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Religious Education: Growing Your Spirit
Religious education for children and youth is a time for wonder and community. We value all people, so we listen to each other and offer support. We value many religious expressions, so we learn the stories and celebrations of Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and others. We value the earth, so we work in our garden. We value justice, so we get involved in sharing food with those in need. With mentors we learn yoga, plant trees, build birdhouses and talk about our beliefs and our hopes.
Children join parents for the first part of our worship service then move to their group time after the story. With volunteer leaders these classes do projects, talk and tell stories together. Infants and toddlers are cared for in the nursery by nurturing paid staff. Dress is casual and visitors are always welcome.
Teens (Grades 7-12) meet for Religious Education after the service at noon for about an hour each week. They also have monthly movie nights and other events scheduled throughout the year.
We're always looking for interested parents and other members who are interested in sharing their interests and talents with our children's program as a special event or on a continuing basis as a teacher. If you are interested, please join us at our next RE committee meeting. Meetings held monthly on Sundays at noon, check the calendar to find dates.
Youth Religious Education Chair - Jennifer Thielen (rechair@uugreenvillenc.org)
Director of Youth Religious Education - Kimberly Thornton Scholl (dre@uugreenvillenc.org)
Spring 2009 Youth RE Classes & Curricula
Nursery (Preschool Ages)
"Friendship Finders"
Victoria Brown will engage the children with age appropriate stories and activities focused on UU themes that help young children feel comfortable and confident about coming to church.
Class meets during the service in the nursery.
Primary (Kindergarten-3rd Grade)
"Timeless Themes"
Lead Teacher Kim Smith will share well known Bible stories emphasizing their historical or cultural implications with an accompanying craft project.
Class meets during the service in the Large Classroom.
Tween (4th-6th Grades)
"Toolbox of Faith"
Lead Teachers Toni Britt and Tom Thielen will introduce the “tools” for building a UU faith Toolbox such as mirrors, duct tape and flashlights that symbolize the qualities such as reflection, flexibility and justice...!
Class meets during the service in the Teen Room.
Teen (7th-12th Grades)
"Paradigms Lost and Regained"
Lead Teachers Rich Elkins and Jennifer Barr will accompany the teens on a journey to expand their intellectual horizons and to build sound minds as they reflect upon youth issues in today’s society.
Class meets after the service from noon-1pm in the Teen Room. (except on Yoga Sundays)
Yoga Sundays
usually on the third Sunday of each month
All school-aged children participate in Yoga with Instructor Don English and Assistant Marli Baker. Make sure to wear casual, loose clothing!
Yoga Sunday meets during the service in the Large Classroom.
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Adult RE classes are always full of lively discussions. We love to air our varied opinions, opening ourselves to change. A weekly discussion group called "The Forum" meets before the worship service at 9:30 a.m. weekly on Sundays. Discussions are sometimes held after the service, too, on the theme from the reflection of the day. Other classes are regularly offered at various times to accomodate diverse schedules. Recent topics have included The Welcoming Congregation, Emerson's Writings, Feeding our Souls, The History of God, New UU 101, and Building Your Own Theology. Discussions are open to drop-ins, classes have open registration at the beginning of each session. The Forum is run by its participants, but other Adult RE offerings are coordinated by or through the minister.
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