Welcome to the Religious Education Program for    Children, Youth and Families at First Unitarian Church.  Liberal Religious Education has a long history in      Unitarianism and is a priority of Unitarian Universalist congregations.  This congregation continues that strong tradition.  This handbook is a description and guide to the different class and program offerings during the 2010/2011 year.

Our faith tradition honors the inner spirituality of all children and endeavors to create a community that    fosters the child’s natural sense of awe and wonder of the world around them.  From this sense of awe and wonder, we cultivate an awareness that all life is    connected in sacredness.  From this awareness, our   children develop a generous spirit and understanding that life is a blessing.  Community is a vital part of this   development, for it is together that people share stories and gain new perspectives about the world.  As the author Vivian Gussin Paley says in The Kindness of Children:

The unkind voices that surround us are loud and shrill, demanding our thoughtful and truthful attention.  All the more reason then to listen for the soft breath of friendship and carry our reassuring stories above the din.  They are the beacons that help illuminate the moral universe.

 Having a strong and vibrant connection with a faith community supports our children as they endeavor to live honest, ethical, and spiritual lives.  Also, they have fun with their church friends!

 Come hear the “soft breath of friendship” with your child and engage the dynamism of the living faith of Unitarian Universalism.

With peace —

Lynn Hunt
Credentialed Religious Educator

Religious Education Program Mission Statement

The Religious Education Program strives to promote religious education as a life long creative process by fostering an atmosphere supporting spiritual exploration and ethical decision-making in which individuals are respected.

In keeping with this mission we have established the following objectives:

• To promote understanding of and participation in Unitarian Universalism.
• To provide opportunities for meditation, discussion and community service.
• To encourage opportunities for relationsips with other church members and with our wider community.
• To provide opportunities for the study of the history, spirituality, and ritual of the world's religious traditions, especially our Jewish and Christian heritage.
• To provide opportunities for examination of important questions concerning the existence and nature of God and the meaning of our lives.
• To foster appreciation of the natural world, the global community and the rich tapestry of spiritual life.
  
  

These elements constitute the program:
Worship, Personal Reflection and Prayer

· Classroom Study

·Community

· Social Responsibility

· Leadership Opportunities

Registration Information
If your child attended the Sunday School last year, he or she is pre-registered.  You will receive a registration form indicating the information the office has    concerning your child and class assignment.  Please check over this form, make any corrections, and return to the RE office.  New families are asked to complete a registration form by the third week of attendance.

Safety
The safety of children and youth is a major concern of the Religious Education program.  In order to create as safe an environment as possible, all volunteer teachers and Sunday School staff are subject to child safety background checks.  Other procedures are also in place.  If you have any concerns or would like to review the entire safety policyplease contact the Religious Educator or you may download it from the church website Safe Church Policy.

During fellowship times, parents need to monitor the whereabouts of their children.  Outdoor play is available on Sunday mornings on the fenced lawn along Kingshighway.  Children should not play outside without supervision.

If the building is evacuated due to fire, teachers are instructed to escort their classes to either the parking lot off Waterman Blvd. or the lawn along Kingshighway — depending on the location of their classroom.

_________