Faith Development for Children, Youth and Families
We welcome you and your family to our congregation! We are excited to have you join us in our faith development explorations as we help each other grow into our full humanity.
CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2024-25
Children’s Religious Education Programming runs during the regular school year beginning on September 15, 2024
Children’s Worship
Once or twice a month, instead of attending their religious education classes, Kindergarten through 6th grade children attend Children’s Worship, usually offered by Rev. Leia.
Children’s Worship includes story, song, sharing of joys and sorrows and the lighting of the Rainbow Chalice as we work to deepen our understanding of Unitarian Universalism and our shared values.
Children’s Worship is held in the church parlor and parents and other adults are welcome. Parents of K-6th grade should pick their children up from the Church Parlor on Children’s Worship days instead of their religious education classrooms.
Multigenerational Worship services are offered about once a month at 11am.
Everyone is in the sanctuary for the full hour.
The service is designed to be intentionally child/family friendly.
____________________________________________
Nursery and Elementary School Programming
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR 2024-25 RE
Nursery- 3 year-olds Celebrating Me & My World
Children under 4 begin in our congregation’s nursery with loving care provided by paid staff and trained volunteers. Each Sunday activities are structured around the Unitarian Universalist curriculum Celebrating Me and My World.
Most Sundays, 4 years old through 5th grade begin in the sanctuary for the first 25 minutes or so of Community Worship and then are sung out of the congregation to participate in their religious education learning groups.
Spirit Play – 4 year old through Kindergarten
This year, our 4 year-olds through Kindergarten will be focusing on a Unitarian Universalist curriculum called Spirit Play. Spirit Play uses a Montessori approach where the classroom environment and the teachers are key elements. These elements free the children to work at their own pace on their own issues.
Stories
Stories have been developed in the following categories using current children’s literature, myths, and religious stories that cover answers from various sources to the existential questions above. Each set of stories is color-coded or symbol-coded to the shelf for easy access and return.
Unitarian Universalist Focus: Lessons pertaining to our central story of agreeing to live in the community and right relationship, including our central symbol, the Flaming Chalice, church history, UU history and UU figures.
Promises: Lesson pertaining to our principles and stories illustrating each principle.
Sources: Lessons pertaining to the sources of our principles and our faith, including Judeo-Christian stories.
Stories of the Mystery: Stories relating to the Mystery that some people call God.
Beginnings and Endings: Stories from all cultures and science telling of our beginnings and what might happen when we die, including concepts of heaven and hell, and reincarnation. These shelves will include materials on the Universe Story and the story of Earth.
Sacred Places: Cards of sacred places from around the world, a finger labyrinth, and a basket of blocks to use in creating sacred spaces.
Heroes and Heroines: People who we admire who relate to our sources such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, and Mother Teresa, etc.
This description was adapted from the following website: https://spirit-play.com/origins-of-spirit-play/ Our program is adapted for use by the particular needs of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville.
Moral Tales: 1st – 3rd Grades
Our 1st-3rd grades will be exploring the Unitarian Universalist curricula, UUA Tapestry of Faith–Moral Tales.
Moral Tales attempts to provide children with the spiritual and ethical tools they will need to make choices and take actions reflective of their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values.
The first sessions make up the Seeking Truth/Discernment unit of Moral Tales. They introduce tools for discerning truth and justice in a complex world. Participants are encouraged to draw upon inner resources such as conscience, intuition and empathy; spiritual resources such as faith, prayer and forgiveness; and external resources that include wise teachers and the larger community.
The next sessions constitute the What Would Love Do unit of Moral Tales. These sessions focus on the ways love calls us to act in the world with humans, other living beings and the Earth. Participants are introduced to spiritual practices that are grounded in love, including generosity, welcome, and nonviolence. Relationships among the participants in the group are reinforced as all are made welcome without prejudgments and participants are encouraged and guided to honor one another, and all people, in a deep and meaningful way. Love is extended to the Earth through learning about the importance of ecological balance.
