religious education

Children’s Program

CHILD CARE: (Infants, Toddlers and Preschool)

We offer child care for children up to three years old every Sunday which is staffed by two child care providers. Additionally, our hospitality room is equipped with speakers and is available for nursing mothers and/or parents who wish to sit with their children outside of the sanctuary.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION: (Ages 4-14)

Religious Exploration Sessions takes place every Sunday from September through June. While there are no Religious Exploration sessions for the months of July and August, there is child care available throughout the year for children under 6 years old. Typically, on Sunday morning, children attend the first part of the service with their family. After the “Story for All Ages” they move upstairs for their Religious Exploration session. We occasionally have an “intergenerational” service where the children remain in the sanctuary for the entire service.

This year’s Religious Exploration is divided as follows:

Ages 4-6 (Primary Group)

This group will be working with Spirit Play which explores our UU principles through the ancient art of storytelling. Spirit Play uses stories to illustrate themes, which leads to wonder questions. Themes promoted in our church are UU Identity, ecology, social justice and world religions. Various art activities are then used for the children to creatively explore the topic.

Ages 7-10 (Intermediate Group)

These children will be using You the Creator, an exciting new curriculum where every week the children will be asked “to create something”. This creativity will foster their discovery of themselves as creators and as someone with positive and universal creative forces.

Ages 11-14 (Elder Group)

This group will be studying How Can I Know What to Believe? This curriculum asks the big questions like: how can I know what to believe about the Bible, God, Death, People, and Religion?

Ages 15-18 (Youth Group)

This group will be working with our Minister, Pam Gross, and others using the Coming of Age Curriculum, O.W.L. and creating a film documentary on the life of the Belfast UU Church.