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“We are Unitarian Universalists
People of the open mind
The loving heart
And the helping hands”
- UUCSR Children’s Affirmation
Parents who are looking for a faith community to support and affirm them in teaching their children life’s most meaningful values will find a home in our UUCSR Religious Education Program. What ever your religious background – or if you have never participated in a faith community – there is room for you and your children in our congregation.
Children are indeed our future! Here at UUCSR we provide a religious education program that nurtures and stimulates our children’s spiritual and personal growth, and teaches the principles that unify us as Unitarian Universalists. Throughout our program, children and youth are encouraged to seek their own truths, to clarify their values, and to live intentional lives inspired by those values. We help children honor the differences among us – e.g., diversity of race, ability, sexual orientation, and opinion – while celebrating our shared humanity, and we strive to foster their delight in the mysteries and miracles of the world.
During our Sunday morning 11:00 worship service, we offer structured programming for elementary, and middle school kids, as well as loving care for infants and toddlers. In addition, we have a Youth Group for youth in grades 8 to 12 on the first and third Thursday of every month from 4 – 6 pm. (More information can be found below under Youth Program.)
- Sunday Morning Schedule Mid- September through Mid- June
11:00 am to 12:15 - 1st Sunday: Children’s Chapel – all ages together
- 2nd, 3rd & 4th Sundays: Curriculum – grouped by age
- 5th Sunday: Art – all ages together
Within specific grade groups, children and youth learn about our Unitarian Universalist heritage, about the sacred sources from which we derive our faith, and about the principles that guide how we interact with the world. The classes are grouped as:
- Nursery and Preschool
- Kindergarten through 2nd Graders
- 3rd through 5th Graders
- 6th through 8th Graders
- 9th through 12th Graders
Nursery and Preschool
Our experienced nursery/preschool aides set a caring and safe atmosphere for educational play.
The program provides preschoolers opportunities to grow in their sense of trust and caring, and to develop both their self –identity and sense of connectedness with all life. The morning always includes the lighting of the chalice, a story and an activity. With a range of developmental stages in the group our staff provides a flexible, loving, and child centered program.
Grade School and Middle School (Grades K – 8)
Because children are an integral part of our faith community they begin each Sunday in the sanctuary with the whole congregation. By participating in worship children get a first hand experience of our religious tradition; they sing UU songs, hear words of wisdom, and get a taste of what it means to be a part of a faith community that honors everyone. Children then go to RE class after leading the congregation in the Children’s Affirmation.
Programming for grade school and middle school children is designed to:
- open children’s’ eyes to issues of social justice and ways to be of service in the world in which they live
- learn through a community of peers and supportive adults lessons that give meaning to their every day lives
- help children develop their knowledge and identity as Unitarian Universalists
- give children an understanding and respect for all the world’s religions
Children’s Chapel
1st Sunday of each month
Children of all ages (K to 8th grade) meet together for UU ritual, song, story, and an activity related to the mornings theme. Themes are based on the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles. The program is experiential and all children have an opportunity to participate as they are so inspired. There is a particular focus on building a community among the children during Children’s Chapel and developing mutual caring for children of differing ages.
Arts Sunday
5th Sunday of the Month
Our congregation has many artists who give of their time to work with the children on Arts Sunday. Our creative work has included collage murals, chalk mandalas in the courtyard, Pictures for Peace a nationwide UU children’s art and justice program. This is another all ages together Sunday.
Fall tthrough Spring Curriculum
2nd, 3rd & 4th Sundays:
This year our younger children will learn about Unitarian Universalist Principles though children's literature. Our two older groups will expand their understanding of world religions, one group focusing on the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, the other learning about a wider range of faith traditions practiced in America.
Kindergarteners through 2nd Graders
Our kindergarten though second grade children will explore the world though story. Wisdom Stories uses some of the most wonderful picture books in children's literature to illuminate the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism. Young children learn best through play and imagination. These stories provide windows to see a world beyond their everyday lives and mirrors to help them better understand how they can live with kindness and care. From Horton Hatches the Egg to The Everything Seed they will explore life's mysteries in a way that is fun and expansive. A story is at the center of each session with time for exploring and questioning its message. Then there is an activity – a game, an art project, or a skit - to further illuminate the lesson.
3rd through 5th Graders
We will use the curriculum Bibleodeon which is an exciting introduction to Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Bibleodeon tells stories for children – like the Nickelodeon television channel that helped suggest its name. But Bibleodeon stories all come from the Bible and all invite action, thought, response, and involvement foreign to most television viewing. Bibleodeon presents the greatest Hebrew and Christian stories in a Unitarian Universalist setting. Participants explore connections between biblical events and UU principles and values, between biblical ideas and their own lives. They experience the Bible as one of many wonderful and important UU sources. Just as important, Bibleodeon is fun. Children listen to some stories, and act some out. They investigate others, the way television reporters would. They immerse themselves in music and art and creative activity, achieving in the process new understanding of and appreciation for some of civilization’s most important books.
Middle School - 6th through 8th Graders
Neighboring Faiths introduces middle school youth to the faith traditions and practices of other religious communities. In keeping with all of the UU Principles, especially affirming the free and responsible search for truth and meaning this program actively engages youth in exploring religious traditions not merely as observers, but as people being religious together. Youth will hear stories, experience the spiritual practices, learn about traditions and rituals, and experience worship services of a variety faith communities in the North Bay. Through these experiences our youth will be able to reflect on the unique and universal of religious experience. They will explore their own values as they relate to many other beliefs and become more aware of the many connections between Unitarian Universalism and other faith traditions. The Neighboring Faiths experience will increase the understanding and appreciation of religious diversity while strengthening commitment to our UU faith and community.YRUU: Young Religious Unitarian Universalists
9th through 12th Graders
Youth groups provide a unique community where youth develop and deepen their faith through worship, social justice, building leadership skills, creating dialogue, and learning from one another.
UUCSR Youth Group meets every Thursday from 4-6pm. In a casual setting youth explore life’s bigger questions, develop ties to UU peers, and have fun (pizza is also involved!). Youth plan and carry out a social justice project and craft a worship service for the larger congregation in the spring. With the support of Adult Youth Advisors youth are encouraged to develop leadership skills and think critically about popular culture and the issues of the day.
