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THIS WEEK IN THE
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM 
PLAY GROUP
Supervised play for our children ages three and under. SPIRIT PLAY & CHAPEL SERVICE Our Spirit Play children will wonder about the story of our Flaming Chalice. CHAPEL SERVICE Our Chapel Service youth will explore the sources of our Unitarian Universalist faith. YOUTH GROUP Our youth will meet for fun and fellowship. For more information on RE programming, how to become involved, or on our Covid protocols please visit our website www.hinsdaleunitarian.org or contact Pam Fodor at re@hinsdaleunitarian.org Religious Education for YouthHere at the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale we have a continuing commitment to the spiritually rich and psychologically sound nurture of your children and youth. Our comprehensive program embodies our Unitarian Universalism principles and heritage. We seek to provide our young people with opportunities for worship, learning and fellowship activities that will guide them along their spiritual journey.
Congratulations to our Bridging Seniors!
You can watch our service from May 16th here https://youtu.be/4BQH0J4gGcs |
COVID Protocols for RE
We are excited to get back to our Religious Education classes. We can’t wait to see how much our kiddos have grown! We wish our program could be back to normal but we must be respectful of our situation with the Covid virus. We are making some accommodations that we think will help keep our families, children and volunteers safe.
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Play groupBirth to 3 Years of Age
For our youngest children from birth through age three paid high school youth will provide an opportunity for the children to learn through play, build relationships with the church and its members, and have fun during “church time.” |
Classes4 yrs-Grade 1 Spirit Play
Grade 2 - 6 Chapel Service Special Classes like Our Whole Lives (OWL) and Age of Reason are held during the year for children of those age ranges.
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YouthGrade 7 - 8 Coming of Age
Senior High Youth Group |
2021 - 2022 Program
SPIRIT PLAY: FOUR YEARS THROUGH GRADE ONE
After experiencing a brief “Time for All Ages” in the adult service, children ages four years through first grade will gather in their classroom to experience the magic of Spirit Play. Spirit play seeks to engage children in the questions of life within the context of the Unitarian Universalist faith. The program encourages independent thinking through wondering with an adult who does not mediate correct answers but truly wonders with the child. It gives children real choices through freedom within the structure that promotes a sense of community and develops an underlying sense of the spiritual and mysteries of life. Each week stories are presented through active storytelling followed by a “wondering” time that opens up the child’s response to the story. Time is then allowed for the child to work directly with that story, or another, or respond to the story through art materials.
After experiencing a brief “Time for All Ages” in the adult service, children ages four years through first grade will gather in their classroom to experience the magic of Spirit Play. Spirit play seeks to engage children in the questions of life within the context of the Unitarian Universalist faith. The program encourages independent thinking through wondering with an adult who does not mediate correct answers but truly wonders with the child. It gives children real choices through freedom within the structure that promotes a sense of community and develops an underlying sense of the spiritual and mysteries of life. Each week stories are presented through active storytelling followed by a “wondering” time that opens up the child’s response to the story. Time is then allowed for the child to work directly with that story, or another, or respond to the story through art materials.
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CHAPEL SERVICE: GRADES TWO THROUGH SIX
After experiencing a brief “Time for All Ages” in the adult service, the second through sixth graders will gather in Joshi Chapel for an age- appropriate chapel service which will explore the sources of our Unitarian Universalist living tradition including sharing, wondering, meditation time and hands on activities and projects. Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We live out these principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality drawn from the following sources: direct experience of mystery and wonder, words and deeds of prophetic people, wisdom from the world's religions, Jewish and Christian teachings, science and reason, and the spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions. |
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COMING OF AGE:
GRADES SEVEN AND EIGHT Our Coming of Age program uses the four elements of rituals, learning, testing and celebration to acknowledge our young people’s transition from childhood to youth. The youth meet weekly to tackle life’s “big questions”. Through the year the youth learn who they are, decide what they stand for and write a faith statement, which is shared with and celebrated by the congregation. |
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SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP: GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE
Senior High Youth Group youth meet weekly with adult advisors to participate in a supportive environment in which they can explore their feelings about themselves, their world and their religion. Some curricula are used, as determined by the desires of the group. Youth and advisors work jointly to plan and participate in social action projects, leadership development and opportunities for worship. The youth will be invited to attend district and local youth conferences throughout the year and will create and present a worship service for the congregation.
Senior High Youth Group youth meet weekly with adult advisors to participate in a supportive environment in which they can explore their feelings about themselves, their world and their religion. Some curricula are used, as determined by the desires of the group. Youth and advisors work jointly to plan and participate in social action projects, leadership development and opportunities for worship. The youth will be invited to attend district and local youth conferences throughout the year and will create and present a worship service for the congregation.
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Our Director of Religious Education, Pam Fodor, with support from our strong Religious Education Committee, take great care in preparing fun, captivating, classes, workshops, activities and worship services to help our young people explore their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values as they grow and mature. Pam Fodor is happy to speak with you further about the program. Please feel free to contact her at 630-323-2885 Ext. 110 or re@hinsdaleunitarian.org.
