Religious Exploration Hour

for Children and Youth

Sundays, 9:45-10:45am

Linette Lowe - Director of Religious Exploration dre [at] firstulou.org (subject: First%20Unitarian%20Religious%20Exploration) (email)

Summer 2018

June 10-August 12

Summer PlaySpace Kids and their carers meet in the Courtyard (Rm. 212 if it's raining) for fun and community building. There will be a bin of outdoor toys and activities available near the courtyard entrance, along with a flameless chalice, chalice-lighting words, the Seven Principles, and Guidelines for Being Together. Carers can enjoy each other's company while the children play in our sacred space. Carers will share supervision of the children, without a central adult responsible for planning, execution, and supervision. Our objectives for such a fellowship include:

-building and maintaining multigenerational relationships

- experiencing comfort and joy related to the church’s physical space and the people there

- having fun together

- relaxing together

-viewing the church as “our house”

-explicitly offering “permission” to play and just be

-novelty

-exploring the value of a less planning-heavy gathering and what it can teach us

-offering all stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on and plan for spring and fall RE sessions.

We acknowledge that a break from more planning-heavy RE can be healthy both for facilitators and participants. We look forward to a free, fun summer to watch our families grow!

--The RE Ministry

Important Note on Communications

As of January 2018, all communications for RE will be through Remind. Please text your child(ren)'s class code(s) found below to 81010 to join Remind. Help us save paper and stay in the know! You will receive short weekly Taking It Home messages and any announcements.

Link to 2018-19 online RE Registration:

https://goo.gl/forms/DgOaiiReN0nRcvQ93

Link to 2018-19 SignUpGenius to Volunteer:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49aca72ca1f85-sunday

First Unitarian Emergency Form

Must be on file with the DRE before any off-site visit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IzD_j_xLUiCR1_BZ_7zZam1K-7F5ZzWgOnnRGouIir8/edit?usp=sharing

First Unitarian Permission Form for Off-Site Visits

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UQcBcC65zIZaGP9_9M8fVhMKA-f_Mhcant5x2ed6R28/edit?usp=sharing

Fall 2018 RE Programming

August 19 - December 10

Nursery (Sprouts)

Class code: @1stunurs (text to 81010 to join Remind)

Nursery care is available during the RE hour (9:30-11:00) for children infants to Preschoolers in Room 214 every Sunday. Nursery care continues during the service as well, though all children are welcome in the service.

Infants and toddlers in the nursery will be engaged with an age-appropriate chalice-lighting, story, activity and snack each week, as well as ample time for play. Elena Meeks and NaQueesha Puckett, Leaders. Room 214.

Preschool - Kindergarten (Explorers)

We Are Many, We Are One

Class code: @1stuexpl

We Are Many, We are One offers young children the opportunity to learn about their religious community and tradition, as well as the freedom to discover and express their uniqueness. The four units in this program encourage children to develop their sense of identity and self-esteem wiwthin their Unitarian Universalist community and their world. The themes of "Many" and "One" -- community and individuality, alike and different, humankind and me -- provide a focal point. Room 212.

1st - 4th Grade (Seekers)

Faithful Journeys

Class code: @1stuseek

Faithful Journeys participants embark on a pilgrimage of faith, exploring how Unitarian Universalism translates into life choices and everyday actions. Through sessions structured around our UU Principles, we demonstrate that our Principles are not a dogma, but a credo that individuals affirm with many kinds of action. All sessions include hands-on activities as well as guided discussion, reflection, and self-expression to engage participants with various learning styles. Room 207.

5th - 8th Grade (Questers)

Learn-MORSH-Serve-Fun Rotation

Class code: @1stuques

First Sunday: Learn! Second Sunday: Multigen One Room Schoolhouse in the Social Hall! Third Sunday: Serve! Fourth Sunday: Fun! Join us to learn, participate in Multigenerational faith development, serve our church and our neighbors, and have fun together! Ideas generated by the class will take us out into the community to visit other faith traditions (and our own), serve our neighbors, and build community among ourselves by having fun together. Rm. 202.

Senior High

Individual Apprenticeships

Class code: @1stusrhi

Senior high students will work with the Director of RE to find meaningful and fun involvement in the life of the church. Opportunities might include assisting in a classroom, learning a skill such as working tech deck, or working directly with the DRE.

Multigenerational One Room Schoolhouse

on Monthly Ministry Themes

2nd Sundays, Social Hall

September 9--Beauty

October 14--Hospitality

November 11--Faith

December 9--Hope

January 13--Justice

February 10--Love

March 10--Humility

April 14--Transformation/Resurrection

May 12--Transcendence

Discover Our Whole Lives

Sexuality Education

Fall 2018: K-2 OWL will be offered. Mandatory Parent and Child Orientation in September. Eight sessions during the Celebration of Life Service through the fall. Room 204.

Spring 2019: 7th-9th Grade OWL in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. Dates TBA.

Childcare

Childcare is available for infants and toddlers every Sunday during Exploration Hour and the Celebration of Life worship service, beginning at 9:30 until 12:15.

Holiday schedule

Exploration classes for children

will not be held on these holidays:

Last three Sundays of December. Child care on that day will be offered for ages infant through 5th grade. Please pick up children in your care at 10:45 a.m. for the Celebration of Life worship service.
First Sunday of January. Child care on that day will be offered for ages infant through 5th grade. Please pick up children in your care at 10:45 a.m. for the Celebration of Life worship service.
Easter Sunday. Adults are invited to bring children in their care to the All-church Easter Breakfast during first hour. Activities for children are a part of the Easter celebration.

Children's Celebration during the

Celebration of Life Service

After Exploration Hour all youth and children in Preschool through High School join their families to attend the multigenerational Celebration of Life worship service at 11:00. Please pick up children Preschool and older at 10:45 for the Celebration of Life worship service.

Children's Celebration is offered for children Preschool through upper elementary grades during the sermon portion of the service. We gather in circle time to get to know one another, talk about the ministry theme and what is happening in the service, engage in a mindfulness practice, and then have Montessori-style work time. Children are returned to the sanctuary before the end of the Celebration of Life service.

The Goal of Religious Exploration

First Unitarian Church Religious Education nurtures both roots and wings; the roots of community and shared values, and the wings of the free mind and creative spirit. Liberal Religious Education can lead each person into living a life loyal to their deepest faith, toward wholeness and ultimate commitment.

UU Anti-Racism Resources in Response to Ferguson:

The link below is a compilation of resources designed to help parents talk to their children and youth about race, racism, and what happened in Ferguson.

UUFergusonResponseTeam-REResources.pdf