UUFSC Welcomes Children The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City received a Chalice Lighters grant from the Mountain Desert District last spring to grow the Fellowship’s biweekly children’s program. UUFSC was awarded a matching grant of $4,125 to offset costs associated with compensation for staff, educational and promotional materials, and supplies for lessons related to social justice and Unitarian Universalist principles.
After a break during the pandemic, UUFSC’s board of directors voted to resume their in-person Children’s Religious Education/Family Program in June 2022. They have since been working to grow the program to serve more children 3-12 years old and their families. Currently an average of 5 children regularly attends the program, which is offered twice monthly on the second and fourth Sundays from 10:00 am-11:00 am. Gay Hedges coordinates the program, and Ivy Stephens-Etheridge provides childcare. Ivy is a tenth grader and former UUFSC CRE participant.
This past year most children who’ve attended Sunday programs are 3-5 years old, so activities have been play-based with a story relating to UU principles. Described in simpler language for children, the principles are:
1st Principle: We believe that each and every person is important.
2nd Principle: We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.
3rd Principle: We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.
4th Principle: We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.
5th Principle: We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.
6th Principle: We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.
7th Principle: We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.
The UU Fellowship hopes to be able to add more participants and develop more detailed lessons using the Unitarian Universalist Association’s curricula for children and priorities of the fellowship’s social justice committee, especially climate and environmental justice. Project materials for such activities include books such as Creating Justice Together: Service Projects for Families and Multigenerational Groups, The Little Book of Restorative Teaching Tools: Games, Activities, and Simulations for Understanding Restorative Justice Practices, Our Diversity Makes us Stronger, and Growing Sustainable Together.
UUFSC members recognize that families with young children are more likely to attend Sunday programs if they know religious education and childcare is available. The fellowship also recognizes that having a diverse membership is important for the fellowship’s future. Current membership is 76 people.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City welcomes people of every lifestyle and ideology. The fellowship celebrates diversity and welcomes all, of every race, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious background, mental and physical ability or disability, socioeconomic condition and family structure. UUFSC’s purpose is to further individual freedom of belief, encourage spiritual growth, search openly for truth, and serve others. For more information visit: www.uufsc.com .