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
Religious Education 11/10
Roots class (pre-k to first grade) with Marie: It was a beautiful day to be animals building homes. What wonderful beehives, dens, burrows, and webs were made with blankets, leaves and collected branches. The children heard the Native American story Lizard’s...
CRE Oct 27
Roots Class (pre-K to 1st) with Marie: Returning to our discussion about our flaming chalice symbol, and a broader discussion about the concept of that symbols represent a bigger something you often can’t really see, like an idea, today we talked about the word...
Loving Spirits
This Sunday we held an all-ages class where we discussed various fall traditions from around the world. We discussed some of the ways these celebrations are similar and different from the Halloween plans that many of our Wildflower kids have. Kids noticed that in many...
CRE Oct 13
Roots Class (pre-K to 1st grade) with Marie: Continuing our thinking together about symbols, today we heard the story of the Unitarians and the Universalists coming together and adding to the chalice symbol the Unitarian service committee began using during World War...
CRE Sep 29
Roots Class (pre-k to 1st grade) with Marie: This week the Roots class began learning Spirit of Life by singing and then dancing with scarves to this special song. Did you know our class name is part of the lyrics? Listen very closely https://youtu.be/EcFZ32EHexY,...
CRE Sep 22
Root Class (pre-k to 1st grade) with Marie: We were so sorry to hear of the passing of a Wildflower member. Many grownups are grieving and we talked about that during joys and concerns today. The children had other losses to share about beloved pets and grandparents....
Fall Semester Kick-Off!
This week was our fall semester kick-off and the first day of our newly reorganized Religious Education classes. Marie Catrett leads the Roots class (pre-k to 1st grade), Piaf Azul leads the Seedlings class (2nd to 4th grade) and Solveij Praxis leads our Wildflower...
New Friends
This Sunday we had a lively group, including many new friends! We began by lighting our chalice and sharing our joys & sorrows (dubbed rose & thorn). We also discussed the kick-off for our fall Religious Education classes on September 8 and the ice cream...
Sending Love to Trees
This week during the Time for All Ages portion of the service, kids brainstormed all the things that trees give us and what we give trees. Other than the crucial interchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the children came up with many other important gifts we give and...
Welcoming Community
This week, the kids recapped the butterfly story from last week and talked about how Wildflower can support people with many different identities in our communities. In the brainstorm, the kids came up with the following:-having ASL interpretation (and other languages...