UU Westborough - Religious Education

A Few Words from our Director of Religious Education

There are many answers to the question “Why do we come to church on a Sunday morning?” While each answer has its own validity, I would like to suggest one answer that can provide a framework for our participation in this community, through the good times, as well as the bad. We come to church to practice living our Principles in community.

I have highlighted the word practice because of the meaning it holds. To practice something, according to the dictionary, a person needs to do it regularly with the intent to improve. This implies that whatever you are practicing, you have made a commitment to do so regularly. Only when one regularly participates in a community can one enjoy the benefits that community has to offer. Practice also implies that you are still learning. So when things don’t turn out quite the way you wanted them to, whether it is in the class with the children and youth, committee work, or a planned activity, you can be gentle with yourself and others. After all, we are all practicing. Practice also means to put something into action. It is much easier for a person to put our UU Principles into action when there is a community to do it with.

The next time you are faced with the question “Why do we come to church on a Sunday morning?” you can simply say “We need to practice.”

Your DRE,
Janet Davis
MJLJDavis@aol.com

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 2010

Sunday Programming for February

February 7th

This is a sanctuary start.

Preschool: I Can Help - The children will wonder about their ability to help as they decorate bags for the Valentine’s Day Bags service project.

Kindergarten/First Grade: What Is Religion? – The children will explore the idea of coming to church to find the light inside.

Second/Third Grade: Making a Difference – The group will decorate bags for the Valentine’s Day Bags service project as they hear the tale “It’s Not My Problem.”

Fourth and Fifth Grade: Service Is The Rent We Pay For Living – The group will explore their feelings about work they have to do and ways to be of service to the greater good. They will also decorate bags for the Valentine’s Day Bags service project.

COA: Valentine’s Day Bags Service Project – The group will sort and pack the hygiene items into the decorated bags. They will then deliver the bags to the Westborough Food Pantry.

February 14th

This is a Children’s Worship Circle start.

**The Religious Education Committee will be meeting at 9 a.m.**

Preschool: I Can Love - The children will explore family love and Valentine’s Day.

Kindergarten/First Grade: Seeing With Our Hearts – The children will discuss caring about people’s thoughts and feelings and seeing with more than just your eyes.

Second/Third Grade: Conscience – The group will be introduced to the ‘moral compass’ as they hear a Buddhist tale from Japan.

Fourth and Fifth Grade: We Need Not Think Alike To Love Alike – The group will explore faith traditions and the sources that inform them in their beliefs.

COA : Our Flaming Chalice – The group will explore the history of the flaming chalice, learn about UU ancestor John Hus, and discuss communion and excommunication.

February 21^st

This is a sanctuary start.

Preschool: I Can Remember – The children will explore their memories as they play the memory game.

Kindergarten/First Grade: People With Different Abilities – The children will explore doing things differently and developing different abilities as they experience activities that help them to feel what it is like to have a disability.

Second/Third Grade: Faith, Hope, Prayer – The group will be introduced to the ‘gems of goodness’ as they hear the Jewish folktale “The Sword of Wood.”

Fourth and Fifth Grade: Me in Faith Community, Faith Community in Me – The group will explore how coming to church helps people grow and see their place in the world.

COA: Worship With DRE – The focus of the worship will be Principle 4.

February 28^th

This is a children’s worship circle start.

Preschool: I Can Dance – The children will get a lot of movement in today as they dance with ribbon sticks.

Kindergarten/First Grade: Our Church – The children will go on a treasure hunt to find out more about the church.

Second/Third Grade: In Another’s Shoes – The group will explore empathy as they hear the tale “The Wounded Seal.”

Fourth and Fifth Grade: Building a Community of Forgiveness – The group will explore crime, punishment, and forgiveness with the Buddhist story “Teaching a Thief.”

COA: What Price Religious Freedom? – The group will discuss religious freedom and heresy as they explore the inquisition.

Thank you to the following teaching teams for all of their dedication:

Preschool – Carter Pratt, Lisa Brady, Eva Regel, and TBA

Kindergarten and First Grade – Mark Kalen, Erin and Ed Boudreaux, and TBA

Second and Third Grade – Juliana Spofford, Valerie Ramey, Stacey Spies, Stephanie Morey, and Ellen Rutter

Fourth and Fifth Grade – Tina Steinberg, Amy MacDougall, Mary Tribe, and Anne Marie Choque

Coming of Age – Greg Smith, Lisa Shumway, and Kathy Anderson

Fourth and Fifth Grade Social Night, Friday, February 26th, from 7 – 8:30 pm. The theme: TBD.

Parent volunteers needed. If you are a parent of a fourth or fifth grader and would like to host a social night, please speak with class liaison David King (david@rexden.us). So far the group has enjoyed an ice cream social, spooky stories night, and movie night. The social could be held either at UUCSW, or at your home.

Back-Up Plan for Snow Days

In the event of inclement weather, the board will make the decision of whether or not to cancel programming.

If programming is not cancelled, but the DRE cannot make it in, there are emergency plans in the RE office detailing the needs for Sunday mornings. If it is a children’s worship Sunday, there will be an emergency plan. A volunteer will need to come forward.

