Our Ministry: Lifespan Religious Education

Children & Youth Program Highlights

    Nursery/Preschool
  • Childcare in the nursery and a preschool class in the preschool room will be offered during each service, 9:15 to 10:15 and 11:00 to 12:00. Preschoolers will have the opportunity to enjoy circle time, music, a story, activity, and play time.
    11:00 Service
    RE: 10:45 to 12:00.
  • Elementary children will begin with refreshments and welcome, then teachers will take the children to the sanctuary for the opening rituals. Teachers will take the children downstairs for music and programming.
  • Parents of preschoolers, ages 3 and 4, have the option of taking them directly to the preschool room for activities, or taking them to the service for the opening rituals. In the service, they will stay with a parent and leave with the teachers and other children, to be escorted to the preschool room.
  • Stories have a long tradition of conveying messages in an entertaining and memorable way. "One Family" is a program based on stories from around the world, with themes related to living UU principles and ideals. Stories written by famous UU educator Sophia Lyon Fahs will be the basis for discussions and activities. This fun and entertaining way to experience "Sunday School" will appeal to many children who prefer a less traditional approach to learning. Elementary children will listen to the story together, then split into primary and intermediate groups for the follow-up. The Bible will be the focus during the second half of the year, February through April.
  • Teen programming will be offered in the "UUG" (UUs of the generations) room during this service.
  • Youth in 7th to 9th grade will have the option to participate in Our Whole Lives class from January through April. An alternative class for all teens, 7th through 12th, will he held concurrently.
    9:15 Service
    RE: 9:15 to 10:30
  • Elementary children should go straight to the sanctuary with their families. Elementary aged children may sit in the front with their teachers or sit with their families. Preschool children who attend the opening rituals should stay with their family. Teachers will escort all children to their rooms at the appropriate time. Parents are welcome to take their child to their room if they so desire.
    Themes will be:
  • announced closer to fall 2007
Elementary grouping will be Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade class, 3rd & 4th grade class, 5th & 6th grade class. Middle school and high school programming will only be held during the second service, since Sunday morning sleeping in is a must for most teens. If there is enough interest in programming for teens at the first service, it will be added. Youth in 7th grade and older coming at 9:15 should attend the service.
    Annual Events
  • Greenbelt clean-up: the classes take a turn in cleaning up the section of the Greenbelt that the church is responsible for.
  • RE Sunday: The classes show the congregation what they have been learning throughout the year.
  • Secret/Mystery Friends: adults and children make new friends.
  • Christmas Pageant: sometimes it's the usual story, sometimes there's an new "twist" to the story!