Class/Group Descriptions
Nursery/Playschool (infants to age four)
Most Sundays of the year, nursery care and play space is available for the youngest members in our community - birth to age four - from 9 AM to 12:30 PM. This space is located on the first floor of the adjacent Sawyer Building. Parents and caregivers are welcome to have quieter babes-in-arms while in worship and always have the option to bring children to the Nursery. Our Nursery and Playschool care is provided by trained professionals.
Staff Care providers: Lynne Flammia, Terry Hill, and Karyn Carmichael
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten: Spirit Play
The Spirit Play method introduces children to being a part of Faith Development program and community by inviting them into a safe, comfortable, and creative classroom setting that allows children to explore their deepest curiosities. The Spirit Play approach and space is designed to free children to work at their own pace on their own wonderings after an initial story.
First and Second Grade: Tapestry of Faith I
Children continue to engage timeless themes and explore the world around them through rituals, a central story, and engaging activities. Using the compendium of the Tapestry of Faith curriculum series, children develop the spiritual and ethical tools they need to make choices and take actions reflective of their UnitarianUniversalist beliefs and values.
Third and Fourth Grade: Tapestry of Faith II
Curiosity, a love of questions, and an adventuresome spirit fills the time and space dedicated to this high energy age. Sessions are chosen from the Tapestry of Faith series that explore the four strands of age-focused development - ethical, spiritual, Unitarian Universalist identity, and faith.
Fifth and Sixth Grade: Bibleodeon
Bibleodeon introduces Hebrew and Christian scriptures by presenting the best-known Bible stories and interactive challenges - such as investigating the Cain-Abel crime scene! Children at this active and inquisitive age explore connections between biblical events and nitarian Universalist principles, between biblical ideas and their own lives.
The Coming of Age Years
Our Unitarian Universalist community has a long commitment to the journey of youth to express what they have given their heart to. The Coming of Age years include an active exploration of world religions in the Neighboring Faiths curriculum; faith-based sexuality education with the Our Whole Lives curriculum; and a culminating rite of passage year for youth in the Coming of Age program.
Seventh Grade: Neighboring Faiths
In the Neighboring Faiths year, youth actively explore and experience the questions,
- Where does our faith come from?
- What do others believe?
- What does it feel like as we worship in other places?
Through class activities and discussions, guest presenters, art, rituals, field trips, and worship, many religions and spiritual traditions are explored in connection to our Unitarian Universalist sacred sources - the foundation of our Living tradition.
Eighth or Ninth Grade: Coming of Age One
In the Coming of Age One year, youth actively explore and experience the questions,
- Who am I?
- Who is on my team?
- What is my place in community?
The four key program components include Connection Sundays, Worship Sundays, Spiritual Exploration Sundays and Third Wednesdays with the Minister and other church leaders. Beginning with the 2012-13 Church Year, Coming of Age One will include Our Whole Lives.
Ninth or Tenth Grade: Coming of Age Two
Through experiential learning, peer and mentor discussions, spiritual guidance, and worship, the Coming of Age experience guides youth to reflect upon, actively explore and then articulate their understanding of the questions,
- What is my spiritual practice?
- Who are the people that I connect with in my faith community (and why does that matter)?
- How will I live out my faith in the world?
The program culminates in a Sunday dedicated to worship and celebration, when youth offer a credo - a reflection on their beliefs - for the whole church community.
