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Religious Education - Children's Programs for 2007-08
Worship for Children      Nursery Care     Sunday Morning Schedule     
Classes      Beyond Sunday      Social Action      Children's Choir      RE Committee
Questions or comments about religious education for children at our church?
Call our DRE, Liza Spisto, at 978-456-7788, or email Liza at .
 
Worship for Children
We offer three kinds of worship experiences for children:
On most Sunday mornings children attend the first 15-20 minutes of the regular worship service in the Church sanctuary. They participate in the Reflection for All Ages portion of the service, then leave with their teachers for their classes.
On the second Sunday of each month, children begin in the Fellowship Building instead of the sanctuary for a special children's worship, usually led by the Director of Religious Education. This is a child-specific service with singing, readings, reflections, meditation, and candle lighting.
The third form of worship for children is intergenerational. These Sunday services are usually on or around religious holidays or on other special days when the minister and the DRE lead all-church worship in the sanctuary.
Families are encouraged to talk at home about the sacredness of the sanctuary space, the meaning of our rituals and symbols, and the importance of silent reflection in worship. We appreciate everyone's modeling for and patience with our youngest participants.
Reminders about starting locations for children are listed in the Belfry newsletter and on the sign at the top of the Fellowship Building driveway each week.
What Do Children Need on Sunday Morning?
Children's Version of Unitarian Universalist Principles
It Matters What We Believe
 
Nursery Care
The nursery, for infants to 3-year-olds, offers a comfortable and safe haven for our youngest children. Located in the Fellowship Building, it is open at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings and closes promptly at 11:30 a.m. Feel free to stay as long as needed while your child becomes acquainted with our caregivers. The nursery is staffed by church youth (10th grade and older), and there is always an adult on duty for additional support. Children must be registered to stay in the nursery.
 
Sunday Morning Schedule
9:45 a.m. The nursery in the Fellowship Building is open for infants and children up to three years old.
10:00 a.m. Worship - Children worship in the sanctuary with their families during the first 15 minutes of the service each week, except on the second Sunday of each month when 1st graders through 6th graders attend Children's Worship in the Fellowship Building. Teachers escort the children from the church to their classrooms. Children up to age five may attend supervised play in their classrooms from 10:00 to 10:15 a.m. if they wish.
11:00 a.m. Fellowship Hour - At the end of the worship service, adults and youth attend a refreshment/social time at the back of the sanctuary.
11:15 a.m. Children's classes end. Nursery, pre-school, and kindergarten children must be picked up in their classrooms at this time. Parents are encouraged to be timely so our teachers may enjoy the Fellowship Hour. Teachers or older children will walk first and second grade children back to the church after class. Third through sixth graders are allowed to walk to the church on their own.
11:30 a.m. Nursery closes.
 
Classes for 2006-07
•   Preschool and Kindergarten
We will use the year-long UUA curriculum We Are Many, We Are One. This anti-bias, multicultural curriculum celebrates deversity and interdependence by promoting the acceptance of one another and the inherent worth and dignity of all. this program also devotes a lot of time to nature, appreciation of and caring for our environment, helping children to underand how they fit into the interdependent web.
Our goal here is for children to feel a sense of belonging to our faith community and begin to associate themselves as Unitarian Universalists.
•   1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades
This year the first, second, and third graders will learn about Unitarian Universalism using the Spirit of Adventure curriculum. This program uses a combination of active play and meaningful group projects as vehicles for conveying our principles. Here children learn by doing; for example, UUs value exploring, let's dissect a computer. Famour UUs are mentioned throughout the curriculum—people whose leives exemplified our faith—as well as important quotes which connect our daily lives with the UU principles.
In addition to this program, children will using a workbook called My Unitarian Universalist Journey, which helps them make personal connections to the UU principles.
•  
4th, 5th, and 6th Grades
This class will use Traditions with a Wink, a curriculum designed to help upper elementary age children understand and articulate our faith. Building on their knowledge, we will ask children to relate our principles to their lives. They will explore many core human issues: forgiveness, hope, comfort, and prayer, as well as classic religious questions such as how was the world created and what happens after death. Children will learn our stories by hearing about prophetic men and women They will reflect on important Bible stories through UU eyes, always celebrating the questions as we search for our own answers.
Mixed in each morning will be the opportunity for fun and community building. Trips to visit other UU churches and service projects for the church and community make this class exciting and rewarding for all.
 
Beyond Sunday Events
Children in our church community have many opportunities to develop social and spiritual connections. Beyond Sunday special events are designed to encourage our families to have fun, be compassionate, and be active participants in our faith community. The following events are planned for this year: 
Holiday Tree Decorating Party    •    UU Passover Seder
Several times a year, the children participate in Activity Sunday instead of having class. These Sunday mornings are centered around school vacation times and consist of themed large-group activities. Occasionally there is a guest speaker/performer or a field trip.
  
Social Action
Social action and justice are ongoing parts of the children and youth programs. Children discuss, research, develop, and participate in at least one project that will address social inequalities in our church, our community, or beyond. Empathy, compassion, and the satisfaction of knowing that we can make a difference are the goals of these endeavors. Youth participate in annual social service projects such as the City Year Serv-A-Thon and the Walk for Hunger.
 
Children's Choir
Join us in song! The Children's Choir, directed by Eleanor Toth, is for all interested children in first through sixth grades. We rehearse on Sundays. Children learn new songs and perform at special worship services during the year. A schedule of rehearsals is posted in the Fellowship Building. 
 
Religious Education Committee
The Children's Religious Education Committee works in partnership with the Director of Religious Education to plan, carry out, and assess the programs, classes, and special events specific to children, nursery through sixth grade. Committee meetings are on the first Monday of each month at 7:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Building. Visitors are most welcome
The Religious Education Committee upholds Unitarian Universalist values by presenting religious education and spiritual growth opportunites for our children and youth. We make the RE mission possible by:
  Supporting the church's mission;
Assisting our children and youth in building a strong spiritual foundation;
  Offering age-appropriate curricula;
  Sponsoring intergenerational activities;
  Providing opportunities for ritual and worship;
  Promoting social action involvement;
  Creating a fun, safe, and nurturing environment.
Committee members for 2007-08 are Cheryl Coonahan and Frank Anderson, co-chairs, Tammy Alfano, Risa Goldman, Mary Krause, Debi Nygren, Lisa Oldham, Liza Spisto (DRE), Hellie Swartwood.
Director of Religious Education (DRE) is Liza Spisto, 978-456-7788, .
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