RE - Youth

May 3 Family Friendship Dinner and Game Night, 6:00 p.m., hosted by Rev. Sara

June 1 Lifespan Worship Celebrating Religious Education including a Bridging Ceremony for Sam Martin and Victoria Woodard Join us in celebration and recognition of an important rite of passage for Vic and Sam, as they graduate from high school and move into young adulthood.

Unitarian Universalist Religious Education is a lifelong process that facilitates each individual’s path of spiritual growth while promoting an understanding of how to live our UU principles and values. It extends beyond the classroom and is dependant upon the whole congregation’s support and participation.

The goal of the UUCT religious education program is to provide a safe space to explore, question, wonder, listen and reflect in a joyful, affirming environment.

There is now a container for children’s offerings located in the small dome. Children can contribute to the collection plate each week by writing their name on a tiny envelope and placing it in the box.

All Religious Education volunteers who miss worship service receive a free recording of the service. CD’s are located below the RE bulletin board in the big dome.

“Never has it been more important to move beyond the recognition of religious diversity to an active engagement and relationship with that diversity; to move beyond tolerance to an energetic engagement and search for understanding; to move to an expanded sense of our Unitarian Universalist identity and a deeper commitment to our faith in relationship with that of others in our communities and our world.” – Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer,

This year’s RE focus is on exploring the religions of the world. The class of 6—9 year olds will be using the UUA curriculum Holidays and Holy Days while the 10—13 year old class uses Neighboring Faiths. Both classes will be making field trips to various religious communities including a Jewish congregation, a Catholic Church, a Buddhist Temple, a Muslim Mosque, a Full Moon Celebration, and more!

Childcare is provided in the nursery for newborns to age 5. We have two paid childcare workers, Kim Thorne and Catherine Caldwell. Kim has been employed at the church since 2003 and Catherine joined our childcare team in 2008. Kim & Catherine provide loving care in a safe environment during church so parents can attend the service. Childcare during all church events can be arranged if parents notify the DRE at least two weeks in advance.

Our year of exploring the neighboring faiths of our community is coming to a close and what a great year it has been! The children were introduced to some of the rituals and beliefs of Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Lutheranism, Paganism & more. We engaged in fun classroom activities, hosted guests, and visited many different communities. As we explored the similarities and differences between our faith and others we deepened our understanding of Unitarian Universalism and ourselves.

If you missed out on being part of the team this year, it’s not too early to start thinking about participating in our fall program! Unitarian Universalist Religious Education grows compassionate UU’s who, over the course of their lives, will strengthen our religious tradition and our world. Your help will nourish our church ministry and your own spiritual hunger. Next year in R.E. we will be focusing on Unitarian Universalism and Faith Development. An RE Committee member will be calling YOU this summer to discuss how best YOU can serve our RE Program. When you get that call please say “YES, I will volunteer!”

Don’t stop coming to church just because it’s the summer!!! Fun activities and fellowship with friends will be taking place all summer long at UUCT!!! Each Sunday during the 11:00 a.m. worship service the children and youth will be in the small dome learning about and participating in a different spiritual practice. Activities will include yoga, dancing, music making, cooking, nature walking and MORE! It’s going to be a great summer of growing our UU spirituality. Don’t Miss It!!!

We need volunteers to come in and lead spiritual practice workshops! Think about your spiritual practice. Do you do Yoga? Cooking? Gardening? Art? Music? Meditation? Nature Observation? Singing? Dancing? Is your spiritual thirst quenched by helping others? Share your practice with our kids this summer! It will be a mixed age group – mostly children age 5 – 12 - but there may be some teens as well. Please volunteer to lead one Sunday workshop and share your spirituality with our kids. You’ll be glad you did!