Children's Religious Education

In the Sanctuary

Children and youth participate in congregational worship in the Sanctuary for the first part of the service every Sunday morning. Children experience being in community with the larger church through opening words, the opening hymn, sharing the covenant and children's time. Multigenerational services are held once a month in which children stay in the Sanctuary for the entire service. Children under 3 are cared for in the Nursery during the worship service.

Sunday Morning Programs

Religious Education is offered for children in pre-school (age 3.5) through grade 8.  The Religious Education program at FCU is a co-operative model where religious education classes taught by volunteers from our church community. It's foundation is the commitment and efforts of the adults who teach and assist. The quality of the programming offered to the youth of this church is directly dependent on the commitment and participation of the adult members of our church. Please view our brochure on Faith Development for Children at First Church Unitarian.

If you are new to FCU and would like to register your child in the religious education programming, arrive at church  early and ask the users/greeters to introduce you to the Director of Religious Education or a member of the Religous Education Committee who will orient you to our programs.  Additionally we have a registration form you will be asked to complete.

Classes by Age Group

Infant-Age 3: Nursery Care

Our youngest visitors will be lovingly cared for by adults in the nursery.

Pre-K : Spirit Play

Spirit Play is a Unitarian Universalist adaptation of the Godly Play curriculum by Jerome Berryman, combined with aspects of the Montessori Method.

Grades 1-3: Faithful Journeys

Through sessions structured around the Unitarian Universalist Principles, Faithful Journeys demonstrates that our Principles are not a dogma, but a credo that individuals can affirm with many kinds of action. Over the course of the program, children discover a unity of faith, in the many different ways that Unitarian Universalists, including themselves, can act on their beliefs.

Grades 4-6: Holy Curiosity

Science and Religion are both ways that people ask questions to try to make sense of the world. This curriculum is about giving children some tools to recognize how one asks questions as a scientist and as a person of faith. It also recognizes that as a Unitarian Universalist, they can do both.

Grades 7-8: Neighboring Faiths

This program explores the diversity of religions in our world. Youth, advisors and parents visit other faith communities and worship with them. They experience other traditions as they are practiced in our surrounding communities, enabling young people to clarify their values and beliefs in the context of Unitarian Universalism and providing an increased familiarity with the world’s religions.

Grades 9-12: Senior Youth Group

Our Senior Youth Group members meet the first and third Sundays of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

All Ages: Chapel Sundays

Approximately once a month, a multi-age program for children in grades Pre K-eight will take place. The multi-age program will consist of social action activities, seasonal celebrations, and other special events.

Special Events for Children

One Sunday a month at 10am, all of the children (except Spirit Play) join in a cooperative celebration. These include:

• Sukkot
• Wampanoag Thanksgiving
• Hannukah
• Imbolc
• Chinese New Year
• Mardi Gras
• Easter
• Earth Day