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Religious Education Introduction

Thoughts from our Director of Religious Education (DRE)

Many people come looking for a church, temple or fellowship with the express purpose of educating their child or children.  Parents often find themselves thinking: "What will I teach my child about the world? What values, what beliefs? How can I make the world a better place for this precious child? What spiritual community best reflects what I believe is true?"   These are important things and we strive to offer a program to help.

 The purpose of our program for children and youth is to provide an environment for:

  • Growing bonds of connection between people of all ages,
  • Hearing stories and points of view from more than one religious tradition,
  • Experiencing worship or a sense of wonder and mystery,
  • Discussing the "BIG" questions and issues of concern to us,
  • Acting out our values of love and service through social justice opportunities in the greater community.

As Gandhi said, "We must become the change we seek in the world."  Religious community offers a sacred space to work on that.  We value and respect: a diversity of ideas, questions and being "in process" - the unfolding of understanding.  In community we can encourage each other to risk, to rest and try again.

Sometimes those outside our community mistakenly think that this open-ended search for truth and meaning means that “Unitarian Universalists believe whatever they want to.”  Not true.  We are a spiritually diverse group, but we agree upon seven principles as well as the six sources from which we draw information and spiritual sustenance. These are not a creed for acceptance into our faith but instead ideas and principles that are useful as we face each day and situation in our lives.    

We (children, youth, and adults) share information and experiences that are meaningful to us in light of our liberal religious faith.  We strongly encourage lifespan religious education.  Many adults find that as they participate in the life of this community, they further their self-awareness and definition of beliefs.  And we offer our children and youth opportunities to articulate what they believe and to speak up for a just and fair world around them.  

Feel free to contact me at (203) 798-1994 or at mary.collins.dre@gmail if you have further questions. I would expect that THE WAY WE DO THINGS WILL CHANGE over time. Procedures evolve as we practice Principle Four (A free and responsible search for truth and meaning). This just might be the group of people you will stay with for a time: sharing your individual stories, thoughts, insights, joys and concerns, times of service.

                                           Peace, Salaam, Shalom... 

                             Mary Collins, Director of Religious Education 

 

 P.S. Why come? see Forum on Faith Article from the News Times Sept. 26,2011 

http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Nuturing-the-life-giving-aspects-of-humanity-in-2197119.php

Thoughts from our Minister

We are Unitarian Universalists. We are people with open minds, helping hands and loving hearts.

I love that affirmation! It is an aspirational statement for all ages. It speaks to me of who we are and who we seek to become: for self, each other and the world.  

Unitarian Universalism has a rich and progressive history in American politics and letters from John Adams to Thoreau and Emerson. From abolition to creating public schools in the 19th century to participating in the civil rights movement and now marriage equality, Unitarian Universalist are dedicated social reformers. Our heritage is Judeo Christian but now we draw our inspiration not just from religious texts of varied origins, but also from scientists, scholars and skeptics.

If you are parenting a child then we are your partners. You are your child’s first and primary religious educator. We adults educate the young not just through what we say we believe, but how we behave. We join with you in growing their individual identity as well as their relational identity within family, congregation and community.  

Our program is cooperative- we need your open minds, helping hands and loving hearts. It ‘takes a village’ to pass on our values: Values such as the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Children will not remember every detail of a lesson but they will remember how they were treated and encouraged to treat one another.

We are preparing our children to live in a modern world with plural spiritualities, diverse thinking; many people and many views. We know that we need not think alike to love alike.

Congregations are places to learn and celebrate and share the joys and sorrows that make up a life.  Our children share in the life of the congregation: worship and celebration. We offer ceremonies of life’s passages: Child Dedications and Coming of Age and Bridging, for High School seniors.  Everything we do in a congregation is religious education.  

For those of us who are here, this is a spiritual home. “Home is - as a 4th grader once told me – “home is where you are safe and loved.”. May it be so!

If you have questions, concerns, ideas, bring them – to Mary Collins, our DRE or to me. Bring you whole self to this worthwhile endeavor.  

Welcome and may we enjoy a great year together!
 
Rev. Barbara Fast      uurevbarbara@gmail.com      203 798 1994