Religious Education Update: April 13, 2008

The congregation is currently blessed with an active, enthusiastic and fun Religious Education Committee, under the skilled facilitation of Leslie Harrison. At our last meeting, we enjoyed tea, coffee and scones as we polished up our Mission Statement. This Statement is compiled from material from UUP history, information from other UU churches and the input of committee members, and was edited by Leslie Balestreri and me.

Mission Statement For Religious Education at UUP
We will provide our children with opportunities to grow spiritually, develop a sense of personal and social responsibility, and experience joy as integral members of a loving Unitarian Universalist community. Our curriculum will balance head and heart by providing intellectual stimulation while nurturing the spirit.

How We Fulfill Our Mission
* Teaching about the world's religions, including our own
* Fostering social responsibility and personal growth by participation in service
projects for our community and outside groups
* Providing instruction in UU principles and practices to assist
children and youth in forming their own belief system
* Ensuring a safe learning environment
* Providing activities and rituals
* Integrating our children into our church community and the
greater UU denomination
* Providing knowledge of UU history to help children build
confidence in their own UU identity.

Description of Philosophy
Our religious education program for children and youth teaches children ages 3 to 18 about our Unitarian Universalist identity, sources of inspiration and history; issues of peace and social justice; and the interdependent web of nature. Our children and youth will have opportunities to put UU principles into action through service projects. We will hold social events to build intergenerational community. Participation in our Religion Education program will help children and youth become self-assured, confident adults with a strong sense of their own religious identity.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education