Our Ministry:
Religious Growth and Learning for Children & Youth

Life Issues

    Our Whole Lives

  • Our Whole Lives (or OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. It is taught with a religious supplement which includes Unitarian Universalist values for children, youth, adults and families. Supporting parents in their role as the primary sexuality educators and helping them to reinforce or establish healthy communication on the topic of sexuality is a primary objective of the OWL program, particularly at the elementary levels. The OWL series is offered for various age groups kindergarten through grade 12. Most age level classes are 8 sessions long. The middle school level is the most intensive consisting of 27 sessions. Classes are taught by leaders with special training in sexuality education. More information can be found on the OWL Web site: http://www.uua.org/re/owlnet.html.

    Lessons of Loss

  • Lessons of loss provide a safe, nurturing environment for peers and trusted adults to explore issues, thoughts and ideas about loss. Four broad categories of loss are explored: loss of some aspect of yourself, such as self-esteem or an important belief; loss of an external object, such as a home or possession; developmental loss, such as loss of childhood; or loss of a person, pet or relationship. Participation in the series of four sessions helps children and youth develop healthy strategies for facing life's challenges. There is discussion on death, how we remember those who have died, how we want to be remembered and what happens when we die.

    Peace

  • Peace is addressed at several levels. Peace for self instills a sense of awareness and acceptance of the essence of oneself. Peace with others around us involves the peacemaking, or conflict resolution process within our daily relationships. Peace for everyone focuses on the concepts of justice, compassionate action, equality, and group empowerment within communities from the classroom to the world.
  • Tolerance, diversity, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender issues, racism, classism, ethics, and related topics are explored.

    Social Justice

  • "The compassionate person may not strike but knows when to hiss: hiss sensitively and strategically." -- Tom Owen-Towle As Unitarian Universalists it is our moral imperative to act on our principles to make the world a better place, each in our own way. Everything from acts of kindness that take just a moment to year-long social action projects are promoted and encouraged. Social justice takes many forms. It is our faith in action and we strive to make it a way of life. Projects and activities are ongoing within the children and youth program and church community at large. Families are encouraged to get involved and participate in social action projects together.

    Interdependent Web

  • Through experiences and activities, participants enhance their awareness of the interdependent web of all existence and their place in it. A respect, sense of responsibility and appreciation for nature is promoted as well as a sense of connectedness with the earth and its inhabitants.

    Nurturing Unitarian Universalist Identity
    Rituals, Reverence and Relationships, The Three Rs

  • Developing an identity as a Unitarian Universalist requires three basic components. First, is the comfort and familiarity of rituals. Rituals are experienced in several different forms. The entire intergenerational congregation experiences the opening rituals of the worship service together weekly; the children and youth experience classroom rituals with their peers and adult leaders; ritual intergenerational services of the church calendar including Day of the Dead, holiday pageants, Music for the Soul Service, and a Flower Communion Service. In addition to these rituals at church, families are encouraged and supported in creating rituals for the home.
  • The second R in nurturing religious identity is reverence, a feeling or attitude of deep respect, love and awe, a sense of something sacred. We make time in our busy lives to come to church to intentionally taking time each week to stop, listen to what we feel inside, and celebrate the sacred circle of life. Looking at nature gives many people a peaceful feeling, a sense of reverence. Taking time to intentionally experience reverence nurtures spirituality.
  • Relationships is the third R. Making friends, getting to know peers and adults promotes a sense of belonging. When children attend regularly on Sundays and participate in social events, they build meaningful relationships with people who have similar values and ideals. We come together in community and support each other as we face times of challenge and celebrate in times of joy. Participants also learn where the good snacks are, fun toys and games, the best hiding spots for playing sardines, and start to feel comfortable with the church and the people.