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Religious Education The Lake Shore Unitarian Religious Education program, guided by the Unitarian Universalist Covenant and Principles, embraces the concept of life span religious education. We hope to promote the religious growth of all our members--children, youth, and adults -- and to nurture the religious life of family and community.
Mission Statement The mission statement of the Lake Shore Unitarian Society Religious Educational Program is to provide a safe environment in which each child can be a seeker of personal truth while developing:
• A foundation of values and theological knowledge from diverse and dynamic traditions; • A reverence for and joy in life; • A strong sense of community with respect for individual differences; • A strong sense of individual responsibility and social responsibility; and • An understanding that they can make a difference through their outlook and interactions. Without imposing a specific doctrine upon our youth we teach an approach to life as a Unitarian Universalist.
Our Seven Principles In Religious Education we strive to foster and inspire our children to live and act in accordance with the Unitarian Universalist Association's covenant and to affirm and promote the Seven Principles of UU:
We believe… … each and every person is important … all people should be treated fairly …
our church is a place of acceptance and growth
Current Programs On Sunday mornings Lake Shore Unitarian Society (LSUS) children attend the first part of the adult service. Thereafter, the children proceed to their classrooms. After the service, children are encouraged to join in fellowship during 'coffee hour'.
The Religious Education program uses curriculum materials developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association as well as other appropriate sources. The K-6 th graders study and learn from a three-year curriculum cycle that teaches, among other topics, Unitarian Universalist beliefs, Judeo-Christian heritage, and world religions through an exploration of "holidays and holy days”. Our youth group, YAREG (Young Adult Religious Education Group), has a similar three-year cycle, with the addition that the students themselves suggest the focus for the following year. All children participate with adults in our active social service projects throughout the year.
The 2007-2008 year will focus on Important People and Events in the Bible for the students in K-6 th grade. YAREG will focus on Christianity, Philosophy, Ethics and Social Responsibility.
Pre-kindergarten Children A volunteer from the congregation supervises children from 2-5 years. This class provides both free time and an age-appropriate structured introduction to religious education through story reading, art, and music activities.
Kindergarten through 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade through 6th Grade Children in these two groups follow a curriculum taught by our volunteer teachers (members). Each class starts with the ritual of lighting a Chalice and then each child has the opportunity to express a joy or concern that is important to them. This process creates a sense of togetherness and community among the students before the class begins. While each class is different, there is an educational objective that is achieved through sharing, discussing, artwork and hands-on projects.
Young Adult Religious Education Group – YAREG – (7th through 12th Grades) The YAREG focuses on learning from a perspective of listening to the class presentation followed by discussions. The classes are taught by volunteer members and are based on a curriculum designed by the Director of Religious Education in cooperation with the members of the Religious Education Committee. Students also attend a few of the adult services each year, with discussions the following week.
Our social service projects provide opportunities for our YAREG students to design, plan and execute this important work of our church under adult supervision.
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