Religious Education


 

Now is the time to register for Religious Education Programs for Children and Youth!

Every child and youth who participates in our RE classes needs to have a Registration and Commitment Form filled out and signed each year. Click here for a copy of the Registration form. Please print it, fill it out, sign it, and bring it to church with you with any applicable registration fees on Sunday Aug. 29th or Sun. Sept. 5th. Forms will also be available at the RE table in Eliot Hall before and after the services beginning August 29th. It would be very helpful for us to have our registrations by Labor Day, so we can build our class rosters, finalize RE Teacher staffing based on enrollment, and update our church records for this year.

 

For Unitarian Universalists, religious education is a life-long process through which we seek to understand various aspects of ourselves and our faith. Together, we create a community of inquiry to explore who we are, what our lives and actions mean, and how we are connected to others. Here at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, we offer a wide range of religious education programming for children and adults. Wherever you find yourself in your faith development journey, we hope that you will find opportunities here to engage your mind, heart and spirit.

 

Gathering for Worship

At the beginning of Sunday worship services at 9 and 11 am, children and youth from preschool through middle school gather at the front of the sanctuary, usually sitting together on the floor in front of the chancel steps. These few minutes of intergenerational worship - although short - are extremely important to the spiritual experience of our entire church community. Attending the worship teaches our young people the liturgical rhythms and traditions of our faith. Having the children in the sanctuary at the beginning of each service also helps keep the adult members of our congregation connected to the vibrant energy of our young people.

After singing the first congregational hymn, children and youth along with their volunteer teachers exit the sanctuary through the door to Eliot Hall and participate in a variety of age-based religious education experiences located in the Little Chapel or the classrooms in the Religious Education wing.

 

Religious Education Classes and Programs for All Ages

We strive to offer a well organized religious education program to provide developmentally appropriate religious education activities at all ages and stages. All of our classes and programs are designed to nurture spiritual growth, create a foundation for Unitarian Universalist identity, and encourage living a life that makes a difference. Please follow the links on the left sidebar to find out about our programming for every age group from infants to adults.

For more detailed descriptions of the curriculum materials currently in use at each grade level, please see our Religious Education Prospectus (new prospectus will be availabel August 27, 2010)..

 

Special Community Events

Throughout the church year, a variety of special worship services, parties, outings, and other events offer opportunities for folks of all ages to gather together, build meaningful relationships, and bond with the larger church community. Some of these special community traditions are:
• Annual Activities Fair
• Baby Dedications
• Parties and Potlucks
• Winter Solstice Dinner and Worship
• Christmas Pageant
• Annual Church Picnic
• Annual Church Campout
• Volunteer Appreciation Reception

 

Supporting the Religious Education Program

Love is the spirit of this church and service is its law. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our religious education programs! Ours is a cooperative program that relies on the active participation of members and friends of our congregation. We have service opportunities to fit your schedule and utilize your skills. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and they volunteer for all kinds of reasons. If you are asking yourself, "Why should I volunteer?" here are a few possibilities...
• Support something I believe in.
• Have fun!
• Deepen my understanding of UU principles and faith traditions
• Share my skills and learn new ones.
• Meet new friends and feel connected within the church community.
• Do something worthwhile with my time and energy.
• Build a warm intergenerational community at church.

 

Below, you will find a list of some of our many volunteer opportunities. Please contact our religious education staff to discuss these or other ways that you can support our programs with your time and talents.

• Teach or assist in children/youth religious education classes.
• Teach adult religious education classes.
• Supervise children on the playground.
• Participate in a social justice project with children/youth.
• Provide childcare at a church event.
• Serve on the Children's religious education council to plan and implement programs.
• Serve on the Adult religious education committee to plan and implement programs.
• Welcome new families as an RE greeter on Sunday mornings.
• Staff the RE table in Eliot Hall to answer questions after services on Sunday mornings.
• Help with set up/clean up at specific RE events.
• Make copies.
• Organize and catalog materials in the RE library or supply room.

For more information about upcoming religious education events and special programs, please check out our church newsletter, The Torch by following the link in the left sidebar or check out the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City Facebook page.

RE Contact Information

Mary Kroener-Ekstrand Director of Religious Education: 801-582-8687 ext. 3
Click here to contact the Director of Religious Education