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UU Principles and
Purposes
Children's Version
- We believe that each and
every person is important.
- We believe that all people
should be treated fairly.
- We believe that our churches
are places where all people are accepted and where we keep on 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 vote 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.
Minister: Rev. Chris
Neilson 440 877 1686 Minister@swuu.org
RE Committee Contacts: Janet
Williams or Danelle Miller
RE
Safety Policy
It is our intention
to have a teacher and a teacher assistant in each classroom, and in the
nursery. This is for safety purposes and well as practical
assistance. Each teacher signs a code of ethics stating they will treat
the children respectfully and will report any evidence of abuse or neglect.
We reserve the right to do background checks on all personal who work or
volunteer with children. If you want to see the entire policy, follow
this link: SAFETY POLICY.
Sunday
Services
Worship services are held every Sunday morning
at 10:30 AM in our church at 6320 Royalton Road, North Royalton, OH. The
children join us for approximately the first 15 minutes of the service to
share our opening words, chalice lighting, a song, and a special children's
focus. At that time they will be escorted to their classrooms by their
teachers.
Most months will offer an intergenerational
service where the children join us for the whole hour. Childcare is always
available for infants, toddlers and other restless beings! Of course,
children are welcome to stay for the entire service on any Sunday.
Child care will be provided for younger
children. Our child care providers are Nikita and Ivan Martin. Our
child care attendants will be available before, during and after church from
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM.
Group Activities
Every month or two we offer a group activity
to children and youth. This important community-building time may focus on
social justice, hikes, arts and crafts, parties and a whole range of fun
things that enable the kids to get to know each other.
Classroom Guest Experts
Teachers will occasionally invite a member or
friend of the church to share their life experiences with the kids. We have a
diverse membership of social activists, scientists, teachers, artists and
people from all walks of life who can share their story.
CHILDREN’S
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION TEACHERS AND CURRICULA FOR 2011-2012
Session 1:
Toolbox of Faith: Welcome! Sherry Spencer and Mandie Bednarik will teach
the
first session of the Religious Exploration program,
drawing from the UUA Tapestry of Faith curriculum entitled “Toolbox of
Faith.”
During this session, we will assemble
toolboxes to build our own faith as we learn and grow with Unitarian
Universalism. Each tool represents a characteristic: the hammer for
strength; the sandpaper as humor to help smooth rough edges; hard hats for
resiliency to help us bounce back from life's challenges; and the magnifying
glass to question the small stuff and search for our own personal path.
We hope to work with the children to
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Help them develop their own covenant
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Help them understand what gathering with
the adults on Sunday mornings means, to them and the congregation
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Engage each of them with a personal
ministry, including the junior task list
·
Initiate special projects, including
creating a masterpiece to display in the Fellowship
Hall.
The Riddle and the Mystery: The “Riddle and Mystery” curriculum brought to us by the UUA takes our
older children on a journey of self-exploration and introspection. Each
session is designed to help our pre-teens examine the big questions about
creation, faith and mysteries of the universe. The children will utilize
their critical thinking skills to better understand their role not only
within our congregation but the world as a whole.
Session 2:
Love Will Guide Us: During the months of November and December, Susan Paxson
and Phyllis Hall will use a program from the Tapestry of Faith curriculum
entitled “Love Will Guide Us.” It introduces children to the sources that
Unitarian Universalists use for guidance in their search for meaning. From
these sources, our lessons will touch on Jesus and his teachings, the Bible,
Buddhist teachings, Hinduism and Ralph Waldo Emerson. We will focus on the
message of love that comes through from each of these sources.
An additional lesson will coordinate with the
UU Service Committee’s “Guest at Your Table” project which supports human
rights work in the United States and around the world.
Session 3:
Faithful Journeys: In
January and February, the Religious Exploration program will be taught by Jan
Wehn and Danelle Miller. This unit will focus on seasonal celebrations and
the value of stories in conveying meaning and experience using the UUA’s
Tapestry of Faith curriculum entitled “Faithful Journeys.” Seasonal
celebrations will include a New Year’s Day party with an emphasis on caring,
sharing and making resolutions; a readers’ theatre production of two plays on
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and a Valentine’s Day party.
Interspersed throughout these events, we will
have a Bible lesson on Joseph and his brothers, and lessons from “Faithful
Journeys” on paying it forward with kindness and seeking truth the UU way
with a scavenger hunt. Our final class will be an international game day with
games appropriate for all ages.
