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“A Place To Grow Young Liberal Religious Minds”
What we value, what we study and what we do together makes us the people we become.
Our vision is to create a strong liberal religious community in which people of all ages grow spiritually, emotionally, and ethically. All of our children’s RE curricula include elements of world religions, peace and social justice, Unitarian Universalist history and identity, and the Seven UU Principles.
Our RE classes run from September until the end of May. We offer a nursery program for the youngest children, RE classes for 4-6, 7-9 year olds, 10-13 year olds, and a senior high youth group for youth aged 14-18.
Our process of religious exploration offers young people respect for their journey and encouragement along the way. If you were a child who questions made the Sunday school teacher squirm, know that those questions are very welcome here. Unitarian Universalists believe that each of us is on a spiritual journey and questions serve to move us along our way. We gather together to accept, support and encourage each other as we grow in our congregations. You and your children are welcome to join us on our collective faith journeys this year!
Children and youth begin Sundays in the Sanctuary with their parents. Near the beginning of the service there is usually a time for all ages when the children and young at heart are invited to come up to hear a story or have a brief topical conversation. At the end of this time, the congregation sings a song as the children leave for their separate classes.
About once a month, all of the children will gather together in the Chrysalis building for Children’s Church days or stay in the sanctuary for special Intergenerational Worship services. On Children's Church days, there are special group activities which can be anything from making prayer flags, to presentations from different members of the congregation or community, to preparing a meal for a local tent city. On Intergenerational Worship days children stay in the Sanctuary for the entire service. The services on these days are targeted for a wider range of ages than traditional services.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth, Chris Pollina, shorelinedre@gmail.com or (206) 240-5500.
If you plan on bringing your child to any of our religious education classes on an ongoing basis, please fill out a registration form so that we are aware of important information such as emergency contacts, allergies, medical conditions, etc.
Infants and Toddlers
We provide two wonderful spaces for infants and toddlers; one is our quiet room in the back of the Sanctuary where parents can rock their children while listening to the sermon. The second space is the Nursery located to your right as you enter the church. Infants and toddlers can play and interact with others under the supervision of our nursery staff.
4-6 Year-Olds: Spirit Play
In Spirit Play, children learn about our faith through stories about the principles and the sources of our religious tradition. The storyteller uses a special basket of props to make each story come alive for the children, after which the children discusses some open ended “wondering questions” relating to the story, such as “I wonder if you know anyone like this character?” or “I wonder what our church does that helps people?.” The stories told relate to our 7 Principles, the sources of our beliefs, and the history and practices of our church community. Following the story is a time for children to choose from a range of thoughtful and fun activities to work on independently or in small groups before returning to the large group for a “feast,” AKA snack. If you’d like to read more about Spirit Play, please take a look at the official website.
7-9 Year-Olds: In Our Hands
In Our Hands is a religious education curriculum wherein children explore their own knowledge and feelings about issues relating to peace and justice. The program helps children to learn about their own feelings and understanding about conflict and unfairness and to explore constructive ways of both resolving conflict and promoting peace and fairness in their own relationships. In Our Hands also engages children in exploring peace and fairness in their relationship to the natural world as well as introducing them to Unitarian Universalists who have made a contribution to peace and fairness in the world.
10-13 Year-Olds: Riddle and Mystery
The purpose of Riddle and Mystery is to assist middle school aged children in their own search for understanding. Each of the sessions introduces and processes a Big Question. The first three echo Paul Gauguin’s famous triptych: Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? The next ten, including “Does God exist?” and “What happens when you die?,” could be found on almost anyone’s list of basic life inquiries. The final three are increasingly Unitarian Universalist: Can we ever solve life’s mystery? How can I know what to believe? What does Unitarian Universalism mean to me?
Throughout the program, the children will process these ideas by shooting episodes of their own news program for the station KCUU. It leads youth to have fun discovering Unitarian Universalist responses to the session’s Big Question. Each WCUU activity offers a script. Some scripts are complete; others ask youth to create their own roles from information supplied. WCUU offers opportunities to youth who enjoy speaking and acting and to others who might prefer a crew or audience role.
After the Service
After service, there are sometimes arts or crafts activities at a Kid's Table in the sanctuary. Also, our outdoor playground provides a safe environment for children to play following church – we have both climbing structures as well as a green grassy area. Adult supervision is required at all times.
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