Everything we do is Faith Formation. Everything we teach is Unitarian Universalism. The Congregation is the Curriculum. ~ Connie Goodbread
Religious Education Registration Form
All children and youth must be registered for Religious Education in order to participate. Please CLICK HERE to register.
Fall 2022
Nursery
Ages: Infants through 4 years old
Children under the age of five will meet in the Murray Room with nursery staff Amelia Bodner and/or Katherine Jones. Drop off can begin at 10:15 am* and children should be picked up no later than noon. Nursery staff have been vaccinated for Covid-19 and will wear masks while caring for the children. Children ages 3 years and up should also wear masks while indoors.
Please dress children in weather appropriate play clothes and send necessary supplies such as diapers and a bottle or sippy cup. While the nursery age children will primarily be cared for indoors, staff may opt to go outside if weather permits.
*Parents who have a volunteer role requiring their presence in the Fellowship or those participating in the Forum or YoUUngish meetings may drop off their children as early as 9:00 am provided that nursery staff are available and ready.
Signs of Our Faith: Being UU Every Day
Ages: Kindergarten (5 years) through 5th Grade
Signs of Our Faith guides children to do their best to live faithful lives every day. It presents fourteen traits or values that most Unitarian Universalists love including the quest for knowledge, reverence for life, supporting one another on our faith journeys, and public witness. Children examine how their lives do and can exhibit these traits and values, and come to understand that their faith is a living faith whose histories and teachings are fortifications for living faithfully in a complex world.
D’oh God
Ages: Middle School – 6th through 8th Grade
Through the lens of the fictitious Simpsons family, this curriculum seeks to help participants:
- Consider differing religious beliefs and the ways in which our faith can help us
understand our questions, seek answers, and deal with issues in our lives. - Learn how other faith traditions respond to important theological and ethical issues.
- Understand ways in which the right of conscience calls us to do what’s right, even if there are possible negative consequences.
- Examine how our choices affect others around us, as well as ourselves.
- Explore how religious concepts are related to perspective and point of view.
YAYAs: Youth and Young Adults, High School and Just Beyond
Ages: Approximately 14-22 Years Old
The Forum and the Worship Service
Youth and Young Adults are invited and encouraged to participate in The Forum and the Worship Service every Sunday.
The Forum program begins at 9:00am (informal conversation starting at 8:45am) and is offered both in-person and via Zoom. Information about the program schedule and the Zoom link may be found here: https://uufws.org/adult-religious-education/
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Forum Team at Forum@uufws.org
Sunday morning Worship begins at 10:30am and is also offered in-person and via Zoom. Weekly worship topics and the Zoom link may be found here: https://uufws.org/worship-sermons/
Emerging Leaders: Lunch and Learn
On the first Sunday of the month (excluding holidays), meet in the Emerson Thoreau Room at Noon for lunch and checkin. Following lunch, hear a presentation on a topic related to leadership development. Ask questions, discuss with your peers, and plan for follow-up as desired.
Lunch 12:00-12:45
Break 12:45-1:00pm
Leadership Development 1:00-2:00pm
2022-2023 Dates:
October 2, November 6, December 4, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7
Parents/Guardians
Parents/Guardians are asked to register their children so that our Director of Religious Education has current contact and other important information for all of our families. You can register here: https://uufws.breezechms.com/form/06bba7
Sometimes parents prefer for their children to attend worship along with them. Sometimes youth prefer to attend worship rather than participate in the youth class.
Sometimes parents or youth sing in the choir, serve as ushers or worship leaders, or fill another volunteer role. We support the different ways in which you or your youth choose to participate at the Fellowship on Sunday mornings. Please talk with Membership Manager, Caron Armstrong or Director of Religious Education, Pam Lepley, if you would like to discuss volunteer roles or program offerings.
Families may find the following information helpful as you prepare for worship or youth consider the options for participating on Sunday mornings.
SPRING 2023
Nursery
Ages: Infants through 4 years old
Children under the age of five will meet in the Murray Room with nursery staff Amelia Bodner and/or Katherine Jones. Drop off can begin at 10:15 am* and children should be picked up no later than noon. Nursery staff have been vaccinated for Covid-19 and will wear masks while caring for the children. Children ages 3 years and up should also wear masks while indoors.
Please dress children in weather appropriate play clothes and send necessary supplies such as diapers and a bottle or sippy cup. While the nursery age children will primarily be cared for indoors, staff may opt to go outside if weather permits.
*Parents who have a volunteer role requiring their presence in the Fellowship or those participating in the Forum or YoUUngish meetings may drop off their children as early as 9:00 am provided that nursery staff are available and ready.
Holy Troublemakers and Unconventional Saints
Ages: Kindergarten (5 years) through 5th Grade
This curriculum profiles 12 people of diverse faiths who have worked for love, compassion, and justice in their corner of the world, even if that meant rocking the religious boat. While their lives look different, what each of them has in common is that they used their faith to work for the good of everyone. That’s the kind of people of faith our world needs more of, and stories are one of our best tools to share their values and to catch courage from their example for our own unique times.
Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education
Ages: 6th through 8th Grade
Prerequisites: Parent/Guardian must attend an Orientation and must sign a permission form/participation agreement for youth to participate.
Tentative pending facilitator availability – D’oh God will continue through the spring if we are not ready to start OWL by February.
Our Whole Lives is a sexuality education program for youth that models and teaches caring, compassion, respect, and justice. It is a holistic program that moves beyond the intellect to address the attitudes, values, and feelings that youth have about themselves and the world.
This program is comprehensive and progressive and addresses sensitive topics in an inclusive and developmentally appropriate manner. Some of the important and relevant topics to be covered include: body image, social media/internet, bullying/bystander responsibilities, and consent education.
Although the curriculum was developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ, the curriculum is completely secular and free of specific religious doctrine or reference. However, the underlying values of the program reflect the justice-oriented traditions of both denominations.
YAYAs: Youth and Young Adults, High School and Just Beyond
Ages: Approximately 14-22 Years Old
The Forum and the Worship Service
Youth and Young Adults are invited and encouraged to participate in The Forum and the Worship Service every Sunday.
The Forum program begins at 9:00am (informal conversation starting at 8:45am) and is offered both in-person and via Zoom. Information about the program schedule and the Zoom link may be found here: https://uufws.org/adult-religious-education/.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Forum Team at Forum@uufws.org
Sunday morning Worship begins at 10:30am and is also offered in-person and via Zoom. Weekly worship topics and the Zoom link may be found here: https://uufws.org/worship-sermons/
Emerging Leaders: Lunch and Learn
On the first Sunday of the month (excluding holidays), meet in the Emerson Thoreau Room at Noon for lunch and checkin. Following lunch, hear a presentation on a topic related to leadership development. Ask questions, discuss with your peers, and plan for follow-up as desired.
Lunch 12:00-12:45
Break 12:45-1:00pm
Leadership Development 1:00-2:00pm
2023 Dates:
February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7
Stories for all ages
Each Sunday either the Director of Religious Education, the Worship Chair, or another Member will share a story during the service that relates to our morning Worship Theme.
Here are some of our past stories:
A Mish Mash Heart
Discovering the Truth: Science and Religion
Email Updates?
Do you receive periodic group email updates from our Director of Religious Education?
If not, email Pam Lepley to be put on the announcement list.
Do you receive the weekly e-newsletter from the Fellowship?
If not, email Caron Armstrong to begin receiving the What’s Up at the Fellowship? weekly e-newsletter.
