Religious Education Curriculum

A Printable RE Brochure includes all the information below.

Our UU Sources

Direct, personal experience of mystery and wonder

Significant crusaders for compassion and justice

World religions

Jewish & Christian heritage

Humanism, reason and science

Earth-based religions and the Interdependent Web of all nature

Children registered in our program can expect a mix of activities, a small group class experience most Sundays, and spiritual experiences and challenges appropriate to their age.

Youth (grades 9+) can expect a Sunday morning Coming of Age program this fall, and monthly YRUU activities in the Spring.

Nursery care is available year-round for babies and toddlers under age 4.

Every month the children will have an Ingathering with the Director of Religious Education. This Ingathering is a time for children to experience worship designed for them, learn our UU spiritual traditions such as Candles of Joys and Concerns, and to share in the joy of singing and creating music together. Ingatherings also have a social justice component. Every month has a special theme, so please look for more information in the weekly news. This year as we delve into Our Sources, look for worship that explores the traditions we are founded on.

Welcome to our program!

Sunday Morning Curriculum
Our UU Sources

PreK-K We are Many, We are One
This preK-K curriculum offers children the grounding of a religious community and tradition, along with the freedom to discover and express their uniqueness. The underlying theme throughout is anti-bias and multicultural education, which celebrates diversity and interdependency.

Gr. 1-2 Love Will Guide Us
In this curriculum children seek guidance in life through the lens of our UU Sources, with an emphasis on Love. Together we ask tough questions like "where did we come from" and "how can we respond with love, even in bad situations," using our Sources as guidance. We learn that asking questions is valued in Unitarian Universalism.

Gr. 3-4 Holidays & Holy Days
This curriculum uses celebrations from the world's religious traditions, including Unitarian Universalism, to teach lessons about diversity and similarity, accepting other faiths, finding meaning in rituals and traditions, and just having fun celebrating with special foods, activities and stories that are part of every holiday and holy day.

Gr. 5-6 Bibleodeon
Bibleodeon introduces Hebrew and Christian scriptures by presenting the best-known Hebrew and Christian stories with such props as the Bibleodeon microphone and such interactive challenges as investigating the Cain-Abel crime scene. Participants act in 11 amusing playlets while exploring connections between biblical events and UU principles, between biblical ideas and their own lives.

Gr. 7-8 Fall Neighboring Faiths
This curriculum explores the diversity of religions in our world. Children, advisors and parents visit other faith communities and worship with them. They experience other traditions as they are practiced in our surrounding communities. The children clarify their values and beliefs in the context of Unitarian Universalism and an increased familiarity with the world's religions.

Gr. 9 Fall
Gr. 7-8 Spring Coming of Age
Coming of Age helps youth discern for themselves what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, individually and as part of the larger faith community. It involves individual activities, family participation, and working with a mentor, specifically: team-building, discussions, field trips to UU heritage sites, a weekend-long leadership retreat and the writing of a Credo, or statement of belief, to be shared with the congregation.

Gr. 9+ Spring YRUU
Once a month our high school youth will meet to worship, perform social action, and be in community with one another.

Parents and guardians receive a weekly e-newsletter, “This Week in RE,” full of updates on the program. Please check the Bringing It Home section for further activities during the week. Parents also receive a weekly update from teachers with specifics about each class.

Religious Education at First Parish is a cooperative experience. Every family that has been at First Parish in Cambridge for six months makes a significant volunteer contribution to the program. The greatest need is for teachers. This year we will need 26 teachers and 15 youth mentors. Teaching is a seasonal commitment, and teachers always work with a partner. Other volunteer possibilities include coordinating special events such as Pajama Night, Holiday Helpers, Winter REtreat, the Easter Egg Hunt and the Walk for Hunger. Joining the RE Committee is another possibility. We look for a balanced mix of newcomers and experienced members who will help set policy and direction for the Religious Education program.

We encourage all registered families to become members of First Parish. Members find their relationships to church friends and to the church become deeper, more committed and stronger. Members are expected to attend one session of “Exploring Membership,” fill out a one-page application, and make a financial pledge to First Parish. Financial pledges are accepted from non-members too as you ponder your commitment to First Parish.

2011—2012 Schedule

Fall Session
September 18—December 25

Winter Session
January 9—March 8

Spring Session
March 15—June 19

Coming of Age—Grade 9
September 18—January 30

Coming of Age—Grades 7-8 February 6—June 19

To register:
Visit our coffee hour table May 8-22, 2011 or print and fill out the Forms available online.

Please note that Coming of Age registration has a fee which is $250 members/$350 non-members. Scholarships are available. Please contact RE staff for more information.. Please see a member of the Religious Education Committee or RE staff for more details or scholarship information.

Questions?
Contact Director of Religious Education Mandy Neff at
(617) 876-7772 x. 205 or dre [at] fpcambridge [dot] org.