Children & Youth Programs
Youth Staff R.E. Internships
Youth are invited to apply to serve as assistant R.E. Teachers for our preschool and elementary age groups. This opportunity is offered in the spirit of building community, broadening circles, and fostering intergenerational relations. It will provide youth who are ERUUF members a chance to share their love of UUism with the younger generation. The experience is truly emblematic of UU values: covenantal relationships rooted in community and mutual respect. This internship offers youth a chance to practice bringing their UU values into a work environment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed Coming of Age at ERUUF or another UU congregation.
Nursery Room
Nursery Room: Our infants and toddlers are lovingly cared for in the nursery room by our dedicated CPR and First Aid certified RE Aides and volunteers from the congregation. Parents are welcome to stay in the nursery if they would like. Parents must sign their children in and out of the Nursery room, and keep their phones on vibrate when they leave.
3 - 4 year-olds: Chalice Children
Chalice Children delves into Unitarian Universalist faith and provides experiences around the strength of community, the wonder and awe that transcend everyday understanding, and life issues we all share. Early childhood is filled with curiosity and wonder. With loving adults as guides, young children can engage in spiritual seeking, develop their openness to sharing, and experience the benefit of a supportive community.
K - 1st
Fall: Wonderful Welcome
Children identify intangible gifts central to Unitarian Universalism such as friendship, hospitality and fairness, and share these gifts with others.
Spring: World of Wonder
Founded on the premise that direct experience in nature is essential to children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development, this program delves deep into our Unitarian Universalist seventh Principle. It instills respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, and appreciation of its beauty, excitement, and mystery.
2nd - 3rd Grade
Signs of Our Faith guides children to do their best to live faithful lives every day. It presents fourteen traits or values that most Unitarian Universalist love, including the quest for knowledge, reverence for life, supporting one another on our faith journeys, and public witness. Children examine how their lives do and can exhibit these traits and values, and come to understand that their faith is a living faith whose histories and teachings are fortifications for living faithfully in a complex world. Children are prompted to consider questions such as "What is our relationship to the Earth and other creatures?"
4th - 5th Grade
Sing to the Power affirms our Unitarian Universalist heritage of confronting “powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.” Participants experience their own power, and understand how it can help them to be leaders.
Grade 6-8: Neighboring Faith Communities
“Neighboring Faith Communities” is a program for 6-8th grade students that is based on making visits to other faith communities near your congregation.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
OWL is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities. It provides honest, accurate information about sexuality. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, and improves decision-making. Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their 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.
Middle School Youth Group (MSYG)
MSYG offers opportunities for all ERUUF 6th-8th grade youth to come together on Sunday afternoons for fun group games, community service and social justice, and exploring their beliefs and values, as well as fun overnights! The group is supported by the Youth Ministry Coordinator and youth advisors.
Coming of Age (COA)
COA is a program for 9th-10th grades to assist youth in clarifying and articulating their personal beliefs and to grow more deeply into Unitarian Universalism. COA supports youth in creating a vision about who they would like to be and what they would like to do for the world. Each youth is paired with an adult mentor to support them on their journey of discovery and help create connections between youth and the adult congregation. The program culminates with a celebration dinner and youth-led worship service in which youth share their personal credos. Coming of Age meets on the first and third Sundays from 1-3pm.
High School Youth Group (HSYG)
HSYG is a great place to have fun and meet a community of other youth that share our UU values! Youth meet weekly during the 11:15 service in the CARE building as well as having overnights and other fun events throughout the year. HSYG includes opportunities for community building, worship and faith formation, justice making, learning and leadership. The group is supported by the Youth Ministry Coordinator and youth advisors.