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
CYRE Mar 8
Roots Class (pre-k to first grade) w/Marie: This week we talked about the corona virus, did a lesson together about hand washing, and each child took home a small book about the virus. We’ll be making a stop at the bathroom sink to wash our hands T the start of each...
CRE Feb 16
Roots (pre-k to first grade) w/Marie:We’re looking at the way some homes are based on friendship- next class the children will hear about Ruth and Naomi from the book of Ruth, and this week we read the true story of a very special and surprising friendship between a...
RE Feb 2
Roots Class (pre-k to 1st grade) w/Marie: Continuing our thinking together about homes, we are talking about places that people gather together. The children came up with living rooms, kitchen, and the dining room as places people gather in their homes to be together...
CRE Jan 19
Roots (pre-k to 1st grade) & Seedlings (2nd to 4th grade): The Roots and Seedlings were combined this week for our special project of creating decorations for the amazing Valentine's Day dance party that Wildflower is hosting to raise money for a new UU retreat...
CRE 1/12
Roots Class w/Marie (pre-k to 1st grade): This week the kids began with a circle for singing and checking in about their week. Then, they listened to a Native American folktale about coyote and friends risking their own safety to bring fire to the humans suffering in...
CRE Jan 5
Roots class w/Marie (pre-k to first grade): Welcome to a new year! It was wonderful to gather the children back after our holidays. We played Circle Round the Chalice, read The Mitten (thinking about Reverend Brian’s words a few Sundays ago during the gifts service,...
Religious Education 12/15
Roots class with Marie (pre-K to first grade): We spent our last class together of 2019 practicing The Friendly Beasts for our procession next week, which will be right at the beginning of the service. We also painted our salt dough ornaments from last week. Seedlings...
Salt Dough Ornaments
In our combined class this week, we began by reviewing The Friendly Beasts hymn that we learned the last time we met. We also unveiled the finished animals that kids had worked on the last time and that are now outlined & cut out. We'll be singing and presenting...
Friendly Beasts project
This week, all three classes gathered together in the Community Room to learn the Friendly Beast song that we'll be singing at the December 22 intergenerational service. Kids also created various props to use during the service, including a large brown donkey, a...
Religous Education 11/17
Roots class w/Marie (pre-k to first grade): As part of our exploration of what it means to have Wildflower as our church home, we've been thinking about homes. Last week we built homes like wild animals; this week we’re looking at the animals that have a home with...