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Children's Religious Education Programme
Sunday Mornings at the Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton
The children's program at the Unitarian Fellowship of Fredericton is
organized around the pillars of our religious organization,
Unitarian*Universalist history and philosophy, the seven principles and
the six sources.
Materials and curricula produced and distributed by the
UUA and the CUC are used in program development.
Children are encouraged
to develop their own belief system within a community that is safe,
nurturing, positive and open.
Our mandate from our church by-laws for our Religious Education program is to promote
- Spiritual Development
- Religious Growth
- Learning U*U tradition
A Whole Child / Whole Church Approach
Integrating children into the life of the community is not limited to what we do
upstairs on Sunday morning.
Being part of the life of the community means
integrating children into the first part of the Sunday morning service and
planning intergenerational activities, such as Intergenerational Circles or the
Festival of Lights pageant.
These activities enable children, youth, young
adults, adults and older adults to have meaningful experiences of religion
together and to develop nurturing relationships.
They help all of us to see
exactly what it means to grow -- in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls.
The program at the Unitarian Fellowship is small, but growing along with the
children.
We encourage the involvement of all members, not only parents.
You can
learn more about Unitarian Universalist approaches to religious education by
borrowing the CUC video on lifespan learning, looking at curricula and support
materials, or by reading the information available on the CUC and UUA websites.
Regional and National Gatherings include sessions or streams on lifespan learning
and children's programs.
Religious Education Program 2008-9
The main goal of our RE program is to provide a liberal religious environment where the young people in our congregation may develop both socially and spiritually, guided by the seven principles of Unitarian-Universalism.
These principles may be found in our hymn book or on the back of the order of service.
It is also our hope that the children in the program will find their Sunday mornings at TUFF to be a fun time.
A summary of the specific program for September 2008 to June 2009 is available below.
The sequence of classes is similar for each month and will focus on one of the UU principles.
Each month includes a Sunday devoted mainly to
music and singing, an age-appropriate discussion of one of our UU
principles, a consideration of a specific environmental topic, a
theme to consider an important question, or learning about some of
the main world religions.
Our program facillator is Stephanie Yorke, a graduate student in English at UNB.
Stephanie has been working with the children since January 2007.
She is ably assisted by Elisabeth Elder-Gomes.
This year Elisabeth's sister Anneke Elder-Gomes will be helping out with the toddlers, as we expand to accommodate separate class time for the older children.
Allan Walls is available to step in when his services are needed.
Typically the children are together with the adults at the start of each service
during which they are invited to participate in a story for all ages which
frequently relates to the subject matter of the adult talk.
After about 10 or 15
minutes the children are sung out to go upstairs for their own program.
We usually provide a small, healthy snack (fruit juice and crackers) to the children towards the end of each session.
We ask that the children not bring inappropriate food items (candies or other sweets, pop, gum, peanuts, etc.).
Also, for the protection of others in the program we ask that children who have symptoms of a condition that might be contagious (fever, skin infection, vomiting, persistent cough, etc.) not attend until the risk of infecting others has passed.
In addition, we ask that children do not bring electronic games to their class.
If you are interested in visiting our Fellowship, please be assured that your child will be warmly welcomed!
To enroll a child in the program please use
the registration form.
For further information contact
the Fellowship office
or Haifa Miller
(hmiller@nbnet.nb.ca)
Program Summary
September 2008 Theme: We Believe That Each And Every Person Is Important.
- September 7: Music & Singing
- September 14: Principle #1 Discussion
- September 21: Environmental Topic
- September 28: Big Questions
October 2008 Theme: We Believe That All People Should Be Treated Fairly And Kindly.
- October 5: Music & Singing
- October 12: Principle #2 Discussion
- October 19: Environmental Topic
- October 26: Big Questions
November 2008 Theme: We Believe That We Should Encourage One Another And Learn Together.
- November 2: Music & Singing
- November 9: Principle #3 Discussion
- November 16: Environmental Topic
- November 23: Big Questions
- November 30: World Religions
December 2008 Theme: We Believe That Each Person Must Be Free To Search For What Is True & Right In Life.
- December 7: Music & Singing
- December 14: Principle #4 Discussion
- December 21: Intergenerational Christmas Service
- December 28: Big Questions
January 2009 Theme: We Believe That All Persons Should Have A Say About The Things That Concern Them.
- January 4: Music & Singing
- January 11: Principle #5 Discussion
- January 18: Environmental Topic
- January 25: Big Questions
February 2009 Theme: We Believe In Working For A Peaceful, Fair And Free World.
- February 1: Music & Singing
- February 8: Principle #6 Discussion
- February 15: Environmental Topic
- February 22: Big Questions
March 2009 Theme: We Believe In Caring For Our Planet Earth, The Home We Share With All Living Things.
- March 1: Music & Singing
- March 8: Principle #7 Discussion
- March 15: Environmental Topic
- March 22: Big Questions
- March 29: World Religions
April 2009 Theme: We Believe That Each And Every Person Is Important.
- April 5: Music & Singing
- April 12: Principle #1 Discussion
- April 19: Environmental Topic
- April 26: Big Questions
May 2009 Theme: We Believe That All People Should Be Treated Fairly And Kindly.
- May 3: Music & Singing
- May 10: Principle #2 Discussion
- May 17: Environmental Topic
- May 24: Big Questions
- May 31: World Religions
June 2009 Theme: We Believe That We Should Encourage One Another And Learn Together.
- June 7: Music & Singing
- June 14: Principle #3 Discussion
- June 21: Environmental Topic
- June 28: Wrap Up
Special Events:
- September 20, 2008: Apple Picking & Baking
- January 2009: Sleigh Ride
Big Questions:
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