Community and Cooperative
Church School

Our Children’s Religious Education (CRE) Program is a cooperative one. Parents are asked to actively participate. Volunteering in the Children’s RE program allows for a clear understanding of what happens in our Church School. There are many ways to participate in our program. Here are a few: storyteller, musician, chapel leader, session leader and assistants, snack preparation, tidying and organizing CRE materials.

Children benefit from the diversity that members of our congregation bring to our community. We also ask members who do not have children enrolled in our CRE program to volunteer. Actively participating in the children’s program fosters community within our church.

Julie, Shelly and members of the CRE Council will be happy to speak with you about how you can volunteer in our Church School.

 Welcome to the Fall 2008 Program

Children’s programming starts at 10:30 am. All classes have windows and two responsible volunteers lead our programs.

Children’s Chapel (Starts at 10:30 am)

Children 3 and up start off each Sunday at children’s chapel. During chapel children will sing, hear a story, welcome newcomers and share their own “glads and sads.” After Children’s Chapel the children go off to their Sunday programs

Rainbow Room. (Babies to 3 years old)

A fun place for babies and toddlers to play. In the Rainbow Room children create simple crafts and play with toys as well as each other.

Spirit Play (3-5 years)

Spirit Play stories are developed from religious stories, myths, UU history and children’s’ literature.
The structure and elements of Spirit Play are based on the Montessori approach, allowing the children freedom to explore at their own pace.

Chalice Club Kids (6 –9 years)

The Chalice Club kids will be exploring how the Unitarian Universalist faith can help them face life’s challenges through a new program developed by the UUA: “The ToolBox of Faith.” This program incorporates stories, activities and cooperative games.

Seventh Principle Group (10 years and up)

We will be alternating between our own home-grown Seventh Principle program and “In Our Hands, A Peace and Social Justice Program,” a program developed by the UUA. Children will be exploring both the environmental and social justice issues.

Holiday Service

Join us on December 14th for an inter-generational Holiday Service.
Towards the end of November children will start preparing for our Holiday Service

OWL (Our Whole Lives) and
The Coming of Age Program
(Grades 7 to 9)

Starts in October

The OWL program is a comprehensive and age appropriate sexuality education program. Trained facilitators lead this program. We teach a holistic approach to sexuality.

The Coming of Age (COA) program signifies the transition from childhood to adulthood and recognizes that the youth are beginning their own search for spiritual truth. They will work with their mentors and COA leaders to explore their spiritual beliefs and develop their credo statement. In June 2009, parents along with the members of the congregation will be invited to celebrate this significant rite of passage during the Coming of Age ceremony, where the youth will share will us their credo statements.

* Please note that participants must be pre-registered in this program and be available to attend most Sunday sessions from October 2008 through June 2009. Parents will be invited to attend an information session prior to the commencement of the program.

The Giving Tree

Keep an eye out for the Giving Tree. This fall we will be starting a fundraiser to create a collection of children’s books for the CRE. Some members of our congregation lovingly created our “Giving Tree”, which will be displayed in the foyer this fall. Each leaf or apple on the tree will have a title of a children’s book and the price. We will be asking members to pick a leaf (or apple) off the tree and donate that book to the CRE program. Hopefully, by the end of fall our “Giving Tree” will have lost all its leaves and fruit and our CRE Program will have gained a fantastic (and much needed book) collection. Stay tuned for more information!

Coming Up in 2009

January: Creative Spirituality Month
February: OWL K to Grade 1 & Mystery friends
April: Social Justice Month
May: Walk-a-thon
June: Coming of Age Ceremony

Our Seven Principles…

Each and every person is important

All people should be treated fairly and kindly

We should accept one another and keep on learning together

Each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life

All people should have a vote about the things that concern them.

We believe in working for a peaceful, fair and free world

We care for our planet earth, the home we share with all living things

Members of the Children’s Religious
Education Council:

Ann Loree
Julie Bergshoeff
Stephen Park

Minister: Rev. Allison Barrett (On leave)
Interim CRE Coordinator: Julie Davidson
Assistant CRE Coordinator: Shelly Van Dyke
Phone: (905) 527-8441 ext 222
Email: julie@firstunitarianhamilton.org