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Sunday Classes for Children and Youth
Religious education for children and youth is provided September through
mid-June. We encourage children age three and above to join the
congregation for the start of the service. After our opening words, a song,
and the chalice lighting, the children are invited to attend class.
On September 9th, two services resume and fall children’s programming starts. For curriculum descriptions for children see Children’s Programs.
Religious Education Focus
At the White Bear Unitarian Universalist church, our primary emphasis is the
learning atmosphere. For adults and children alike, we provide a safe place
where warmth, love, acceptance and joy are invariably found. As practitioners
of liberal religion, we encourage each individual to formulate a "personal
theology" that incorporates acceptance and responsibility and that recognizes
the power of symbols.
After discussion with the WBUUC members and friends, these themes emerged
for our congregation's learning focus:
- social responsibility
- loving community
- UU history and identity
- religious diversity
- ecological interdependence
Each year in our religious education classes, elements of these themes are
the focus.
We also provide ample opportunity for social justice projects for children by
offering breaks in our regular classes for what we call Social Action Sundays.
We have four to five intergenerational services per year, which foster our sense
of community.
Traditional religious holidays provide opportunity to discuss UU identity and
perspectives of other world religions. Our church marks Thanksgiving,
Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mothers/Fathers Day with rituals and
celebrations, many of which have grown out of the uniqueness of
our WBUUC community.
Adult Assistance
All adults, parents especially, are urged to participate whole-heartedly in the
children's religious education program. With the exception of our full-time
Director of Religious Education and our part-time Youth Program
Coordinator, our program is staffed entirely by volunteers. Our classes
are run as a cooperative. Every parent is encouraged to assist the teachers
several times a year.
In addition we are always anxious to involve parents and members who are
interested in special events, children's worship, and other areas of our
program.
Nursery Committee
Our nursery has a paid nursery caregiver and a paid attendant at each service.
At times when eight or more children are in the nursery, we will invite parents
to stay with their children to maintain adequate supervision of those using the
nursery.
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