Religious Exploration at LOUUC

Growth and Learning Program

Our Religious Exploration program is enriched by the talents and attention of many caring adult volunteers. We strive to teach our Unitarian Universalist Principles through modeling, singing, playing games, reading stories, and a wide array creative and exploratory activities. We explore the wisdom found in our Judeo-Christian heritage and other religious traditions and we learn about our unique Unitarian Universalist liberal religious heritage. As a parent, you are invited to participate in RE, to sit in the activities, and to chat with our adult volunteer guides. We know that the more committed and involved parent(s) are in their child/ren’s religious education the more it means to both the child and the parent. Regular attendance allows families to better experiences the rhythms and values of our curriculum, taking home with you the ethical and spiritual lessons home with them to explore more deeply with you.  

Participation

Our Children’s Religious Exploration program is one in which every child, parent and many other adult members of the congregation participate. Since the pandemic, like many congregations nationwide, attendance has fluctuated and we're generating news ways to delivery religious exploration to our families. Whatever form it takes, we hope you will engage with our intergenerational programs. 

Registration

We ask that all children who attend RE on a regular basis be registered. For your convenience, links to the registration forms are available above on this webpage. If your child has special needs, please indicate them on your registration forms so that we can be as fully inclusive and welcoming as possible. 

Sunday Worship Service

Each week our congregation gathers at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. Some Sundays, children stay with their families for the duration of the service. Other Sundays, after the first 15-20 minutes, following the Message for All Ages, we sing the children out to their Farmhouse classrooms to engage in children's worship and programming with our teacher volunteers. Some of our Sunday services will be intentionally intergenerational, encouraging active participation of adults, youth, and children.

Cost Of The Program

To cover materials and snacks, families are encouraged to support the congregation financially through their pledges in accordance with their resources. Donations are welcome. No family will be turned away over fees.

Coming of Age is an innovative, year-long program for grades eight through High School, to reflect on their lives and see the opening into their emerging adulthood. The primary purpose of this program is to help youth discern for themselves what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist – individually and as part of the larger faith community. This is a bridge program with reflection activities, social justice projects, experiences with a variety of spiritual practices, and lessons that help with values clarification. All of the activities aim to assist youth in moving from childhood to young adulthood. The Coming of Age ceremony usually features the youth reading their statements of personal belief (credo statements) to the congregation.

Purpose:

• To encourage youth to explore what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist:
• To help youth move into the adult role of identifying and acting on personal beliefs and values;
• To recognize and publicly honor the movement of a youth from childhood to adolescence within the Unitarian Universalist tradition;
• To integrate our youth into Unitarian Universalism for the continuation of our heritage and development of personal values;
• To provide parents with support and opportunity to help in their children’s faith development;
• To provide adults in our congregation the opportunity to explore their own values and put them into practice by being instrumental in the development of our youth. 

Our Whole Lives

Our Whole Lives is a sexuality education curriculum that helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives (OWL) not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, personal, and social aspects of sexuality.

OWL curriculum is offered for 4 grade levels; K-First; Fourth-Sixth grades, 7-9, and 10-12. The 7-9 curriculum is a companion program for Coming of Age.

For more information see the UUA website.

Adult Religious Exploration takes many forms, from small-group ministries, like Covenant Groups, who meet monthly to listen and share deeply about a theme or question; Book Group; Men's Connection, or  programs on contemplative, spiritual, philosophical and social issues. Using a shared ministry approach congregants and minister work together to design courses, workshops, and experiences that edge us forward on our lifelong journey for truth and meaning. We encourage involvement and suggestions from Live Oak members and friends.