Children’s and Youth Religious Education
Wildflower strives to support parents by providing a meaningful religious education program
that makes a positive difference in children’s and youth’s lives.
Ages of Children We Serve
Our children and youth religious education (CYRE) program serves babies and children through 18 years. The second Sunday of each month is a Zoom-only church service with no in-person CYRE program. The CYRE program meets on the first, third, and fourth Sundays of the month.
Children 6 weeks to 5 years of age are welcome in the Childcare room. Children in Pre-K through 1st grade attend the Roots class. Children can transition from the Childcare room to the Roots class at age 5. Children in grades 2 through 5 attend the Seedlings class. Youth in grades 6 through 12 attend the Youth Group. Infants under 6 weeks remain with their parents.
What Happens on Sunday?
Children and youth stay with their parents for the first 15 minutes of the worship service, which begins at 11:45 am. After the congregation “sings the children and youth out,” teachers lead them to their classes. The children’s program ends at about 1:00 pm, usually 15 minutes after the Worship Service ends. Children attending childcare (age 6 weeks to 5 years) do not have to begin in the service. To promote child and youth safety, two adults are present in childcare and all classes. In accordance with our Safe Church policy, all RE teachers and care providers undergo background checks.
What do we teach in Religious Education?
1st Principle: Each and every person is important.
2nd Principle: All people should be treated fairly and kindly.
3rd Principle: We accept one another and keep on learning together.
4th Principle: We are free to search for what is true and right in life.
5th Principle: All people need a voice.
6th Principle: We work for a peaceful, fair, and free world.
7th Principle: We care for the Earth and all living things.
8th Principle: We work together for diversity and against racism and oppression.
Volunteering
Our wonderful volunteers make this program possible by allowing us to adhere to our Safe Church policy of having two adults in every class. Volunteers offer their unique perspectives and experiences and are equally enriched by hearing our children and youth express their points of view. For more information related to volunteering, please click here.
The Unitarian Universalist faith doesn’t pretend to give children all the answers to the big questions. Unitarian Universalism puts its faith in people’s ability to explore the unknown together.
-Terry Stafford (UU Religous Educator)
Getting Started in Religious Education
Before your child’s first Sunday in the religious education program, please register them by filling out a Registration Form. Parents are always welcome to visit the RE and childcare classes.
Religious Education News/Blog
Dec 13 CYRE
Roots Class (k - 2nd) w/Marie: In the spirit of bringing light to the darkness we celebrated with a virtual lantern parade. Everyone brought something that makes light, we made our spaces dark, and paraded along with last year’s solstice parade with the Minor Mishap...
Nov 22 C/YRE
Roots Class (K - 2nd) w/Marie: We are talking in the big group about the harm it has done to our understanding of our history when Thanksgiving has been presented as a story about a friendly encounter between cultures. This sounds like a kind story of helpful sharing...
Nov 8 CYRE
Roots Class (k-2nd grade) w/Marie: Check-ins this morning included news of lost and growing teeth, a treasured in-person play date, upcoming birthdays. So much life! We read Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney, connecting our country to the bigger world we are a part of. So...
Nov 1 CYRE
Roots Class (k-2nd) w/Marie: Hello all, it was so fun hearing about the creative and safe ways people have found to enjoy Halloween this year. I am so inspired by how our community thinks and cares for each other. We spoke more about traditions to remember loved ones...
Oct 18 C/YRE
Roots Class w/Marie: So nice visiting with everyone today. The children have exciting updates for each other about what Halloween looks like this year in a year of doing things differently. We heard joy about fall gardens and hopeful family gathering plans, sisters...
CYRE Oct 11
Roots Class (K-2nd grade) w/Marie: This week we continued thinking together about listening to nature as part of our UU identity. The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor is such a very quiet, special book, one of my very favorites. I would recommend bringing it home...
C/YRE Oct 4
Roots (K - 2nd grade) w/Marie: Today we thought together about the idea of listening to nature as a spiritual part of being Unitarian Universalists. We found an owl feather in the wonder box, and I shared how wonderous it feels to me hearing the sound of the Great...
Sep 20 C/YRE
Roots Class (K-2nd) w/Marie: We are continuing our learning together this week about racism and what we can do together to become antiracist. Today’s story is Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi. Many of us grownups are learning from his book for grownups, How to Be...
Sep 13 RE
Roots Class (K-2nd) w/Marie: Hello everyone, happy Water Communion Sunday from the roots class. We watched Cory turn water and dish soap into bubbles with a straw (something kids could try at home I bet!), took a visit to the pond in my backyard where you can see my...
Sep 13 RE
Roots class (k-2nd) w/Marie: Hello everyone, happy Water Communion Sunday from the roots class. We watched Cory turn water and dish soap into bubbles with a straw (something kids could try at home I bet!), took a visit to the pond in my backyard where you can see my...