Family Ministry Programs for the 2022–23 Church Year
At UUC we seek to provide a learning community of mutual development for children, youth, families, care providers, teachers, and mentors. Together, we help children and youth develop a strong Unitarian Universalist identity, with deep relationships in their church community, and nurture their rich and unique spiritual lives.
Religious Education Classes
For full descriptions of RE classes, class calendars, and important dates, please click here.
Religious education classes are offered for children during both the 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. services, and for youth during the 11:15 a.m. service on Sunday mornings. Masks are required for all except infants, for whom masking is not considered safe.
| 9:30 a.m. Service: | 11:15 a.m. Service: |
| Sprouts Care: 6 mos.–Kindergarten Spirit Play: 1st–5th Grade | Sprouts Care: 6 mos.–Kindergarten Superhero Academy: 1st–5th Grade World Religions: 6th–7th Grade Our Whole Lives: 8th–9th Grade Coming of Age: 9th–10th Grade Youth Group: 9th–12th Grade |
Careful observers will notice that there have been a couple of changes in the list above, in the last week: Sprouts care now includes children through kindergarten-age and there will be one class for elementary-age children with a different curriculum at each service. This change reflects the volunteer capacity at UUC and our growing knowledge that traditional Sunday school models no longer serve us the way we need. So, we are experimenting a little! We’re trying new things and emphasizing relationship building and creating sacred space for children. And, we are approaching these changes with a sense of curiosity and adventure.
Parent Groups: Over the past few years, UUC has offered a number of meaningful parent groups. This year, the Antiracism Parent Group will meet again a couple times a month over the course of the church year, to explore ways we might build a world of liberation, free from oppression, with the children in our care. The meeting schedule and information about how to register for the Antiracism Parent Group will be available in mid-September; the group will begin meeting in late October.
Faith Crates: Last year, we piloted a new program called “Faith Crates!” Similar to a subscription box, families who sign up for Faith Crates receive a selection of materials for family faith formation and religious education at home. Faith Crates include things like special art materials, reflection questions, and spiritual practice suggestions. Faith Crate Sign-Ups will open in early October.
Youth Leadership in RE: UUC has a wonderful tradition of supporting youth leadership development, by involving high school teens in our religious education classes for elementary and younger children. This year will be no different! High school youth who are interested in helping out in Sprouts, Spirit Play, or Elementary RE should send Aria an email, to let her know about which class they’d like to work with and if they have a preference for the earlier or later service. Youth participating in OWL or COA may help out with these younger RE classes during the 9:30 service only.
Registration information
Click here to fill out the 2022-2023 Family Ministry Registration Form
Each year, we ask families to register for our Family Ministry program. Registration is essential to the functioning of our programs. It tells us that you want to stay connected and gives parents and caregivers access to important information about classes, weekly emails, and timely updates. It helps us appropriately plan our offerings and ensures that we have up-to-date emergency and safety information.
There are no fees associated with Family Ministry or for our religious education classes, with the exception of Coming of Age. The registration fee for Coming of Age is a sliding scale of $50-$150. We believe strongly that Coming of Age should be available to every youth; if the sliding scale fee is a barrier to participation, please do not hesitate to get in touch about full or partial scholarships.
For more information about Family Ministry at UUC please contact Director of Family Ministry, Aria Curtis, at aria.curtis@uuchurch.org