“First Hour” Religious Education for Children & Youth Starting in January

By James Chase, Director of Religious Education

Welcome to the new year!

In our Children’s Religious Education world, we have some exciting things lined up for the spring. We will be introducing Stand with Love’s “30 days of Love” program during January and February, as well as re-introducing Spirit Play as our new Curriculum for 2023.

Our Fireside Sunday was so well enjoyed, that we’ve decided to revisit once a month for the cold months of the year. We will follow along with the weather and invite and encourage all of the congregation to join in during first hour or after service.

30 Days of Love

30 Days of Love is our annual celebration that runs approximately from Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January through Valentine’s Day in February. It is an opportunity to collectively nurture our spirits, deepen our understanding, and take action on our values for collective liberation.
In 2022, 30 Days of Love will focus on Side With Love’s four intersectional justice priorities, with opportunities each week for communities and people of all ages to ground, grow, and act together for justice.

Spirit Play

Spirit Play seeks to engage children in the existential questions about life within the context of the Unitarian Universalist faith. Stories are presented dealing with these questions accessing our broad base of sources. They are presented using an active storytelling method followed by a “wondering” time that opens up the child’s response to the story, then the child is free to work directly with that story or another, or to respond to the story or to their feelings with art materials.

If you have questions about enrolling your child in our religious education programming or just want to know more, please contact me at dre@uufg.org.