Religious Exploration at Shoreline UU
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If you were a child whose questions made the Sunday school teacher squirm, know that those questions are welcome in our church! Unitarian Universalists believe that questions, curiosity, and doubts can be useful tools to further our individual and collective spiritual growth.
In the early years, our religious exploration (RE) classes offer stories, rituals, and activities that provide a firm grounding of moral and ethical principles. As children mature, critical thinking, social engagement, and introspection come to the forefront of their faith journeys.
Religious Exploration offerings for kids and youth
Here's what we'll have on offer for children, youth, parents, and families in 2022-23:
Family / parent offerings
Intergenerational Worship Services — A few times a year, children and adults will stay together in the sanctuary for the entire service. These days feature less talking and more doing — an altar to place pictures or mementos of deceased family or pets for the morning, a “graffiti wall” in which the congregation writes their personal pledges to care for the planet, small group discussions on what your idea of a UU superhero is.
In the early years, our religious exploration (RE) classes offer stories, rituals, and activities that provide a firm grounding of moral and ethical principles. As children mature, critical thinking, social engagement, and introspection come to the forefront of their faith journeys.
Religious Exploration offerings for kids and youth
Here's what we'll have on offer for children, youth, parents, and families in 2022-23:
- Nursery / Preschool class (Sunday mornings during church) -- A combination of free play, learning about what we do at church, and occasional explorations of the current worship theme when it is developmentally appropriate.
- School Age RE class (Sunday mornings during church) -- After the story for all ages, the kids will gather in the Threadgill Hall for a sharing circle, short discussion of the story they just heard, and a choice of activities, each of which relates to the story and current worship theme.
- Popcorn Theology for Middle School Youth (second and third Sunday mornings during church) -- A classic and well loved program in our church in which youth check out an episode of The Simpsons or The Twilight Zone, followed by an exploration of the philosophical, ethical, and spiritual themes contained therein.
- High School Youth Group (first and third Sundays from 4-6pm) -- A place for high school age youth to connect on a deeper level, share, have fun, and consider spiritual and ethical questions which relate to their daily lives and their future adult lives.
- 7th-9th Grade Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Program (Jan-May 2023) -- We are very happy to be offering this again! Honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. This is what Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curriculum, is all about!
Family / parent offerings
- Family Fun Day (second Sundays after church) -- Monthly days when we have a fun activity for kids and delicious food! Perfect for welcoming new folks into our church community as well as deepening connections among longtime members!
- Parent Happy Hour (last Wednesdays from 5:30-7pm) -- A casual gathering for parents to have a drink together, alcoholic or non-, explore the worship theme for the month in a guided discussion, and share about what's going on in their minds and hearts. Childcare available -- please RSVP if you are planning to come.
Intergenerational Worship Services — A few times a year, children and adults will stay together in the sanctuary for the entire service. These days feature less talking and more doing — an altar to place pictures or mementos of deceased family or pets for the morning, a “graffiti wall” in which the congregation writes their personal pledges to care for the planet, small group discussions on what your idea of a UU superhero is.
While attending church on Sunday morning is the biggest gathering of our community each week, we strive to offer other events in which parents and children can make a deeper connection with each other in smaller groups. While we’ve offered outdoor events during the summer, given COVID-19 restrictions and as the weather gets colder and wetter, it’s becoming impractical to have large, indoor social gatherings of parents and children which often feature food or drink. We’ll explore doing these events again as infection rates drop and vaccinations are approved for young children. Email Chris Pollina our Director of Religious Exploration for Children and Youth,, to get on our mailing list so you can be kept up to date about upcoming events for families via a weekly email.
Chris Pollina, Director of Religious Exploration
Chris Pollina has served as the Director of Religious Exploration for Children and Youth at Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church since 2009. He grew up Unitarian Universalist and his passion for the church led him to become active in organizing district youth conferences and participating in national conferences and social justice work. He is a credentialed religious educator at the associate level. Since he moved to Seattle in 2002, he has pursued interests in education, music, beginning a summer camp for adults, and building collective power to create a more just and equitable world. He lives with his wife Amanda, two cats and many fish.
Chris Pollina has served as the Director of Religious Exploration for Children and Youth at Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church since 2009. He grew up Unitarian Universalist and his passion for the church led him to become active in organizing district youth conferences and participating in national conferences and social justice work. He is a credentialed religious educator at the associate level. Since he moved to Seattle in 2002, he has pursued interests in education, music, beginning a summer camp for adults, and building collective power to create a more just and equitable world. He lives with his wife Amanda, two cats and many fish.