Prorgams for Children

9am and 11am Preschool (3 & 4 year olds)

This class is designed to help some of our youngest feel comfortable in a church community, with introductions to our buildings and the people who work in them. Children begin each Sunday with a gathering circle, where they light a chalice and sing together. Each lesson includes a story about Michael and Sally, building familiarity. Parents, especially those visiting for the first time, are welcome to stay. Because of the manipulative and group skills required, children must be 3 years of age as of August 31. Preschool children go immediately to their class upon Sunday arrival and do not attend the beginning of service. Parents are to pick up their children once service is concluded.

9am and 11am Kindergarten-1^st grade

A Discovering Year nurtures children's spiritual and religious growth through connections to their ever-widening environment. They explore selves, friendships, families, church, nature, and religious and cultural days. Through ritual, sharing times, quiet times, crafts, activities, singing and music, games and movement, stories and talks, they learn to appreciate the worth of each person, to work and play cooperatively, to express feelings, to celebrate human diversity, and to feel part of their UU community.

9am and 11am 2^nd-3^rd Grade

Character building through stories through the world’s religions is the focus for this year. Our UU sources invite us to examine the world’s religions for guidance in our spiritual and ethical lives. Moral Tales begins this process for 2^nd and 3^rd grade children by telling the stories from the World’s major religions and examining how the stories inspire us to be good people. Through the stories, children gain tools to discern ethical action and gain experience in spiritual practices to continue a lifelong religious formation.

9am and 11am 4^th and 5^th grades

The 4^th and 5^th grade will explore major themes in world religions such as love, forgiveness, respect, and tolerance. This year will focus on the teachings of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Through learning the teachings of these faiths we will discover what is meaningful and pertinent to us as Unitarian Universalist. One unique addition to this year is our once a quarter field trip to meet other children from different faiths and to see different churches and Social Justice projects which will help children engage in their faith.