What We Offer Through the Lifespan

We provide children, youth, young adults, and adults an opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn in a nurturing spiritual community. Unitarian Universalist religious education programs offer all ages, inspiring:

• Ethical growth – internalizing enduring values like justice, equity, and compassion, and gaining tools to act on them in everyday life.
• Social growth – connecting with peers and people of all ages on a deeper level. Finding acceptance among people who see beyond the superficial.
• Spiritual growth – feeling a connection with the sacred within, among, and beyond us.

Religious education programs include more than classes. On a Sunday you might find the preschoolers singing songs about kindness, the 2nd graders engaging with a story about loss and bereavement, the 5th graders talking with a Muslim couple about Islam, the 7th graders learning about responsibility in a lesson from our progressive sexuality education program, and the high-school youth raising money for the local homeless shelter. Many programs incorporate social justice activities, worship opportunities, service trips, fellowship, and fun.

Our religious educator and minister lead many of our congregations’ lifespan programs. Parents and other members of the congregation often lead them, too. Teaching can be a very fulfilling way to deepen one’s own faith.

Children’s and youth religious education programs are typically offered on Sunday mornings. Adult programs are usually offered on evenings or weekends.

We invite you to explore these pages and contact our religious educator to get connected.

NEW Religious Education Offering for Adults: The Shared Pulpit

March 2023 – Erica Hewitt writes in her book The Shared Pulpit, “In our Unitarian Universalist tradition, we speak of shared ministry — the embodied belief that everyone, not just the ordained minister takes part in the ministry of the congregation.” Our tradition calls us to lift up all voices, and preaching, which Ralph Waldo Emerson described as “putting life through the fire of thought,” is a spiritual practice that is open to all.  

This spring, Rev. Karen will facilitate a program in which we’ll practice the art of writing and speaking authentically, using Erica Hewitt’s book as a guide.  This isn’t just a course for people planning to preach – this program aims to deepen connection and trust among us.  It contains advice, tools, and a process designed to equip you to be even more skilled, confident leaders (because anyone brave and curious enough to share their journey publicly with the congregation is, in fact, a leader).  Along the way, you’ll discover your authentic voice by writing a sermon to deliver to the congregation.  

There will be eight 3-hour sessions, beginning in April.  Please contact Rev. Karen if you’re interested – or just curious!