Religious Education
Religious Exploration: All Children Welcome!
The Religious Exploration program at 4th U takes as its mission exploring spiritual issues with children of all ages through fun and creativity. Each Sunday, youngsters sit with their families for the opening minutes of service. When the congregation “sings out” the children, all of them proceed to our Children’s Chapel for a brief, large group service that includes music, time for centering and a sharing of important milestones. We provide a small snack. For most of the morning, children are divided into classes by age range. Through games, discussions, crafts, and music we consider all the themes of Unitarian Universalism, and nuture spiritual development.
Our Programming:
In addition to the following programs, there is a nursery program every Sunday during services.
Pre-K and Kindergarten age children learn about their UU community through rhymes, games, stories and activities in Chalice Children.
First through third graders explore “Moral Tales.” The course uses stories from a variety of spiritual traditions to explore questions of right and wrong. The tales also serve as launch pads for their activities and crafts.
Fourth and fifth graders are using their Toolbox of Faith this year. In their classes they liken the usefulness of individual spiritual tools, such as Faith, Questioning and Integrity to such tools as ruler, magnifying glass and compass. This course will incorporate games and discussions as well as other activities.
Middle School age children are studying Amazing Grace, where they learn to use their Unitarian Universalist resources to navigate the world safely and productively, identifying right and wrong and acting on their beliefs.
Youth Group meets with a youth advisor at 12:30 pm after service most Sundays. Ages 12-18 are welcome. The youth group is primarily focused on exploring what it means to be a UU Youth today in New York City, and what our responsibility is to ourselves, our 4th U community, our neighborhood, and the world. Our exploration includes social justice projects, attending UU Youth Conferences and discussion groups focused on routine check-ins with what’s going on for the youths in a particular week.
