Religious Exploration
We value our children and youth because of their own innate worthiness as people and because they are the future of our community and our world.
As Unitarian Universalists, we do not seek to provide our children with ready-made answers to life's questions in the form of a fixed creed or doctrine. Instead, we seek to provide our children and youth with an environment in which they may grow up with a strong sense of values, morals as set forth in our UU Values. To this end, we are committed to offering a Religious Exploration (RE) program which will enrich the lives of our children and youth, helping them to recognize and realize their full potential and build firm foundations for meaningful, ethical lives.
Our UU values in children’s language: These values can be in any order, but Jet Pig offers us an easy way to remember them by spelling out their name using the first letter of each value.
Love Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our values.
Justice We show up for justice, inclusion and democracy. We dismantle racist systems and build Beloved communities.
Equity We respect and value everyone and we act to ensure equity
Transformation We transform together into the best we can be.
Pluralism We embrace pluralism, seeking truths from one another.
Interdependence We protect our Earth and all beings from harm and exploitation. We honor the Web of Life and all of Earth’s creations.
Generosity We are kind in all we do and we practice generosity.
The great end in religious instruction is
not to stamp our minds irresistibly upon the young,
but to stir up their own;
Not to make them see with our eyes,
but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own;
Not to give them a definite amount of knowledge,
but to inspire a fervent love of truth;
Not to form an outward regularity,
but to touch inward springs. ~ William Ellery Channing
Picture by Amel
A note from our director of religious exploration
Hello and welcome to our Religious Exploration community at UU Catskills. We are happy to have you with us.
Here at UU Catskills, we offer a safe space where children and youth can ask big questions, where curiosity and wonder are encouraged and the ideas of children and youth are valued. It is here where our children begin their life-long process of spiritual discovery. It is here where our children discover the meaning of beloved community.
I look forward to getting to know you and welcome your questions as you seek a spiritual home for your family.
In beloved community, Jane Podell, Director Religious Exploration
On most Sundays:
Our children (preschool and up) begin their Sunday morning experience with their families in the sanctuary, providing them with a sense of community, a feeling of at-oneness with each other and the world, an affirmation of what we believe and a feeling of inspiration. They take part in the chalice lighting, first hymn and remain present through a "Time for All Ages" that addresses the sermon topic of the day in an age-appropriate way. They are then sung out of the sanctuary to their Religious Exploration (R.E.) session in the farmhouse.
R.E. Sessions:
After leaving the sanctuary, our children gather in the farmhouse and participate in the sharing of "joys & sorrows"and listen to stories related to questions of importance. The power of a meaningful story is placed into the hands of the children who explore their wonderings and reflect its meaning through discussion, art work or drama activities. Every R.E. session ends in fun play in the Play Haven playroom.
Infants and Toddlers
Our nursery, located in the farmhouse, provides a safe and happy place for infants and toddlers while parents attend the service. Our youngest children are under the care of a paid and background checked adult caregiver who is experienced in working with young children of various ages. If parents prefer to stay with their child in the Restless Room (across the hall from the sanctuary), they can still hear the sermon while allowing their child to have extra space to wiggle and express themselves.
kIndergarten Through 6th grade
We are part of a wider theme-based ministry network called Soul Matters. This group of over 150 Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country follows the same monthly themes. The themes are shared in worship, music, children's programming and in small group ministries. Bringing us into deeper connection, we are companions traveling a new journey together each month.
Our monthly themes
How do these values offer us both challenge and comfort? What might it mean to place them at the center of our living and loving? What promise do they hold for us individually as well as collectively? These are some of questions that will guide and bless our journey in the year ahead.
SEPTEMBER: INVITATION
OCTOBER: DEEP LISTENING
NOVEMBER: REPAIR
DECEMBER: PRESENCE
JANUARY: STORY
FEBRUARY: INCLUSION
MARCH: TRUST
APRIL: JOY
MAY: IMAGINATION
JUNE: FREEDOM
Social Action
oNE of the hallmarks of Unitarian Universalism is social Activism …
… That’s because UUs have always believed we must apply our faith to the world we live in. The Religious Exploration program is designed to encourage our children and youth to become involved in social action within our community and the world at large. Social Action is integrated into our R.E. program throughout the year.