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Unitarian Universalism

Religious Education for Young People

To register for CUUC 2009-2010 Youth Religious Education, please click HERE

Blue's Clues
CUUC Religious Education Update

Martin Blue-NortonWWe have reached the half way point in the 2009-10 YRE program year and it is my pleasure to report on the activities of the Children and Youth Religious Education activities over the past twenty weeks.

 Attendance: Please see the attendance graph below for dates that I will reference.

Average Sunday attendance is 13 children per week for the first half of 2008-10. The YRE Program attendance for 2008-09 was 10 children during the same period.  The YRE has had several large activities during the first half of the program year which resulted in an increased attendance of registered Columbine children and youth. There are three clusters of children served at this time by the YRE program, the middle school group, the 4th – 6th grade group, and the Pre-K thru 1st grade group.

First on my report is the middle school youth which has six steadfast attending students and four students who are floating in and out during the course of these past few months. Middle school is followed by the primary grade
level age group with eight children registered and only three on average attending on a regular basis. Finally the pre-K/1st grade age group has only three children registered with an attendance average of two children per Sunday. There are eighteen total registered children in the CUUC Youth Religious Education Program this year.

The production of 'Would You Like to Hold the Baby,' on December 13th was a major draw for families with twenty-eight children participating or in attendance at this December Service. On that Sunday the CUUC service attendance, as counted by David Manning, was 110 people. The second largest draw for families with children was held on Sunday, November 22 for the multigenerational service where the YRE and children sang, participated, and passed out the 'Guest at Your Table‘ donation boxes. On this Sunday we had twenty-four youth and children out of ninety-two total attendance.

The Shelter Rock UU Church curriculum, 'Bibleodeon‘ studies of Judaism and Christianity, has been well received and will continue for the balance of the YRE year.

Professional Development: We began our year with a teacher training for all teacher volunteers which gave everyone a great advantage and has made for a solid program. I attended the 2009 Fall LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association) Conference this past October and was able to network with many colleagues. In early December I attended the Mountain Desert District DRE working conference, at the MDD office, in an effort to develop a closer relationship with other DRE‘s in the Denver/ Boulder Cluster and other Front Range religious educators.

 The YRE Committee is looking at developing a welcome packet for new and visiting families in an effort to bolster returning visits by the family. We are also seeking ways to improve our information from the Welcoming Committee in an effort to build a stronger connection with new children and families. The YRE Committee has begun the budget work for next year and looking at summer programs with next year‘s curriculum.

I would like to thank the CUUC Community for all the support and love that you have shown my family and I during this rough journey we have been on. Your love has been greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

With all my love!

Blue

Martin J. Blue-Norton,
Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church

The YRE Committee Meets every 2nd Sunday from 12:15 to 1:45 pm.

Classes for Children

Our Youth Religious Education (RE) program conducts classes each Sunday that run concurrently with the services offered in the sanctuary.

Children begin each Sunday class sitting with their family in the sanctuary for the first segment of the worship service (10-15 minutes), after which they are invited to their classrooms. Parents are always welcome to join in the lesson with their children. 

CUUC Religious Education ClassOur Religious Education Program for children and youth places a focus on three major content areas important to Unitarian Universalists:

1) World Religions and our Judeo-Christian Heritage
Our focus is two-fold. We investigate our Judeo-Christian roots in the context of Unitarian Universalism through the study of foundational biblical stories, figures and events in both the New and Old Testaments. We also investigate major world religions as well as the many existing Jewish and Christian denominations.

2) Social Justice
We offer opportunities to both examine and practice our Seven Principles . We
nurture concepts of responsibility, respect for diversity, compassion, justice and peace within oneself, one’s family, this church, the community, the nation and the world.

3) Unitarian Universalist Heritage and Identity
We encourage the development of a sense of religious identity as a UU by teaching our long tradition of reason, questioning, good works and tolerance. We provide lessons which help our children develop an awareness of events, people and symbols significant in UU history with a focus on understand the polity or structure of our congregation and the denomination as a whole.

We offer the above on a three year rotation so that children revisit these major areas with increased depth as they mature. Children are grouped by grade level:

  • Preschool (toddlers through age 5),
  • Primary Class - grades K-1-2,
  • Intermediate Class - grades 3-4-5-6,
  • Junior High Class - grades 7-8 and
  • High School.

Our style is casual; our classes are usually “hands on” learning. Our over-riding goal is to build community and make life long friends while learning all we can.

As is our tradition, children attend the first part of our Sunday worship service with their family and then leave the sanctuary to attend their classes. We offer nursery care for infants during the entire service. We always welcome and encourage parental involvement. Our classes can be visited at any time.

2009-10 Schedule Highlights:
Preschool Ages 3-5/Grades K-2 | Grades 3-6 | Middle School Grades 7-8

Youth RE Special Activities

Stone Soup Empty Bowl Auction
Friday, February 5th, 6pm

Come celebrate with the YRE committee and youth on February 5th at 6:00 pm at the second annual Stone Soup Supper. Bread and a variety of soups will be provided by your YRE volunteers and staff. Admission will be one non-perishable food item per person. All items will be donated to InterFaith Community Services.

February 07, 2010

Jonah  -  Theme: Belief

February 14, 2010

Children's Chapel  /  Valentines Day

February 21, 2010

Jesus -  Theme: Life of Jesus

February 28, 2010

Jesus - Theme: Jesus as Teacher

March 7, 2010

Jesus' New ideas - Theme: Jesus as a revolutionary

March 14, 2010

Children's Chapel

March 21, 2010

Jesus' Miracles - Theme: Jesus as a miracle worker

March 28, 2010

Easter - Theme: Death and Resurrection

Please signup to volunteer to teach on the bulletin board under Religious Education in the back of the sanctuary. Thanks!

High School / YRUU- Young Religious Unitarian Universalists

Thinking the Web of Life: Exploring and Expressing Views on the UU Positions

Our Sunday morning program for high school students continues to offer discussions around high school interest topics. Meets from 12:15 - 1:15 pm, after the service. High school youth are encouraged to attend both the service and the youth group.

 
 
 

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Columbine Unitarian-Universalist Church
6724 South Webster Street
Littleton, Colorado 80128
303-972-1716