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Children and Youth Religious Education Overview
About Our Ministry with Children and Youth
Our Religious Education Program is one that:
- Introduces children to beliefs and celebrations of a variety of religious traditions and values
- Explores Unitarian Universalist (UU) Purposes and Principles and how they relate to children’s lives
- Provides opportunities to explore and develop religious thoughts and beliefs in a loving and supportive environment
- Promotes the care and well-being of people of all ages through intergenerational services and special events
Our Religious Education Program consists of four components and four themes taught by lay volunteers:
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Components
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Themes
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- Unitarian Universalist Identity
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- Worship and Personal Reflection
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- Our Judeo-Christian Roots
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- Community and Social Service
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- Faith in Action & Helping Others
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Classroom Learning
For older children, our course of study provides a background in the history and wisdom of many religious traditions and a strong knowledge of and connection with our own Unitarian Universalist heritage. Classes are a combination of active and reflective learning opportunities and engage in important themes such as: Unitarian Universalist Identity, World Religions, and Spirituality. As the children progress through the program, these subjects are looked at with deepening intellectual sophistication in recognition of their maturing development. Children are guided to appreciate the wisdom and knowledge in these sources as they go deeper into understanding religion and developing their own religious values.
Worship and Personal Reflection
- Sunday Services. Individual spiritual development is the center of our church, and each week children and families are offered time for quiet reflection and connection with others. On most Sundays, children begin their morning in the sanctuary with their families for the beginning of the service. This time together may include a story/message for all, lighting of the chalice, special readings, music, or hymn. After time in church, the children proceed to their classes. The congregation will “sing the children out” as they leave the sanctuary.
- Intergenerational Services. Several times a year families are together for the entire worship service, such as In-Gathering in the fall, Bread Service in November, Christmas and solstice services, and Flower Communion in the spring.
- Children’s Chapel. On the first Sunday of each month, we depart from our regular classroom learning and have a special Children's Chapel. Each Children’s Chapel service has a theme that may be explored with story, song, movement, and action. These Sundays give our children the opportunity to explore the spiritual matters of their lives in an age-appropriate manner.
Church Fellowship
Our need to belong and feel loved is our first enduring religious experience. Attending church regularly and consistently is essential to develop the bond between your child and the First Unitarian community. On Sunday mornings, your child will enjoy attending Coffee Hour with you in the Kate Wuerker Fellowship Hall. During this time you and your child can snack and visit with friends and acquaintances.
In addition, throughout the year, intergenerational social activities are occurring. Please check the church calendar and watch the church newsletter for details about these family events.
Community Service Activities
Acting upon values is an essential component to our children’s religious education. Our program includes year-long attention to social action in the community and pastoral needs in our own congregation. Some of our regular activities include:
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Through supporting Trick–or–Treat for UNICEF, our children help make sure that the world’s most vulnerable children have access to things like water, education, food and medicine — simple things that truly change lives.
- Guest at Your Table Program. Each Thanksgiving, our children, and entire congregation participate in the Guest at Your Table program. This program supports the human rights work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). Each family takes a box home and at every meal or snack, a few coins are contributed to the box. The individual boxes are collected after the first of the year, and the cumulative collection is donated in our church's name to the UUSC. This collection is an easy way for children to learn that we can easily share the bounty of our lives with others.
- Oasis Women’s Shelter — Adopt-a-Family. Each year we “adopt” two families to provide for a festive Christmas for those in need
- Alton Crisis Food Center — canned goods and pantry stock for the Alton hungry
- Alton Community Christmas Program — each December we collect toys, new coats, new socks, blankets, stocking caps, gloves, and mittens for our neighbors in need
- 4th Saturday Lunch. For those in need of a hot meal, First Unitarian prepares and serves a free community meal once a month. Our older children participate as they are able. Each March the RE Program parents and their children and youth don’t just serve a meal; we throw a party and remind ourselves what Radical Hospitality means.
What to Expect on Sunday Morning
First Unitarian has two services beginning in September and continuing through May. During the summer months, we have one service. First Unitarian offers loving childcare for infants and toddlers ages 6 weeks to four years in our Nursery. Structured religious education begins around age four and continues through high school. Several times a year, we have a special service of dedication of children and welcome for new families.
- 9:30 a.m. Service: Nursery services are available. Children are with their parents during the service. There is no formal RE program during First Service, nor is there a “Children’s Moment” during the service.
- 11:00 a.m. Service: Our Religious Education Program begins each Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and concludes at 12:05 p.m. A typical Sunday morning for children may include 20 minutes in the sanctuary with the congregation where they will share in the lighting of the chalice, readings, hymns, and a few minutes devoted especially to them in our Children’s Moment. The congregation will then sing to the children as they leave for their classes.
