Religious Education for Children and Teens
Welcome to the UUCSJS Religious Education Program!
Each week, the children in our community join the congregation for the beginning of our Sunday service. After collecting donations for the food pantry, a women's crisis center and a local animal shelter, the children are presented with a special message or story and then are "sung out" by the congregation to their Religious Education classes. The youth are divided by their school grade into the following four classes:| Spirit Play Grades Pre-K to 2nd | Bibleodeon Grades 5 to 7 |
| Spirit of Adventure Grades 3 to 4 | Popcorn Theology Grade 8 and up |
SpiritPlay - Grades Pre-K thru 2nd
SpiritPlay is a storytelling religious education program. During each class, the storyteller relates a story while presenting visual cues (small objects, pictures) to the children as a way to help the children remember the story. The stories include tales from many different faith traditions, and also introduce the children to some our Unitarian Universalist ancestors.Following each storytelling, the children are encouraged to interpret the story through art expression, or can revisit past stories.
Spirit of Adventure - Grades 3-4
Spirit of Adventure is an active Unitarian Universalist Identity curriculum for children using the themes of sports, medicine, food, science, building, exploring and the web of life as ways to discover the people and values of our Unitarian Universalist faith.
Bibleodeon - Grades 5-7
Bibleodeon introduces Hebrew and Christian scriptures by presenting the best-known stories in a fun atmosphere so students can experience the Bible as one of many wonderful UU sources.The course includes interactive challenges such as investigating the Cain-Abel crime scene, acting in amusing playlets with characters like the Fatted Calf, and giving awards to outstanding biblical women. The class will explore connections between biblical events and Unitarian Universalist principles, between biblical ideas and their own lives.
Popcorn Theology - Grades 8 and up
This class takes the concept and popularity of visual entertainment and uses it to explore issues of theology and ethics in popular films and cartoons.Each class session will include viewing a segment of a popular movie or animated television show followed by a discussion exploring concepts such as truth and meaning, choices, other faith traditions and their responses to important theological and ethical issues, and the ways in which our faith can help us understand our questions, seek answers, and deal with the trials of life.
"The great end in religious instruction, is not to stamp our minds upon the young,
but to stir up their own . . ."
-- William Ellery Channing
If you have any questions about the UUCSJS Children's Religious Education Program, or would like to register your child for our Children's RE classes, please contact the Director of Religious Education, Heidi Jannsch, at (609) 965-9400 or by email at sjsdre (at) gmail.com.
| Children's RE Mission and Vision | Children's RE 2009-10 Schedule |
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Replenishing the Environment: Volunteers from our Children's RE program spend a windy afternoon planting native plants in the marsh. |
| Summer Sessions: The kids enjoy a nature walk with Kim Peters and Jack Miller. |
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Our classes are based on UU Principles:
- We believe that each and every person is important.
- We believe that all people should be treated fairly.
- We believe that all our churches are places where all people are accepted, and where we keep learning together.
- We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.
- We believe that everyone should have a voice about the things that concern them.
- We believe in working for a peaceful, fair and free world.
- We believe in caring for our planet Earth.
Our Mission
Through our Children's Religious Education programming, we encourage our youth to ask questions and explore. We seek to instill in them confidence as they set out on their unique spiritual journeys. We hope to establish a lifelong dedication in our youth to the Unitarian Universalist community at large.Our Vision
Our Children's Religious Education Program provides weekly, age-appropriate classes covering introductions to different religions, UU history, UU identity, environmental and global issues, and social justice issues. We welcome new members to our youth program in a way that encourages them to make connections and want to return. We offer opportunities for the youth in the program to make a positive impact on our local and global community, and initiate opportunities for them to connect with other UU youth in our district.Our Teachers
Our teachers are dedicated volunteers from the congregation who enjoy sharing with and learning from our community's youth. Please contact the Director of Religious Education if you are interested in participating in this unique volunteering opportunity.Calendar of Events
| Sep 13 | Ingathering Intergenerational Service, After Service - Ice Cream Sunday |
| Sep 20 | Pinwheels for Peace |
| Sep 27 | Classes begin |
| Oct 4 | RE Classes |
| Oct 11 | RE Classes |
| Oct 18 | RE Classes |
| Oct 25 | Halloween Party |
| Nov 1 | RE Classes |
| Nov 8 | RE Classes |
| Nov 15 | RE Classes |
| Nov 22 | RE Classes |
| Nov 29 | RE Classes |
| Dec 6 | RE Classes |
| Dec 13 | RE Classes |
| Dec 20, 10 am | (No RE classes) |
| Dec 20, 4 pm | Winter Solstice Singing Ritual |
| Dec 28 | RE Classes |
| Jan 3 | RE Classes |
| Jan 10 | RE Classes |
| Jan 17 | RE Classes |
| Jan 24 | RE Classes |
| Jan 31 | RE Classes |
| Feb 7 | RE Classes |
| Feb 14 | RE Classes |
| Feb 21 | RE Classes |
| Feb 28 | RE Classes |
| . | Starting in March - Mystery Pals! |
| Mar 7 | RE Classes |
| Mar 14 | RE Classes |
| Mar 21 | RE Classes |
| Mar 28 | RE Classes |
| Apr 4 | Easter Egg Hunt |
| Apr 11 | RE Classes |
| Apr 18 | RE Classes |
| Apr 25 | RE Classes |
| May 2 | RE Classes |
| May 9 | RE Classes |
| May 16 | RE Classes |
| May 23 | RE Classes |
| May 30 | RE Classes |
| Jun 6 | Flower Communion service |
| In June: Date TBA (Fri-Sat) | Murray Grove Family Retreat |
| Jun 13 | Last day of classes |
| Jun 20 | Summer Solstice Intergenerational Service |
| Jun 27 | Summer Sessions begin |
Color Code:
Intergenerational Sunday Service - No RE Classes
Holidays/Special Events - all children from all classes will be together during class time