NORTH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROSPECTUS 2010-2011

The Religious Education Committee:

Steve Mallett

Rev. Susan Ritchie, Acting Director of Religious Education

Joe Herron

Jennifer Bourget

Melinda Rosenberg

Jayna McDaniels Browning

Mission

The Religious Education Committee plans, advocates, and sets the direction for the religious nurture of our children and youth. The committee also reviews curriculum and provides the framework for the many volunteers who serve as teachers, youth advisors, and assistants for related service projects, worship services, and social events.

The mission of the Religious Education Program of the North Unitarian Universalist Congregation is:

To provide children and youth with a liberal religious education

To promote a caring and nurturing environment in which children and youth feel safe expressing their feelings and beliefs

To encourage exploration of ethics, morals, values and religious beliefs and

To foster a sense of belonging to our UU community, the UU church and the world at large so that each child or youth understands that his or her actions can make a difference.
                                               

Sunday School Schedule and Intergenerational Worship

Most Sundays the children start the morning off directly in religious education.  Preschoolers meet in Fellowship Hall of the main church building.  Children aged 6 and older should be taken directly to Nielsen House (our religious education building, directly across from the main church parking lot), where parents can sign them in.  Children will have a chance to situate their things and get a nametag from their classrooms, and then they return the parlor of Nielsen House, where all the classes start the day with a brief Gathering Time before returning to their classrooms.  Please see “NUUC Religious Education Class Policies.”  

At times throughout the church year, the Sunday worship service will be intergenerational, and all ages will join together in the sanctuary for a celebration designed to include everyone.  All special intergenerational services are announced in the worship schedule (click here for worship schedule)    Parents of Chalice Children students may choose either to include their child in the worship in Nielsen House, or use our staffed nursery.

Sunday School Offerings for 2010-2011 School Year

Our Religious Education program is divided into the nursery and three older age-based class divisions.  Please see the age guidelines as a rough division only—we are always happy to be flexible and accommodating should children be more suited for a class outside of their literal age range.

           Nursery

            Older infants and toddlers may be taken directly to the nursery before the service (main church building, in the far back of Fellowship Hall). Parents need to let the caregiver know of any special needs for the morning.  Parents may be asked on occasion to assist   with childcare if their child is in particular need of their presence that morning.

            Chalice Children (ages 3-5)

Our Chalice Children group will use the curriculum by the same name by Katie Erslev. Based upon a philosophy that a child’s spiritual development is related to direct experience, this curriculum helps young children learn what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Using a chalice theme, children learn about their religious community, engage in sharing with others, and explore a sense of belonging.  This lively curriculum includes many crafts, holiday themes, and physically engaging activities. 

The Explorers (ages 6-11)

The Explorers will be using the UUA curriculum, "Faithful Journeys."  Faithful Journeyes equiops children with language and experiences to develop and articulate a strong Untiarian Universalist faith identity, through historic and contemporary stories of faith in action.  Click here to read more about the curriculum:  Faithful Journeys 
   

NUUC Youth (ages 12+)  --Fall Semster

Youth, like adults and children, need to be able to talk about what it means to be Unitarian Universalist. Whether delivering an "elevator speech," taking part in an interfaith dialogue, or conversing with friends at the lunch table, youth need practice in describing our multifaceted faith in terms that are personally meaningful and true. Building upon the faith development of Coming of Age and other UU identity programs, this curriculum. "A Place of Wholeness" encourages youth to look inward for a clearer understanding of their personal faith and guides them to express that faith outward into the world.

NUUC Youth--Winter Semester

Coming of Age:  a program, a passage, and a pilgrimage.  It is the culmination of our Religious Education program, and the most significant rite of passage that we offer to our youth.  Beginning mid January 2011, youth involved in this program will strive to define who they are and what they believe.  They will grapple with some of the Big Questions in life:  Is there a God?  What is faith? What does it mean to live our UU principles?  Outside of the regular Sunday morning religious education time youth will meet with individual mentors who will help them explore and define their own beliefs.  Each youth works on the development of a personal faith statement (credo) with help from Rev. Ritchie, and each ins involved in creating the Coming of Age service in May where they will present their credos. In addition to requiring a a commitment to regular attendance Sunday morning, the youth will participate in one overnight, one weekend retreat, and one service project.  See Rev. Ritchie, Melinda Rosenberg, or Dick Leavy with any questions.  Cost for the whole progra (including overnight, retreat, and food) is $75/youth.  See Rev. Ritchie, Melinda Rosenberg, or Dick Leavy with any questions.  We would like to have youth committed to the program by Oct. 13, 2010.  Sign up by contacting RevRitchie@aol.com.