Session 4:
A Discovery Time: The
last session of Religious Exploration classes will be taught by Lyn Koslo,
Cynthia Mondia and Susan Paxson. It will feature our fourth principle and
draw from humanist sources with a focus on science. We will highlight
scientific thinking and organization and explore how our earth and its
inhabitants are always changing and evolving.
Family Game and Movie Nights
Once a month we gather for a light meal and
the opportunity for people of all ages to have fun together. If you have any
movie or game ideas, talk to the coordinator, Mandie Bednarik.
Youth Group: (Not active at this time but we are standing by waiting
for you!)
Youth may always join us for the service, or
help with childcare or classes. In addition, we can easily plan a
Coming of Age program for your child with an assigned mentor. When
there are at least four youth attending regularly, R.E. classes will be
established for them.
Our graduating seniors will be invited to
“bridge” into the adult group at the end of the year. The students and
parents participate in a special Sunday service where this transition is
acknowledged.
CURRENT
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES
Tuesday
Evening
(All
times are 7:00 – 9:00 PM, in the church unless noted)
Heart to Heart: This
covenant group will explore a variety of topics in an intimate small group
setting. Each gathering includes a chalice lighting, readings and the
sharing of feelings and experiences. Each meeting requires advance
preparation, such as reading the chapter in the book, journaling and other
activities. Must purchase the book for $15.00. We will meet twice
a month, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm.
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October 25: Gratitude
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November 8: Balance
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November 22: Forgiveness
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December 13: God
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December 27: Loss and Grief
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January 17: Money
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January 24: Nature
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February 14: Success and Failure
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February 28: Friendship
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March 13: Doubt
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March 27: Making Peace with Parents
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April 10: Sustainable Living
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April 24: Endings
PARENTS
AS RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS
As a parent or other adult family member, you
have a substantial impact on the attitudes, values and religious beliefs of
the children growing up in your household. In order to help your child
get the most out of her or his experiences at SWUU, you can:
Encourage/ Require Regular Attendance: While we understand that in today's busy world
there are competing interests for your time, even on Sunday mornings, we hope
that you will make a sincere effort to bring your children to worship
services and Sunday school as often as possible. Children benefit from
having predictable rhythms and structures in their lives and they will
certainly get a better understanding of the curriculum by being in church on
a regular basis.
At the same time, we'd like you to know that
all children, whether in shared custody arrangements or on sports teams that
meet on Sundays or who are otherwise unable to attend regularly are welcome
in our classes.
Show an Interest: Ask your
child what went on in Sunday school and/ or their worship experience that
morning. Encourage discussions about topics that seemed
especially interesting to them. Participate with your child in church
or classroom service projects. Sit near them during intergenerational
services and help them follow the Order of Service. Encourage them to
sing the hymns and ask for their opinions following the service.
Stay Informed: Our
newsletter, the Forum, is our primary means of communication with you.
Please read them carefully for important announcements and updates! Why
not make a point of sharing the Forum with your children too? If you would
like to receive e-mail updates on children’s activities at SWUU, please
contact Susan Paxson (swpaxson@cavtel.net) and let her know. In
addition, the UUA World magazine has a special section devoted just to
children.
Share Your Beliefs With Your Child: Sunday school is only one hour per week. In
reality, you are your child's primary religious educator. Let your
child know about your religious beliefs.
Share your "used-to-thinks" about
God, prayer, heaven, etc., and what your ideas are now. Let your child
know why you chose Unitarian Universalism at SWUU, and what it means to
you. Talk about how you act on your beliefs about fairness, respect,
caring for the earth, etc., and provide your child with opportunities to act
on their beliefs.
Volunteer to Help: Our Religious
Exploration program needs your help – you can teach, lead or help with a
group activity. We need assistants in the classroom, holding our
infants, or help during a family night. Our devoted volunteers may
appreciate some help, so even if you are not sure you want to commit to
several weeks of leading lessons, there are many opportunities for your
participation. We all have the ability to make a lasting
impression. We all have something to share.
We Want Your Feedback! Let
us know how we are doing. We welcome your ideas and suggestions.
Whether or not you have children in Religious Education classes, your support
is vital to the progress and success of our RE Program. Remember, the
children in RE today are the congregation members of tomorrow, so stay
involved. Let us know what kinds of curriculums you would like to see,
participate in intergenerational services, and stay connected!
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