First Unitarian Church-Curricula

Lifespan Religious Education for Children and Youth

Regular Sunday Morning Religious Education Classes for preschool through senior high are offered from September through May. Classes begin at 10:55 and end at 12:15. All young people children attend a brief children's message in the sanctuary with their families each week from 10:55 � 11:15.

First Hour Programs

Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
Supervised Open Play is scheduled each week in the Preschool Playroom.

Kindergartners � 5th Graders
Join us in the Open Classroom for an open play time. At times throughout the year, special multi-age programs will be offered during this time such as Choir for All ages, folk dancing, or presentations by special guests. Be sure to check Steepletalk, the First U website and the church's listserv for announcements of special events.

Social Action Projects
Social action is a cornerstone of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Each year, children work on a special project such as "Read to Feed" for Heifer Project International, "Pennies for Poems" to benefit our Partner Church, and many others. In addition, children participate in several projects which are repeated annually. Some of these are listed below. We welcome your suggestions for additions to this list.

Trick or Treating for UNICEF
Guest at Your Table project for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Stocking stuffer project for patients of Central State Hospital
Easter baskets for the children of Tingley House.

Youth Groups (6th - 12th Grades)
Youth Groups at First Unitarian Church focus on six primary components: Fellowship, Social Action, Worship, Youth-Adult Relations, Leadership Development, and Learning. These groups are concerned with fun and community-building as well as service to the church and the larger community. Our adult facilitators help youth acquire the skills needed to take leadership roles within the youth groups, the congregation, and the denomination.

Schedule: Following each Sunday's R.E. class, all youth are invited to stay for Youth Lunch in the Open Classroom, from 12:30 - 1:00. Lunches are provided by parents/guardians and other volunteers on a rotating schedule. Parents of participants are expected to provide occasional lunches.

The Middle School YoUUth Group for 6th - 8th graders meets (almost) every Sunday after the youth lunch, 1:00 - 2:30. YoUUth Advisors: Patty Kannapel, Nancy Macpherson and Doug Taylor

Senior High R.E. Class and Youth Group are combined and will meet weekly from 10:55 - 12:15. (Except on weeks when multigenerational services are scheduled.) Approximately once each month, members will meet for extended sessions for special projects or activities. Senior High Advisors: Kathy Gapsis, Rick Rinehart and Seana Golder

Youth in Grades 6 - 12 and their parents are required to read and sign the First Unitarian Youth Code of Behavior in order to participate in youth programming.

Coming of Age (7th Grade and Up)
The Coming of Age program is a rite of passage, a way of formally recognizing and celebrating our young people's passage out of childhood. It is designed for youth who are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and their own religious beliefs, and in becoming members of the church. Each participant in the Coming of Age program is matched with an adult mentor, who serves as a guide throughout a year of independent study and participation in quarterly meetings. The program culminates in an end of the year Coming of Age ceremony and the opportunity to sign the Membership book.

Coming of Age 2009-2010 Orientation Session March 21st, 7:00 - 8:30
This session is for current 6th and 7th graders, older youth who have not yet completed the Coming of Age program, their parents, and all interested others. Adult members of the church who may be interested in serving as future Coming of Age mentors are particularly encouraged to attend. Come learn more about the program from our DRE, Coming of Age graduates and parents, and past mentors. If you are a youth who is interested in participating in Coming of Age 09-10 and you cannot attend this important session, please contact our Director of Religious Education.

Artist in Residence
Multigenerational Programs are offered on selected Sundays, 9:45 � 10:45. Designed for participants of all ages, this program has a fourfold goal: to encourage each participant's search for truth and meaning through a variety of arts-related activities; to increase intergenerational interactions; to help integrate our upstairs R.E. programs with our downstairs Celebrations of Life; and to give families an opportunity to participate together. Participants will spend an hour on 3 or 4 consecutive weeks learning and practicing a particular artistic endeavor under the leadership of an expert leader, culminating in a performance or exhibit. Past Artist-in-Residence programs have included morris dance, dulcimer orchestra, storytelling, choir for all ages, butterfly gardening, and contra dancing. Watch Steepletalk and the First U listserv for announcements of these special programs.

Other 2009 Artist-in-Residence Programs TBA 4853

www.firstulou.org/re/classes.html