OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM
FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

What are we about?

From the Mission Statement for Religious Education adopted in May 1994: “We the members of First Unitarian Church, hereby affirm our responsibility to (1) embrace the children and young people of this Church in our religious community and communicate to them in words and actions their significance to the life of the Church and their membership in the family of Unitarian Universalists and (2) provide to the children and young people of this Church a quality liberal religious education which offers them the opportunity to (a) acquire the knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary to confidently engage in a religious dialogue with their peers, (b) develop a life-long commitment to Unitarian Universalism and the search for truth to enable them to develop their own belief system and (c) experience the values, ideals and teachings of Unitarian Universalism...”

How do we accomplish this?

Our Sunday School year, which runs from September through the end of May, consists of three trimesters of approximately 12 weeks each. Curriculum taught gives students the opportunity to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, World Religions, and our Judeo-Christian Heritage. During all of the trimesters, the material presented is viewed through the lens of Unitarian Universalism and the UU Principles specifically. The goal of our program is to give our children and youth the opportunity to learn about Unitarian Universalism and the faiths of the world on the way to learning more about themselves and the formulation of their own personal concept of religion as they mature spiritually. 

In doing so, we hope to instill in our young people a vision of Unitarian Universalism as a church home that is broad enough to grow with them throughout the seasons of their lives. 

SUNDAY MORNINGS

Preschool & Nursery (Both 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Services)

During the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Service - Kindergarten through Adults Multi-Age Gathering

Let’s Learn About Islam - Experienced through stories and activity centers

What are the basic beliefs of Islam?
What are the different ways to practice Islam on a daily basis?
What are the holidays?
What do Muslims and UUs have in common?

Come and learn about Islam with people of all ages by hearing stories and then choosing workshops and activity centers that appeal to you.

Note: There is no Story for All Ages during the this early service. Instead, all children and adults in this All Ages class begin the morning in at 9:30 a.m. in Common Room on the lower level. See also pick up and emergency procedures.

Note: The 7-10th Grade Program Meets at the 11:15 a.m. service

During the 11:15 a.m. Service

ALL Children and Youth, Kindergarten and older, begin Sunday mornings in the worship service at 11:15 a.m. After The Story for All Ages, K-10th graders leave the Sanctuary and go to their classrooms. The 11-12th grade youth remain in the service to worship with the congregational community. (If any 11-12^th graders would like to volunteer in the religious education program, contact Cheryll Wallace at the church for more information.)

Kindergarten through Third Grade Gathering: meets in the Robert Weston Room - the middle classroom of the upstairs R.E. Wing. See also pick up and emergency procedures.

Curriculum: Learning about Other Religions

March   7: Let’s Learn about Islam
March 14: Let’s Learn about Islam
March 21: Let’s Learn about Islam
March 28: Let’s Learn about Islam

Fourth Through Sixth Grade Gathering: meets in the Whitney Young Room - the west classroom on the lower level by the elevator. See also emergency procedures.

Curriculum: Learning about Other Religions

March 7: Preparing to Visit the Nebraska Zen Center
March 14: Visit to the Nebraska Zen Center
March 21: Discussing our Visit
March 28: Community Building & Choosing the next House of Worship to visit

Teen Gathering - Seventh Grade and Older: meets in the James Reeb Room on the south side of the Common Room on the lower level.See also emergency procedures.

Celebrating Unitarian Universalism and the Big Questions of Life: Daring discussion, building wacky wonderful community, LOTS of pillows and of course, FOOD !!! COME AND JOIN US. Facilitated by Kate, Shawna, Jesse, and Jeremy.

 Other Opportunities for Children and Youth

YRUU

YRUU is a youth group for 7th - 12th grade UU youth from First and Second Unitarian Churches of Omaha which meets every Wednesday from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at First Unitarian Church during the school year, from September to May. For more information, contact youth group leaders Ben and Shari Wallace at OmahaYRUU@gmail.com.

Soul-Full Thursdays

Soul-Full Thursdays are six week sessions held at three different intervals during the year. Each Thursday offers a community meal, classes that may interest older children and youth, and child care

Important Information

In Case of Emergency

In case of an emergency all classrooms will evacuate the building and meet on the east lawn of the church near Turner Blvd. To cut down on confusion, PARENTS SHOULD NOT GO TO THE CLASSROOMS in the event of an emergency when the building is being evacuated. Please meet the teachers on the east lawn of the building and collect your children there. Each classroom has an evacuation map showing 2 routes from the building and teachers have been briefed on the routine for evacuation.

Sunday School Pick Up Information for Parents

All parents of children in the nursery and the K-3rd grade class are asked to pick up their children after Sunday School each week as soon as the service is over to insure that the children are safe and that they are in the charge of a parent. This also allows the teachers to leave class as soon as the Sunday School hour is over.

Updated Febr 28, 2010 wfr