Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie Religious Education
A Religious Education Opportunity for Our Children and Youth and the Adult Volunteers Who Teach Them
Religious Education Programs 2011-2012 September to May
Curriculum Overview
Childcare
Our nursery is a place where children from infancy to pre-K will feel welcome, comfortable and at home. We will always have a qualified childcare provider to take care of the children during the service.
Tapestry of Faith Programs
K-1 - Love Surrounds Us At the core of our Unitarian Universalist community are our seven Principles. The Principles encompass all the ingredients of a good and faith-filled life based on equality, freedom, peace, acceptance, truth, care, and love. This program explores all the Principles in the context of Beloved Community of family/home, school, neighborhood. Participants engage in activities that emphasize the love they feel in community.
Grades 2-5 - Love Will Guide Us In this program, participants learn to seek guidance in life through the lens of our Unitarian Universalist Sources, with an emphasis on love. Together we ask questions such as, "Where did we come from?" "What is our relationship to the Earth and other creatures?" "How can we respond with love, even in bad situations?" "What happens when you die?" Sessions apply wisdom from our Sources to help participants answer these questions. Participants will learn that asking questions is valued in Unitarian Universalism, even as they begin to shape their own answers.
Junior High - Love Connects Us celebrates important ways Unitarian Universalists live our faith in convenanted community. Moved by love and gathered in spirit, we embrace our responsibility toward one another and the world at large. We encourage one another's search for truth and meaning. We strive to be active in peace-making and other efforts to improve our world.
Senior High - A Place of Wholeness is an opportunity to examine their faith journeys to better understand themselves in the context of Unitarian Universalism. Every workshop begins with the same opening reading, the last lines of which are: "We are part of this living tradition. Through it we become whole, and through us it becomes whole." It is this sense of interdependence that the program reinforces. There are several overarching themes that structure this program. Wholeness-the primary theme of the program-is defined as the way in which our UU "outsides" match our UU "insides" by understanding, professing, and living our faith. Wholeness is also important in the sense that each person is integral to the wholeness of the UU community.
Coming of Age Program
In August letters will go out to parents and teens to take part in a Coming of Age Program . This group will meet once a month starting in September and ending in May. Each teen will have a mentor and be required to do certain projects each month.
World Religions
The world religion we are learning about this year is Buddhism. During January each class will study the philosophy and religion of Buddhism appropriate to their class level.
Multigenerational Programs
In addition to the programs listed above the RE children/teens participate in roughly six multi-generational services each year.
Social Responsibility
Religious Education children/teens also take part in two social responsibility projects during the 2011-2012 year. During December we will work with Rose Barr (one of our members) and Safe Net, and in February we will do the Souper Bowl of Caring with donations going to the West Millcreek Food Bank. The children are also responsible for the care of the labyrinth in the Memorial Garden.
Youth Conference
In conjunction with the Pittsburgh youth council with adults, the teens from our congregation will be traveling to Pittsburgh for a youth conference in November.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie maintains a Safe Congregation Policy
to help ensure a safe environment for all members.
Unitarian Universalist 7 Principles for Children
1. We believe that each and every person is special and important.
2. We believe all people should be treated fairly.
3. We believe that our congregation is a place where all are accepted and where all are learning together.
4. We believe that each person must be free to search carefully for what is true and right in life.
5. We believe that all people should have a vote about the things that concern them.
6. We believe that we need to work together for a peaceful, fair and free world.
7. We believe that we must care for our planet earth and its creatures.
Children's Bond of Union
We are Unitarian Universalist,
A people of open minds,
Loving hearts,
And welcoming hands.
Our Religious Education Director is Ginny Sabol. Michele Paich is the chair of our Religious Education Committee. I hope you will choose to come and join our family. If you have any questions, come visit us. Anyone will be eager to talk with you about our children's program.