Religious Education
Cindy Spring, Director of Religious Education
Programs for 2009 - 2010
The religious education program for children from ages three through seventh grade is held concurrently with the Sunday Worship Service. The children attend the first 10 to 15 minutes of the Worship Service with their parents and then leave for their classes. Once a month, the children have their own Chapel Service instead of attending the regular service. The Chapel Service is led by Cindy Spring, our Religious Education Directory.
Nursery (ages newborn to 3 years old) - Our babies and toddlers are in the loving care of Nancy Crowell.
Story Time (ages 3 and 4 years old) - Our preschoolers here and discuss a different story each week, about the seasons, Holidays, nature and other people. There is always a craft activity as well and plenty of time to play together.
Creating Home (ages 5 to 8 year olds) - Our elementary students will be using a fairly new Unitarian Universalist Curriculum. During the year they will talk about their homes, animals homes, and the Fellowship as a home. They will also sing songs, listen to stories, and create things together.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)- Later in the year, our early elementary children will be offered an 8 week course on human sexuality. The curriculum has been written for many age levels to help children understand and protect their bodies. Topics include health and safety, birth, and different kinds of families. The course begins with a parent orientation. Neighboring Faiths - The older students will be learning about other Faiths and visiting many faith communities during the year. They will learn about the religion before the visit and have a chance to compare the one visited with Unitarian Universalism.
Fun Sundays - The fourth Sunday of each month is set aside for a fun activity. These may include family hikes, mutigenerational services, or field trips. Annual events are making Gingerbread houses, preparing food for Coffee Hour and dancing around the May Pole.
Youth Group - Our "Coming of Age" graduates and Senior High students meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the new upstairs Conference Room at SKUUF. The group is co-led by Belinda Phillips and Cindy Spring, our religious education director. So far this year we have held a small group ministry session, met with two foreign students and had a game night.
Children's Programs
| Date | Story Time |
Creating Homes |
Neighboring Faiths |
| March 7 | Chapel Rainbow of My Own Amy & Jason |
Chapel Loyalty Kim & Mark |
Chapel Buddhism |
| March 14 | Annie & the Wild Animals Stew & Barbara |
Diversity Kelli & Jeanette |
Finish Buddhism |
| March 21 | Passover Story Deb & Jamie |
Stewardship Nancy & Sue |
Hinduism |
| March 28 | Intergenerational April Fool's Service |
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Religious Education Philosophy
Our philosophy includes nourishing a sense of community, valuing oneself and others, appreciating the beliefs of other religions, understanding Unitarian Universalism, fostering an awareness of our responsibility to our world and its inhabitants, and encouraging the experience of wonder.
Our curricula and classes are based on the Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Assoc.*
We believe:
- That each and every person is important;
- That all people should be treated fairly;
- That our churches are places where all people are accepted and where we keep on learning together;
- That each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life;
- That everyone should have a vote about the things that concern them;
- In working for a peaceful, fair and free world;
- In caring for our planet earth.
*Children's version from "Beginning Unitarian Universalism" by Helena Chapin and Mary Ann Moore.
SKUUF Religious Education Committee 2009 - 2010
Mary Crowell, Chair
Diana Pamplin
Stew Weldon
Kree Woolley
Jordan Browne, Junior High Rep.
Jerrett Hoffman, Senior High Rep.
Cindy Spring, Driector of Religious Education