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)

Kindergarten, older children, and youth

Exept for the nursery group, all children and youth begin Sunday mornings in the worship service. After the Story for All Ages participants leave the sanctuary and proceed to their classrooms.

9:30 a.m. Service

Kindergarten through 6th Grade

After the Story for all ages, children in K-6th will leave the sanctuary and go directly to the Robert Weston Room - the middle classroom of the upstairs R.E. Wing. See also pick up and emergency procedures.

Theme: Living the UU Principles. Activities vary weekly.

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

11:15 Service

Kindergarten through Third Grade Gathering

After the Story for all ages, children in K-3rd will leave the sanctuary and go directly to the Robert Weston Room - the middle classroom of the upstairs R.E. Wing. See also pick up and emergency procedures.

Theme: We Believe: Learning and Living Our Unitarian Universalist Principles

Sept.   5: Inherent Worth: What Does It Mean? 
Sept. 12: Inherent Worth
Sept. 19: Fair to Everyone
Sept. 26: Inner Peace

Fourth through Sixth Grade Gathering

After the Story for all ages, children in Grades 4-6 meet in the Whitney Young Room - the west classroom on the lower level by the elevator. See also emergency procedures. Teacher: Cheryll Wallace, Director of Religious Education, and
friends.

Theme: UUs Throughout History Who Have Kept Our Faith Alive

Sept.   5: Class Colloquy
Sept. 12: Fannie Farmer
Sept. 19: Fannie Farmer
Sept. 26: Frank Lloyd Wright

Teen Gathering - Seventh Grade and Older

Celebrating Unitarian Universalism and the Big Questions of Life. COME AND JOIN US. Facilitated by Kate Wiig and friends.

New Meeting Place: in the Merritt Lounge

 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 Aug 28, 2010 wfr