Fall Program , 2007

Welcome to our Religious Education program for the 2007-08 program year! Our program this year will focus on Unitarian Universalist identity, personal spiritual growth and social justice work with a few social events to help deepen our relationships with one another.

Our classes are age appropriately grouped with two adult volunteers per session in attendance along with our children/youth. The R.E. program is offered during the 10:30AM Sunday service time.

Religious Education begins in our Nursery with felt chalice lighting, stories that reflect our values, play and interaction with our professional childcare provider. Parents are welcome to stay for awhile too.The Nursery in intended for children ages infant and toddler and are available at both our 9:00 and 10:30AM service times.

Primary Class and Spirit Play

Our Primary class is intended for children PreK-2nd grade ages. We realize there are developmental differences between the 4 year old and the 7 year old and so our Montessori based approach in this class works for our combined ages. The Primary class will be using a story based program called Spirit Play. The Spirit Play program begins each session with a focus story or parable continues with a wondering out loud question time, snack, art, drama, story retelling and open play. As in a Montessori classroom, the child begins to integrate the stories through their play.

Emerson and Spirit of Adventure

Unitarian Universalist heritage, stories of our forbearers, social justice projects and science exploration are the focus of this class. Intended for children between early elementary and middle school we will also hold a sleepover for the group before the end of the program year.

Junior Youth and How Can I Know What to Believe?

As Unitarian Universalists we are called to examine life's BIG questions and discover, in community, what has meaning for us? Belief in God or not, are logic and reason our expression of spirituality, why do bad things happen to good people and what happens when we die will be discussed throughout the year. This group will participate in Sunday Services and social justice works as expressions of their faith. Social nights will help connect us with our neighboring sister UU church in El Paso.

YRUU Senior Youth Group and Compass Points

This group will use a Covenant Group style and a curriculum to help them work on a Coming of Age process culminating in a “pilgrimage” to Boston. Statues of William Ellery Channing, the first Unitarian church in America, Walden Pond (for our own Henry David Thoreau), three large urban UU churches surrounding the Boston Commons and our association's headquarters glance the surface of the UU living tradition found in Boston. Fundraising will play an important part in this program.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) for 4th-5th grade age children

This program focuses on Unitarian Universalist values and ethics within a sexuality education framework. Trained facilitators offer an age appropriate introduction to puberty. Six sessions offered during the 9:00AM Sunday service time scheduled to begin on October 12th, a parent/guardian orientation and parental/guardian permission is required for registration in this class. Orientation schedule TBA.

Social events help throughout the year will include monthly Sunday lunches, Youth and Emerson lock-ins, the annual Winter Holiday Decorating Party and Dia de los Muertos celebration.

For questions, concerns or comments about the program, please contact Susan Freudenthal, Director of Religious Education. Office hours Sept-May are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call ahead for an appointment. Office phone: (505) 522-7281 Email:susan@freudenthal.net