UUCA’s Children and Youth Religious Education is multifaceted and values connection. Children and youth have the opportunity to participate in developmentally-appropriate programming that includes the exploration of multiple faith traditions and our Unitarian Universalist values. Not only do they develop friendships with each other; they also benefit from dedicated adult leaders and mentors.
“It takes a village,” and with our focus on building multiple relationships within the faith community, our hope is to help parents parent beyond their capacity.
Classes are offered on Sundays at 10 am.
CURRENT OFFERINGS:
NURSERY (0-3)
Our child care experience is hosted by two professional staff each Sunday and includes stories and free play.
10 AM each Sunday.
CHALICE CHILDREN (3-5)
Early childhood is filled with curiosity and wonder. Chalice Children strives not just to teach about our Unitarian Universalist faith, but also to provide experiences around the strength of community, the wonder and awe that transcend everyday understanding, and life issues we all share. In a group setting, with loving adult guides, young children can engage in spiritual seeking, develop their openness to sharing, and experience the benefit of a supportive community. Their time in Chalice Children can set a pattern for the rest of their lives and bring lasting benefits.
10 AM each Sunday.
World Religions Through Picture Books (K-Grade 2)
This curriculum introduces world religions through stories and allows the students to explore the differences and similarities to their own lives. Each religion has specially-selected picture books to literally paint a picture of the values, practices, and framework of other religions. As Unitarian Universalists, one of the sources of our living tradition is “the wisdom from the world’s religions…,” and this class provides an age-appropriate introduction.
10 AM each Sunday.
Passport to Spirituality, and Toolbox of Faith (Grades 3-5)
Join us to explore spiritual practices of world religions as we add to our “Passport to Spirituality.” Beyond learning about world religions, we will explore how to utilize world religions to gain wisdom and delve into our own spirituality. We’ll look at holidays and practices of various religions including Islam, Hindu, Taoism, Shawnee (Native America), and many more. After filling our passport, we’ll focus on building our “Toolbox of Faith.”
10 AM each Sunday.
Crossing Paths (Grade 6-7)
We offer our middle schoolers a curriculum of literally “Crossing Paths” with other religions and congregations. The students will learn about each religion in a multi-week multi-step process that includes familiarization, preparation, a field trip / visit, then reflection. This class combines building a Unitarian Universalist identity in the context of interfaith learning, which allows students to have a deeper and more clear understanding of their own faith.
10 AM each Sunday.
Coming of Age (Grades 8-9)
In this phenomenal year-long program (September through May), each student explores their own spirituality. The group does this exploration through discussion, listening to guest speakers, participating in workshops, and working with an adult mentor (each student is paired with an adult-mentor). The program connects prior religious education and life experience, bridging into the upcoming high school YRUU group.
10 AM each Sunday.
“YRUU” - Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (Grade 9-12)
YRUU takes the spiritual lives of our youth seriously! Youth have the opportunity to deepen and explore spiritual practice, to do informed service and social justice action projects together, to develop their leadership skills, and to create bonds that will last a lifetime. For more information or to enroll please email our Youth Coordinator, Catherine Moore.
12:30-1:30 each Sunday.
Combined Nursery/Preschool during Worship
Our multi-age childcare experience is hosted by two professional staff each Sunday during service and includes stories and free play.
Every Sunday at 11.
K-3 Workshops during Worship
Each month, the children experience multiple workshop offerings including age-appropriate yoga and movement games, crafts, and a cultural story/cooking experience.
Every Sunday at 11.
OUR WHOLE LIVES
Honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. For these reasons and more, we are proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities.
Interested in signing your child or youth up for our next OWL class? Fill out this form.
adult religious education
Be a lifelong learner and cultivate your sense of wonder!
Adult Religious Education is organized into four different tracks to focus your interests. Check out our offerings below and in the Weekly Update!
Are you curious to learn more about Unitarian Universalist theology and values, explore world religions, or discern more deeply your current beliefs about this mysterious world in which we live? Then, this is the track for you! These offerings take place on Sunday mornings at 10 and are generally offered in a small-series format. As with anything, you will receive more by attending regularly; however, the sessions in this track are designed to stand alone.
Feel free to drop in on any given Sunday–no registration required.
Great for lifelong learners, UUCA visitors, and those new to Unitarian Universalism.
Great faith leadership requires meaningful, soulful collaboration. We are wiser together, braver together, and more resilient together. This track educates in such areas as healthy systems and differentiation, conflict transformation, soulful/servant leadership, soulful technology, design thinking, and volunteer strategy.
Commitment to a workshop or series in this track through online registration is required.
Great for those interested in spiritually-grounded leadership at UUCA and beyond.
Click HERE to Register NOW for Conflict Transformation with the Healthy Relationship Committee!
Unitarian Universalism is described as a faith of deeds, not creeds. While we may not share a common set of beliefs, we do covenant to affirm a set of principles that recognizes “the inherent worth and dignity of every person” and calls us to create a world “with peace, liberty, and justice for all.” The offerings in this track educate on issues affecting our earth, our neighbors, and our world. To learn about challenges that make us uncomfortable–and then choose to move into that discomfort to create a better world–takes courage.
Commitment to a workshop or series in this track through online registration is required.
Great for those interested in social justice work and social justice leadership at UUCA.
Stay Tuned for Offerings Coming Soon!
Relationship is primary in our faith community. Unitarian Universalism calls us into relationship with each other through the covenants we make and into relationship with ourselves through spiritual practice and ritual. Offerings that instruct on such topics as cognitive-based compassion, empathetic communication, and an array of spiritual practices will help to deepen those connections.
Commitment to a workshop or series in this track through online registration is required.
Great for those interested in UUCA lay ministry or small group ministry leadership.
Stay Tuned for Offerings Coming Soon!