Children at Fellowship

Our Fellowship children are very important to us, and in support of them we offer religious education programs, with support for children, and early adolescents.

Older children (older than preschool) start in the service with the adults, singing songs with us and sharing their joys and concerns. We also have our offertory before the children leave so that they experience our adult financial stewardship. When the children leave for their own programs we sing them out; they light their own chalice (the small children have a felt board chalice) and participate in their own opening rituals in their meeting rooms.

We teach from a variety of curricula and try to expose our children to a broad range of religious beliefs. Of course we also teach the seven UU principles and about our six sources (see under Unitarian Universalism above). We also do a great deal of artwork along with our lessons.

We try to create an environment of support both for and among the children  and adolescents, where everyone is respected, and is also expected to respect the others in the group. We believe that it is one's difference that makes one special, that gives one something to offer to one's self and to the community.

We use standard Unitarian Universalist curricula along with materials created internally with our children, and currently offer RE for toddlers through 7th grade. Infants usually stay with their parents in the main meeting room, where we have rockers for parent's convenience.