrently with Sunday worship services, begin at 10:30 a.m. in the RE wing and generally last until 11:45. Four to six times a year, the Sunday morning worship is intergenerational. These services, designed with our children in mind, often include youth participants, and all children are asked to attend. No RE classes meet on these Sundays.
Fall 2009 – Spring 2010
Nursery: Infants to age 3 (Murray room)
PreK-K: We Are Many, We Are One (Barton room)
The premise of this curriculum is that young children learn about religion through relationships. The four units encourage children to use their minds, bodies and emotions to develop their sense of identity and self-esteem.
1st-3rd grades: Spirit Play (Anthony room)
Spirit Play is modeled on the Montessori method. It is based on stories drawn from Judeo-Christian heritage, world religions, creation myths and other stories of the mystery that some people call God. Children experience a freedom of movement, expression, and choice that allows them the opportunity to explore their own beliefs and listen to their own inner voice.
4th-5th grades: Faith and Values (Emerson/Thoreau room)
These children will explore our UU history and identity, world religions, peace, community service and leadership, and the environment. They will also plan and execute a worship service and a community service project.
6th-7th grades: Our Whole Lives and Religious Exploration (Library)
These youth will have the opportunity to participate in the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education program in the fall. Parents must attend an orientation and give written permission for their children to participate. Once the OWL classes have ended, these youth will embark on a journey of exploration and discovery. They will learn about Unitarian Universalism and begin to clarify their own belief systems by participating in hands on activities and field trips, including a visit to the oldest UU congregation in the South, participating in youth conferences at The Mountain, and planning a presentation for the congregation.
8th-9th grades: Neighboring Faiths (Whitney Young room)
Neighboring Faiths introduces youth to the faith traditions and practices of other religious groups in their community. They will attend worship services of other faith traditions and process together the similarities and differences between the faiths they learn about. There will be several field trips and class times may be changed accordingly. Parents must give written permission for youth to attend field trips and will be asked to assist as chaperones/drivers.
10th-12th grades: Fellowship Life
Older youth are invited to integrate fully into the life of the congregation by participating in Sunday morning worship, volunteering as RE teachers' assistants, joining committees, and participating in any other Fellowship program that interests them.
9th-12th grades: Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU)
Five components are necessary for a balanced youth program: education, worship, service, fellowship, and leadership. This year we will craft our youth group to include each of these areas while also inviting them into greater participation within the life of our congregation. YRUU will meet one or two Sunday evenings each month for fellowship and planning. During the year, adult advisers and youth will collaborate on a service project and worship service. Youth leadership will be encouraged and supported within the group and within the congregation. In addition, youth will be offered opportunities to participate in Thomas Jefferson District youth events and youth conferences at The Mountain.
There are no fees for ongoing youth RE classes, but families are asked to register their children each fall so that we have current contact and health information. You may download the registration form here and mail it in or drop it off at the Fellowship. If you have any questions, e-mail Pam Lepley at DRE@uufws.org.