Ready to register? Click here to complete the current RE registration form!

Access the 2023-2024 Religious Education Brochure Here!

About Religious Education

We are a vibrant community of religious seekers of all ages, learning and growing together on the religious path. Some of our education programs are organized by age groups, and others mix different ages together. Our goal is to offer participants opportunities to learn new things, examine our own lives with honesty, and help and challenge each other to live according to our highest ideals of right relations with each other. In all of our programs, we use Unitarian Universalist principles as a guide and resource.

We encourage each person to take responsibility for their own religious life, and at the same time we are here to support and encourage one another on the journey. We recognize that parents are the primary religious educators for their children and we aim to supplement that with a faith community which can offer additional opportunities for religious growth and learning.

Over the summer, we have children of all ages come together for a story and special activities while adults are participating in the church service.

Our primary curriculum for elementary aged children has often been based on a rotation of foundational topics, which we call the pillars of our program. These are:

• World Religions
• Peace and Social Justice
• Unitarian Universalism
• Our Jewish and Christian Heritage
• The Interdependent Web of Life

What We Offer Through the Lifespan

We provide children, youth, young adults, and adults an opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn in a nurturing spiritual community. Unitarian Universalist religious education programs offer all ages, inspiring:

• Ethical growth – internalizing enduring values like justice, equity, and compassion, and gaining tools to act on them in everyday life.
• Social growth – connecting with peers and people of all ages on a deeper level. Finding acceptance among people who see beyond the superficial.
• Spiritual growth – feeling a connection with the sacred within, among, and beyond us.

Religious education programs include more than classes. On a Sunday you might find the preschoolers singing songs about kindness, the 2nd graders engaging with a story about loss and bereavement, the 5th graders talking with a Muslim couple about Islam, the 7th graders learning about responsibility in a lesson from our progressive sexuality education program, and the high-school youth raising money for the local homeless shelter. Many programs incorporate social justice activities, worship opportunities, service trips, fellowship, and fun.

Our religious educator and minister lead many of our congregations’ lifespan programs. Parents and other members of the congregation often lead them, too. Teaching can be a very fulfilling way to deepen one’s own faith.

We invite you to explore and contact our Director of Religious Education to get connected.

2026 – 2027 RE Curriculum Overview

Kindergarten-6th Grades

Scriptures Through a UU Lens: Cultivating Understanding and Literacy for Today’s World: Our elementary aged children are exploring bible stories this year through a UU lens which includes ways to understand these stories as parables containing wisdom to help us be good people. This introduction also provides basic biblical literacy so when they hear about common figures from the Bible, such as Adam & Eve, Noah, Jesus, the Good Samaritan, the story of Loaves and Fishes (which is the name of our local food bank) they have some familiarity and context. 

• Kindergarten/1st/2nd Grade – Room 6/7
• 3rd/4th Grade – Room 8
• 5/6th Grade – Room 11

Specialty Classes – The first Sunday of most months, we offer Specialty Class options for our Kindergarten – 6th Graders. These are special classes designed to increase connections between different groups of people. It allows different adults from our congregation to lead fun classes in the subject of their choice so they can get to know the children and vice versa.

It allows K-6th graders to interact with a wider age range of kids. It also allows kids to choose which class they wish to participate in each month as they arrive at church. Specialty class options vary widely and can include art, crafts, baking, games, yoga, music, dancing, and nature hikes.

Adventure, Wonder and Exploration (AWE) Labs – Offered on the fourth Sundays of most months, these labs include activity stations that children rotate through at their own pace. Some stations remain the same each month such as coloring and Buddha Boards, others rotate through a variety of activity choices.

Goals:

• Deepen connections with peers & adults
• Build intergenerational relationships
• Provide individual choices
• Engaging hands on activities
• Opportunity to build/practice skills
• Creative and artistic outlets
• Unique learning modalities

A.W.E. Lab Activity Sampler:

• Zen Sand Gardens
• Buddha Boards
• Sensory Room
• Large motor such as Yoga
• Music
• Make Kindness Quilt squares
• Make Mindfulness Calm Jars
• Paint kind messages on rocks
• Mindful Eating
• Soku Poetry writing
• Make Metta Lanterns
• Coloring Room

7-8th Grade

Room 19

Creating the World in which we wish to Live

In the Middle – Building Belonging – Soul Matters

Though fun and engaging activities, our middle school youth will explore our UU values of Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity all rooted in Love

Mosaic Anti-Racism Curriculum

Beginning in February, our youth will be delving into the UUA’s anti-racism curriculum

• What are the characteristics of white supremacy culture
• Recognizing racialized bullying
• When bias and stereotypes show up in people we love
• When one culture has more power than another
• What is colonialism & how do we decolonize?
• Power and democracy: grassroots organizing, media literacy, and the system (locally, nationally, internationally)
• The Paradox of Tolerance: Holding each other accountable with love
• Creative Jam: imagine the Beloved Community

9-12th Grade

Room L-2

Journeys to Deeper Joy Role Playing Game

Through interactive role playing games, our high school youth will be exploring our UU values through various scenarios and character development as the game unfolds. Sure to be fun and engaging for all high school teens.

Intergenerational Services

About six-eight times a year, all ages are invited to remain in the commons to worship together during the Sunday service. There is still nursery care for infants and toddlers during these services.

These services can help children and youth feel connected as a valuable part of the larger congregation as well as become more familiar with our Unitarian Universalist rituals, songs and messages. Children and youth are often invited to help lead aspects of these worship services as well.

You can read more about these Intergenerational Services HERE.