Thinking of Visiting First Unitarian with Children?
We're looking forward to your joining us on Sundays! Many opportunities are available for children and youth. If you have an infant or toddler ages 6 weeks to 3 years, please take advantage of our professional nursery care, available free of charge, located on the same building level as the Sanctuary.
If you have school-aged children, we have a rich landscape of Religious Education programming for families. Friendly greeters stationed at the sanctuary entrance will introduce you and your children to a religious education staff member or volunteer who will explain the day’s program and guide your children to the appropriate location when the time comes. You may chose to visit the RE class with your child to observe our volunteers and curriculum in action. You'll be given a Welcome Packet, which includes a program brochure, program prospectus, and a registration form.
Nursery and Childcare
Families with young children can count on the loving care provided to children ages 6 weeks to 3 years in our Nursery. Children may be dropped off at the nursery beginning at 9:15 a.m.; please pick them up promptly after the service. Our nursery is staffed by a professional child-care provider who is assisted by church volunteers. The Nursery is staffed with two adults during Sunday mornings. Nursery care is available free of charge during the service.
Our child-friendly nursery space is well stocked with toys, books, and hugs. Very simple activities are introduced for the older two-year-olds. Parents who wish to keep infants with them are welcome to bring babies to the sanctuary.
Families should provide the Nursery workers with a labeled bag containing any items necessary for the care and comfort of their children, including diapers and wipes. Donations of diapers and wipes for emergencies are always welcome.
We request that children who are ill or feeling unwell not be brought to the nursery to avoid discomfort and stress to the children as well as to avoid the spread of contagious illnesses. As general guidelines, please do not bring children who in the past 24 hours have experienced:
- fever
- rash
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- runny nose (unless the mucus has been clear)
If your family has a youth over 14 years old who would like to help in the Nursery, please contact the Religious Education Administrator.
Safety
The safety of children and youth is a major concern of the Religious Education Program. In order to create as safe an environment as possible, all volunteer teachers and RE staff are subject to child safety background checks and must abide by our Code of Conduct.
During fellowship and meeting times, parents need to monitor the whereabouts and behavior of their children. Currently, an outdoor play area is not available on the First Unitarian campus.
RE Program Registration
If you begin to attend regularly, please register your child(ren) in the RE program. If you have registered and have been attending, your child remains enrolled. Please see the Director of Religious education to register or update your enrollment, especially changes to address, phone number, e-mail address, and other relevant contact information.
Volunteer Opportunities in the RE Program — A Teaching Ministry
Religious Education programs are taught by lay volunteers. Any congregant may volunteer; however, parents with enrolled children are particularly encouraged to volunteer to teach or participate in the Religious Education Program during their sojourn at First Unitarian. Teachers generally teach in teams of four. Team teaching limits a teacher’s commitment to 5-6 teaching Sundays per semester. We try to make teaching a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Teachers are given orientation, training, quality curricula, and continuous support by RE staff and RE Committee members. First Unitarian must conduct a child-safety background check on all RE teachers per our Child and Youth Protection Program.
Teaching is an opportunity to meet other adults in our community, to learn more about Unitarian Universalist beliefs, and make an important contribution to our children and our faith community.
If you are interested in teaching, please contact the Director of Religious Education or any member of the RE Committee.
Religious Education Committee (REC)
The purpose of the RE Program is to prepare our children to live spiritually, responsibly, compassionately and intentionally in a complex world. Our efforts are driven by the vision of "growing the soul” and helping students become excited about and come to cherish spiritual life while we guide and support children and families on their journey as lifelong Unitarian Universalists.
The RE Committee is a group of lay leaders who work cooperatively with our Director of Religious Education to fulfill First Unitarian’s vision for rich, meaningful religious programming for children and youth. The Committee meets monthly during the church year to discuss progress, programming, needs, and new initiatives.
Membership in the REC is open to interested, qualified volunteers who are available to lead hands-on project work, meet monthly with the group, and work with the DRE as needed in separate meetings. This requires a one year commitment. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month or as the Committee may elect. If you’re interested in having a direct influence on Religious Education here at First Unitarian, join the RE Committee!
Religious Education Contacts
Our Minister, Director of Religious Education, and the RE Committee are here to listen and help. Please feel free to contact any of them.
MINISTER
Rev. Khleber Van Zandt V | (618) 520-0567 | kvanzandt@uuma.org
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Steven Mead | (314) 239-5694 | dre@firstuualton.org
RE Program Document & Forms
Links:
Inclusivity
We welcome all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin; gender or gender identification, affectional preference or sexual orientation; age, physical or mental challenge; or social, economic, or marital status.
Come visit often and find a place for yourselves in our church community —
and be welcome in this special place.
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