The final sessions introduce tools and attitudes that are necessary to bring goodness and justice into the larger world. Here children explore responsibility, courage, persistence and cooperation. The aim of Moral Tales is to help raise children who have been provided with tools that will help them to discern what is right and true, to hear and follow the call of Love, and to turn their moral beliefs and ethical concerns into concrete action.
Each session has a central story in which participants meet real and fictional heroes and heroines who have displayed moral courage and spiritual greatness. They will hear about characters who have struggled, but who have chosen justice, goodness, and love.
The stories in Moral Tales draw upon many of our Unitarian Universalist sources, portraying moral dilemmas and paths to goodness and justice through a variety of cultural and religious lenses. Yet every story resonates with Unitarian Universalist principles and purposes, which are intentionally integrated into the sessions. In this way participants will develop awareness and understanding of other religions as they strengthen their own identity as Unitarian Universalists.
All sessions include hands-on activities to make learning accessible to individuals with various learning styles as well as structured exercises for questioning, reflecting and self-expression. Each session of this program includes rituals such as sharing opening words, a chalice-lighting, centering in silence before hearing a story, and singing together, with the option of lighting a chalice or candles of joys and sorrows These spiritual activities form an important element of the program. They familiarize children with specific practices which their families or your congregation may continue after the life of this program, and they provide a common experience for the group. Practicing rituals together builds community and reminds children of their connections to something deeper and more significant than their own experiences, wants, and needs.
Lego ValUUs – 4th and 5th Grades
The sessions in this curriculum introduce the Article II values that we have been talking about at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville (pluralism, interdependence, generosity, equity, justice, transformation, and love, plus kindness) through storybooks, discussion, and play activities. Each session includes an opening circle with an opening question and centering exercise, a story with discussion prompts, and a choice of play activities that carry out the theme of the day (including at least one simple LEGO build).
Each class session begins with a brief time for free exploration of the room as the participants arrive. The workshop begins with circle time (chalice lighting, check-in, centering moment, story, discussion, closing the circle), followed by a choice of activities that either carry through with the theme or allow for community building through play. This room is stocked with LEGOS, a large box of dominos for a domino run, dollhouses with furniture and occupants, art materials, and (added in week 4) contemplative activity boxes. Children are free to choose the prepared activity (generally a LEGO suggestion) or move to another activity. Themes include covenant, pluralism, generosity, justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, love, compassion and kindness and fun.
Middle and High School Programming
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR 2024-25 RE
Neighboring Faiths – 6th and 7th Grades
Neighboring Faiths is for youth in the 6th and 7th grades who will explore the faith traditions of Unitarian Universalism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Christian Evangelicalism, Black Church Traditions, and Quakers. Discussions, videos, and games explore the values that the faiths share but with an emphasis on their uniqueness. Most faith units include an information piece, a field trip or virtual visit (mosque, temple, synagogue, churches, and more), followed by reflection. Most field trips are on Sundays but some may be on other days.
Challenge: Coming of Age — 8th – 10th Grades
They will explore what it means to be Unitarian Universalist (UU), and what it means to be a unique person with their own gifts and characteristics.. Youth gather for fun workshops, retreats, worship, and justice projects. With congregational mentors and guides, participants explore their identities, beliefs, and the connections they have–and can make–in love and justice to their faith communities, local communities, and beyond. They begin to build a faith-grounded “toolkit” for the joys, sorrows, wonders, and challenges of being human.
12:15-1:30 Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) 9th-12th grades
Our senior high youth group, YRUU, is a lively weekly gathering of our high school youth. Sunday morning sessions vary but often include an exploration of moral dilemmas and timely topics as well as fun and games. Under the guidance of trained youth advisors, a safe and nurturing space is created to allow youth to explore topics of interest and build friendships. Activities vary from week to week and focus on learning, service, worship, community-building, and leadership development. Newcomers to YRUU are always welcome. For more information about how to participate and connect, contact Rev. Leia.
