Program Overview
Everything that we do at church develops our Unitarian Universalism, whether attending services, volunteering, organizing for justice issues, or participating in small group religious exploration. The congregation is the curriculum. Here is our piece of the greater picture of UU faith development.
Childcare (babies to 3 years old)
We have a staff of three Childcare Providers who are scheduled two at a time. Children may play, climb, create, hear stories, and more.
Parents are welcome to stay in the nursery as long as needed for their child’s comfort. Children are also welcome in the service. Of course, young ones are still learning how to speak softly so, for their comfort and those who have impaired hearing, we provide a family space in our foyer, where the service may still be heard, and children may move, play quietly or snuggle.
2017-18
Wonderers (4-5)
We Are Many, We Are One
Young children learn about their religious community and traditions, and celebrate their own uniqueness. “Many” and “one”: community and individual; alike and different; the world and me. They use their minds, bodies, and emotions to develop their sense of Unitarian Universalist identity and their self-esteem.
Explorers (6-8)
Signs of Our Faith: Being UU Every Day
This program presents fourteen traits or values that most Unitarian Universalist love, including the quest for knowledge, reverence for life, supporting one another on our faith journeys, and public witness. Signs of Our Faith engages children to explore ritual practices that remind us of these traits and values. It asks young people to see themselves as leaders of their faith. They build experience performing and, at times, creating rituals to share in their families as well as the congregation, becoming co-creators of the faith.
Adventurers (9-12)
Spirit of Adventure and Our Whole Lives
Spirit of Adventure fosters Unitarian Universalist identity through active exploration of areas such as medicine, food, science, sports, building, and the web of life. Adventurers are introduced to UU ancestors in order to model that real people live their UU values in real ways. Our Whole Lives is a sexuality education program using a holistic approach to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information about topics including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
Youth (13-20)
The web of youth ministry invites teens to engage with Unitarian Universalism in many ways: through spiritual development, pastoral care, justice making, multigenerational relationships and more. Grounded in their congregation through attending worship, connections and involvement in the life of the church, youth also gather in a “huddle” - youth group - and with UU youth across the country. This year youth explore Unitarian Universalism, race, death, and money. They have the option of travelling to Calgary for a Western youth con Oct 13-15 and to Hamilton for a national con (CanUUdle) May 18-21. They raise money to subsidize their travel expenses. If cost is the only thing preventing youth from travelling, they are encouraged to have a confidential conversation with the DLFD or the Minister.
Everything that we do at church develops our Unitarian Universalism, whether attending services, volunteering, organizing for justice issues, or participating in small group religious exploration. The congregation is the curriculum. Here is our piece of the greater picture of UU faith development.
Childcare (babies to 3 years old)
We have a staff of three Childcare Providers who are scheduled two at a time. Children may play, climb, create, hear stories, and more.
Parents are welcome to stay in the nursery as long as needed for their child’s comfort. Children are also welcome in the service. Of course, young ones are still learning how to speak softly so, for their comfort and those who have impaired hearing, we provide a family space in our foyer, where the service may still be heard, and children may move, play quietly or snuggle.
2017-18
Wonderers (4-5)
We Are Many, We Are One
Young children learn about their religious community and traditions, and celebrate their own uniqueness. “Many” and “one”: community and individual; alike and different; the world and me. They use their minds, bodies, and emotions to develop their sense of Unitarian Universalist identity and their self-esteem.
Explorers (6-8)
Signs of Our Faith: Being UU Every Day
This program presents fourteen traits or values that most Unitarian Universalist love, including the quest for knowledge, reverence for life, supporting one another on our faith journeys, and public witness. Signs of Our Faith engages children to explore ritual practices that remind us of these traits and values. It asks young people to see themselves as leaders of their faith. They build experience performing and, at times, creating rituals to share in their families as well as the congregation, becoming co-creators of the faith.
Adventurers (9-12)
Spirit of Adventure and Our Whole Lives
Spirit of Adventure fosters Unitarian Universalist identity through active exploration of areas such as medicine, food, science, sports, building, and the web of life. Adventurers are introduced to UU ancestors in order to model that real people live their UU values in real ways. Our Whole Lives is a sexuality education program using a holistic approach to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information about topics including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
Youth (13-20)
The web of youth ministry invites teens to engage with Unitarian Universalism in many ways: through spiritual development, pastoral care, justice making, multigenerational relationships and more. Grounded in their congregation through attending worship, connections and involvement in the life of the church, youth also gather in a “huddle” - youth group - and with UU youth across the country. This year youth explore Unitarian Universalism, race, death, and money. They have the option of travelling to Calgary for a Western youth con Oct 13-15 and to Hamilton for a national con (CanUUdle) May 18-21. They raise money to subsidize their travel expenses. If cost is the only thing preventing youth from travelling, they are encouraged to have a confidential conversation with the DLFD or the Minister.