Lifespan Religious Education

Children and Youth Religious Education is under the guidance of Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth, Andrea Purdy Heier. The Religious Education Program for Children and Youth is one facet of the Lifespan Religious Education Ministry whose mission is: "to be a catalyst and support for spiritual growth, transformation and progressive change within our congregation and the wider community". The mission of the CYRE program is to journey with families in their Unitarian Universalist faith formation by inspiring open minds, loving hearts and helping hands.

UUCM CYRE Vision Statement:
The UUCM children and youth religious education team envisions a program that: 

Is a thriving, stimulating program integrated into church life.  

• Provides a loving community for children and youth in which they can feel a sense of connection and belonging
  
• Helps children and youth become aware of the needs of the larger community and respond through social action  
• Supports families in developing meaningful family traditions and in cultivating a grounded spirituality 
  
• Explores  our rich Unitarian Universalist heritage/history and provides our  children and youth with firm foundations in our UU Principles and  Sources

NURSERY

Our  youngest are learners too!

 While these children receive safe comfort and care during the 10:00 am worship service, they will also begin  learning some early group skills and simple Unitarian Universalist rituals as they grow. The nursery is attended by carers from 8:45 - 11:15 AM on Sunday mornings. 

Adult Education takes place during First Hour Forum on Sunday mornings. First Hour Forum provides  a lively interactive way for us to come together to build community and  further explore our faith and values in a smaller group setting. Childcare is available.

First Hour Forum begins at 9:00 AM before Worship Service at 10:00 AM. Activities will be led by our Minister,  Director of RE, Music Director, Adult Education Committee, and members  of the congregation. We are interested in having offerings from other  lay leaders and congregation members as well. All members, friends, visitors and prospective members are invited to attend, and many  offerings will be suitable for the UUCM youth as well!  For more  information please contact Susan Goll. 

For the full month's schedule, click here.

Spring 2018

Soul Matters groups offer UUCM members and friends Adult Spiritual development and the opportunity to connect with each other and with our deepest selves in small groups of 6 to 10 people led by a facilitator. Each group meets for 90 minutes every other week for a total of 6 times starting on March 13th or 15th to explore the monthly worship theme. 

Thus, each month we consider the question “What does it mean to be a community of …:”

· Balance - March

· Emergence - April

· Creativity - May

These worship themes are studied in depth through provided readings, inspirational quotes, questions and practices to help people experience the theme. Participants receive a resource packet each month with background information, questions for discussion and contemplation, spiritual exercises, wise words and other suggested resources.

In each meeting, we share what it was like to “live with” the exercises and the questions as we share where the topic took us, and hear the experience of others. This sharing is at the heart of the Soul Matters program and our experience is further deepened by the group’s sharing.