If programming is not cancelled but a teacher and/or an assistant cannot make it in, then a present parent will be asked to fill in. There will be emergency plans available in the RE office for each individual class. Depending on the number in attendance, some classes could be combined and a multi-age plan will be available.

Remember, there must always be two adults in a classroom.

Back-Up Plan for Absent Teachers or Assistants

1. If any teacher or assistant is unable to teach on a Sunday they are scheduled for, the teacher or assistant should contact the other members of their team to see if they can provide coverage.

If members of the team cannot provide full coverage on a Sunday, the teacher or assistant should contact parents of the class members to find a substitute. All teachers and assistants should have this contact information in their teaching guide.

If a teacher or assistant is still unable to find a substitute, they should contact Janet who will reach out to the substitute list, or perhaps ask a parent on Sunday morning.

In all cases, inform Janet of the changes. Remember, there must always be two adults in a classroom. If no members of the teaching team are able to present on a Sunday morning, there are emergency back-up plans in the RE office that can be used by parents.

The Religious Education Program
Covenant for 2009

During the Children’s Worship Circle on September 21st, children in preschool through Grade Six discussed the RE covenant for this year. The covenant is based on the song “Gathered Here” #389 in the hymnal. The words to the song are in bold; the words to the covenant are in italics.

Gathered Here
We come to UUCSW to be together in community.
We come to UUCSW to participate.
In the Mystery of the Hour;
UUCSW is a place to experience the wonder of life, of spirit.
UUCSW is a place to ask questions.
Gathered Here In One Strong Body;
At UUCSW we care for each other.
At UUCSW we care for our environment.
Gathered Here in the Struggle and the Power;
Things that are a struggle: listening, being quiet, embracing differences, sharing, using appropriate behavior.
Things that are powerful: having fun, being listened to, being safe.
Spirit Draw Near.
Each person is on a spiritual journey.
At UUCSW we are on a spiritual journey together

Religious Education Program Description for 2009

Preschool: Celebrating Me and My World

This program encourages children to feel good about themselves. Through stories, activities and crafts, children learn about animals, objects and people in their lives. Here we strive to create an atmosphere where children feel safe and comfortable enough to share, explore and question. The terms Unitarian Universalist will be introduced as well as the symbol of the chalice.

Kindergarten and First Grade: Creating Home

This program helps develop a sense of home that is grounded in faith. Together children will explore the purpose of having a home and the functions a home serves, for us as humans and for other animals. Children will be introduced to the concepts of a “family home,” a “faith home,” and a “classroom home.” Creating Home explicitly affirms all types of families and helps children identify elements of family life that are common. The program draws parallels between what happens in families and what happens in congregations. Each session will include spiritual activities such as chalice lighting and exploration of a labyrinth, rituals which when practiced together help build community.

Second and Third Grade: Spirit of Adventure

This curriculum teaches UU identity by incorporating learning from physical activity and from challenge and adventure. Included are activities like dissecting a computer, building cantilevered architecture using graham crackers, interviewing a sports coach, eating smoked oysters, and singing Jingle Bells in “dog” language! There are also circus arts, an Animal Blessing, and a Popcorn Sale. Bring those active busy children in and watch them be amazed!

Fourth through Sixth Grade: Traditions With a Wink

The goal of this curriculum is to teach our UU faith and traditions while adding the fun with which youth connect to issues and stay enthusiastic about their church experience. The UU traditions taught include: the way we create services of celebration and memory; the place of Science and Reason; the different ways UUs create community; our traditions of good works; our music and hymns; our Purposes and Principles; and our roots in Judeo-Christian culture.

Coming Of Age: Neighboring Faiths

This full year curriculum allows youth to explore and experience faith traditions and practices of other religious groups in our greater Westborough community. By studying other religious beliefs, participants will clarify their own beliefs and values, as well as become more aware of the connections between Unitarian Universalism and other faith traditions. Participants and leaders together will decide which faith traditions to study. (Note: An essential element of this program is taking field trips to visit other places of faith.)

Youth Group

The youth group program will include a balanced mix of worship experiences, curriculum, and youth-led planning for service projects and social activities.

General Information

Religious education in the Unitarian Universalist sense is, at its very best, "life" education. From the tiniest baby to the more seasoned centenarian, we are all on a remarkable journey. Our church school programs, which run September through mid-June, are designed to provide important tools for making responsible decisions along the path. Through story and song, dialogue and projects, both children and adults are encouraged to look at the world and each other with greater awareness, sensitivity, and respect.

Adult Religious Education

Please call the church office at 508-366-2635 for current information.

More on Children's Religious Education

In an atmosphere of acceptance, tolerance, and respect for individual beliefs, the children in our church school programs are challenged to develop their own answers to the big questions of life through worship, celebration, learning activities, service projects, and observance of traditional holidays and rituals. Using a variety of curricula, the children learn about:

· Our Unitarian Universalist heritage and principles;

· Jewish and Christian scriptures and traditions;

· The beliefs and customs of many of the world's religions; and

· The goal of ethical living.

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