In May we celebrate all that the children and youth have experienced this year. On behalf of the members and friends of our beloved community, I offer gratitude for the loving stewardship and guidance of the Religious Exploration (RE) Leaders and the committees who plan and support our programs.
Looking ahead to next church year, I’m pleased to share with you the plans developed by the Committee for Religious Exploration:
Children
The theme for the 2010-11 church year flows from one of our Sources:
wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us
in our ethical and spiritual life.
Children will explore how the beliefs and customs of featured religions impact our Unitarian Universalist faith, as well as their own lives.
Kindergarten to Grade 2
Picture Book World Religions introduces world religions through a story, and related activities. It covers Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism, and incorporates the concepts of sacred places, freedom of religion, and peace.
Grades 3 to 6
A World of New Friends: An Introduction to World Religions explores the largest of the world religions, using stories, art, drama and song. It covers Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, traditional Chinese religions, Earth-centred religions, Sikhism, and Judaism.
After an opening together, children will move in small groups between centres, which are designed to address a variety of learning styles (verbal, visual, movement, musical, logical).
Next year, children’s Worship Circles will be full mornings rather than 15 to 20 minutes prior to classes, and there will be more of them! They will include Day of the Dead, World Religion Day, Pink Triangle Day, earth and science based exploration, and more!
Youth
We faced some challenges this year, due to lower numbers in both youth groups. To better meet the needs of our youth, we will move to one youth group for the time being, rather than two. Having a larger group helps make discussions, games, projects and activities more fun and interactive.
Messages in Music explores the Principles and Sources through music, and includes a music project and a youth-led Sunday Service. The curriculum provides a few of the six components of a balanced youth program: Worship, Youth-Adult Relations, Community Building, Learning, Social Action and Leadership. Other elements may be met through gatherings outside of church time that might include lock-ins, social action work, evening worship, and travel to regional or national conferences.
The Committee for Religious Exploration hopes to offer a 15-hour weekend workshop for Basic Youth Advisor Training in the fall or winter.
Again, I thank the members of the RE Committee for their thoughtful planning and solutions.
Love,
Andrea
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