Youth Religious Education

The mission of the Youth Religious Education (YRE) Program at Neighborhood Church is to:

• NURTURE spiritual growth
• HELP develop personal religious beliefs
  
• CREATE a foundation for Unitarian Universalist Identity
  
• FOSTER trust in community, church & humanity
  
• ENCOURAGE living a life that makes a difference
  

Youth Religious Education Schedule

Church Year: September 11, 2011 - June 3, 2012
9:30am - 10:45am Nursery up to 5th grade
11:30am - 12:45pm Nursery up to 12th grade

Parents are asked not to pick up their children until 15 minutes after the service, allowing time to complete the lesson and bring class to closure. Your consideration is appreciated.

Thematic Approach - Unitarian Universalist Identity

Our Youth Religious Education Program uses a modified theme-based approach for our Kindergarten through fifth grade classes. We have chosen specific religious themes to be the focus of our entire program and we cycle though them every four years.

This year marks our full year of UU Identity. The first set of chosen curricula is part of our Unitarian Universalist Association's new curriculum series designed to nurture UU identity, spiritual growth, and a transforming faith. Best of all, these curricula are available for free, online and are customizable to suit classrooms and individuals. Classes will focus on our UU seven Principles and Sources (see page 1) with the guiding theme of love. We choose curriculum which helps children explore questions like, "What does it mean to be a UU? What do UU's believe? And who are some of our important UU ancestors?" We encourage them to explore how we practice our faith in our lives and in the world. You can view this new online curricula at www.uua.org/tapestryoffaith.

We hope this theme-based model provides a greater foundation for our own faith and values as well as an expanded view of the world through a UU lens. New this year, all of our classes use curricula from the Unitarian Universalist Association's new program, Tapestry of Faith, which offers congregation free, online, customizable curricula for all levels. Written by UU religious educators with clear lesson plans, a host of activity choices for all learning styles, a faith-in-action component and spiritual preparation for teachers. Parents are provided with a week-by-week curriculum plan as well as weekly classroom updates and resources to bring the classroom into the home.

Ways We Worship

Youth Worship/Justice Sundays
Periodically throughout the year, all our children will gather together for youth worship and a group activity focused around our social justice theme of child labor. We want to provide children with the experience of ritual; to learn about the ways in which Unitarian Universalists worship, what it means to be part of a larger faith community and to forge relationships with our ministers and staff. During these worship Sundays, an offering will be given and received by the children. At the end of the year, the children will put their money to work by donating the money to a charity, or worthy cause.

Second Sundays
Children gain an understanding of the ways in which we worship together by attending the first fifteen minutes of services in the Sanctuary on the second Sunday of every month (K - 8th). Seated with their families, they join with people of all ages in singing hymns, silent prayer and listening to a story. Please see the YRE calendar for specific dates.

Intergenerational Services
Throughout the year, we will have Intergenerational services in which the children and youth (K - 8th) are in the sanctuary for the entire service. These services provide an important opportunity for children to witness first-hand the way their parents worship in the sanctuary when they would usually be in their classrooms. These services tend to be more interactive, plus children and youth have opportunities to co-lead the worship. These services are great for families learning and worshipping together.

Youth Religious Education(YRE) Committee

Within the mission of Neighborhood Church and the Youth Religious Education, the YRE Committee represents congregation concerns about religious education for children and youth and supports the professional staff in realizing the goals of the program.

Meeting once a month with the Director of Religious Education and RE Assistant, committee members plan and implement Religious Education Events, support training sessions, serve as a sounding board for staff decision making and act as religious education ambassadors to the greater church community and families.

If you have concerns or comments about programming for children and youth, please contact Sara LaWall, Director of Religious Education.

Visitors are always welcome!