____________________________________________
Second Hour Child Care (12:15 pm -1:30 pm)
** Offered during the regular school year only**
Supervised free play on the playground is offered most Sundays for children 6th grade and younger. Parents are invited to attend the newcomer circle, linger for coffee and conversation, enjoy Adult Faith Development programming (such as the Parenting Circle or Creativity Salon.) Parent are encouraged to pack a lunch for their children. Snack foods will be provided. If your child has food allergies, please be sure to let us know. Parent are asked to sign their children into and out of childcare each week.
____________________________________________
Your Soulful UU Home
Our weekly Wednesday email offers easy ways to stay connected to our UU community and faith during the week. The content is directly connected to our monthly ministry theme and allows opportunities for all ages to connect and explore together. Each week includes conversation starters for mealtimes, a chalice lighting, an inspirational message, and information on upcoming Faith Development and Community Worship services. Click here to subscribe.
____________________________________________
How to get involved with the Children & Youth Religious Education Program:
- Volunteer as part of a teaching team
- Serve as a Class Parent
- Help with the children’s playground maintenance
- Help with and attend congregational special events
- Serve on the Children & Youth RE Committee
- Share your gift or talent with the community
The Children & Youth Religious Education Committee
The Children & Youth RE Committee meets monthly and works directly with the Minister of Faith Development to ensure a comprehensive faith development program for nursery through senior high youth. For more information or to join us, contact Rev. Leia
____________________________________________
Ceremonies of Child Dedication
Several times during the year, parents are invited to bring their children before the congregation to participate in a ceremony of Child Dedication. These ceremonies are usually offered on Ancestors’ Sunday (October), The Giving Tree Service (December), and again on a Sunday in May. The Ceremony of Child Dedication welcomes the child with intention into the wider circle of the congregation. Parents pledge before the congregation their commitment to caring for their child in body, mind, and spirit with loving support and acceptance. The congregation makes the following promise:
PROMISE TO ALL CHILDREN
From your earliest infancy, we give you our love so that you may grow with trust in yourself and in others.
We will recognize your worth as a person and help you strengthen your sense of belonging to the whole family of humankind.
We will respect your right to be yourself, and at the same time, help you to understand the rights of others.
We will encourage you always to seek the truth.
We will provide you with every opportunity possible to develop your own understanding of faith.
We will endeavor always to inspire you to act on your faith.
We will encourage you to strive to make the world a better, more caring, more whole place to be.
This we promise to you with all our hearts.
____________________________________________
Are children welcome in worship?
YES! Children are always welcome to stay with their parents/guardians in the sanctuary for worship! Naturally, some services lend themselves more easily than others to a child’s participation and understanding. There are sanctuary “activity packets” next to the sanctuary doorways that are available for anyone. Packets usually include some sort of simple paper craft activity and drawing materials. There are also finger labyrinths and child-appropriate reading materials available at these locations. Please return materials at the end of the worship service.
____________________________________________
Comfort Room
UPDATE AS APPROPRIATE
The Comfort Room is located near the Rugby Road entrance to the sanctuary and is designed especially for parents of infants and small children. A computer in the room provides the sound from the worship service. The room contains several large, comfortable chairs as well as a floor rug and an infant diapering station.
____________________________________________
11:00 AM Community Worship
[click here]
All are welcome for weekly Community Worship. Sanctuary activity packets are available near the doorways to the sanctuary. Finger labyrinths are also available to use as part of the worship experience.
Families with young children and warmly welcomed to attend worship. You are welcome in the sanctuary or in the social hall in a space created to be especially friendly to younger children. The service is livestreamed to a large monitor in the social hall so that children can play with blocks and toys while the family experiences worship together and with other families.
Please return to this page for updates on how the Unitarian Universalists of Charlottesville can be part of your family’s faith.