NUUC Religious Education Policies and Procedures for Sunday Morning Classes

–    All Sunday morning Religious Education Classes meetings take place in the House.  However, the preschool class will meet in the rear of Fellowship Hall, adjacent to the nursery.  Please be sure to check the Worship schedule on the website (www.nuuc.org) for dates for intergenerational worships when the children join us for the main service instead of having RE class.

–    The program takes place from 10:30am until 11:30am. 

–    We ask that all parents/guardians of children personally escort their children to their Sunday morning religious education program no earlier than 10:20am.  Teachers and assistants, please arrive by 10:20 AM at the latest. 

–    Visitors will be asked to complete a visitor registration form.

 –     Each class will leave the house at the conclusion of its religious education program.  Children are required to stay with the group as they leave the house, cross the street, and enter Fellowship Hall.  It is expected that parents/guardians will promptly join with their child in Fellowship Hall upon completion of the worship service. 

–    Parents are ultimately responsible for their minor children at all times.

–    To ensure the safety of everyone, children, youth, and their parents are asked to abide by the NUUC Religious Education Behavioral Covenant.

–    All adults in the community accept the responsibility for the care and nurture of the children in our midst. All adults are encouraged to model and encourage safe behaviors.   

–    Older children are expected to be mindful and considerate of younger children at all times.

–    Inside the buildings, children and youth are expected to use "walking feet and indoor voices" at all times.

–    Any concerns should be reported to the Acting Director of Religious Education Ministries, Rev. Susan Ritchie.

A Covenant of Behavior for the North Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Religious Education Programs

As part of a religious community the promises we make to each other about how we will treat each other and what we will do to create a safe and sacred space is called a covenant.  Our covenant is based on the Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

PRINCIPLE ONE: EACH AND EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT.

 Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, to have a chance to share, to be heard, to be included in the day's activities at church. This means that we don't call people names, don't interrupt when someone else is talking, take turns so every person has a chance to talk, play with the toys or games or participate in a special activity.

PRINCIPLE TWO: ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY AND KINDLY.

Everyone - no matter his or her age or sex, race, family, abilities, or differences - is welcome. We don't use hurtful words, hit or throw things at one another. It means we take turns, share our snacks, and leave something for the next person. We speak up and get help when we see someone being treated unfairly.

PRINCIPLE THREE: WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND LEARN TOGETHER

This means we need to listen to each other, to participate in group activities to the best of our abilities, to help someone who is new or struggling, and to share what we are thinking or feeling. It is important to say we are sorry when we fail to treat others the way we would like to be treated.

PRINCIPLE FOUR: EACH MUST BE FREE TO SEARCH FOR WHAT IS TRUE AND RIGHT IN LIFE.
Everyone is encouraged to share his or her own thoughts and feelings. It means listening to others and asking questions to discover what is true and right for us. It means that we will let other people ask questions and explore the things that have meaning for them, without judging or making fun.

PRINCIPLE FIVE: ALL PERSONS SHOULD HAVE A SAY ABOUT WHAT AFFECTS THEM.
Children may share their thoughts and feelings about what happens at church, and offer their ideas for new or better ways of doing things. It means all of us, young and old, need to listen to one another, ask for suggestions and advice, and work together to make church a safe and special place.

PRINCIPLE SIX: WORK TOGETHER FOR A PEACEFUL, FAIR AND FREE WORLD.

This means we settle our disagreements in honest, caring, peaceful ways. We don't fight, push, shove or throw things at one another. We do not bring toy guns or knives to church, or play in violent ways. We don't use hurtful words or talk about people behind their backs. We don't destroy or damage what belongs to the church or other people.

PRINCIPLE SEVEN: CARE FOR OUR PLANET EARTH WHICH WE SHARE WITH ALL LIVING THINGS.

It means we clean up our messes, don't waste food or supplies, and recycle whatever we can. It means we don't jump on furniture, or play on equipment that is meant for people much smaller (or younger) than us.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

We all make mistakes at times or fail to live up to the promises we have made to one another. At those times, we will lovingly remind each other of our better selves, get help from someone we trust, and listen to one another.  It may be helpful to apologize and make amends for what we have done.

If we see these principles not being followed, we each have a responsibility to respond because we want this place to be safe for all.  If anyone has difficulty keeping the covenant while they are in group meetings or worship, the following will happen:

First, a responsible adult will immediately offer a