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LIFELONG LEARNING
We believe that the spiritual journey is a lifelong process. Throughout our years we continue to explore deep questions, to struggle with ethical challenges, and to grow in wisdom, compassion, generosity, and faith. The answers of our youth may no longer serve us in our mature years. The challenges of our contemporary society are ever new and changing. Boundaries of knowledge and of inspiration are ever expanding.
We continue to grow by drawing on the wisdom of the ages, the inner spark of our own spirit, and thoughtful conversation with others.
children's FAITH DEVELOPMENT
At UUCGL, our children and youth programming is dedicated to helping children of all ages explore their big questions in a safe and supportive environment. While some of us can't be together right now, kids of all ages can join in safe online community by watching our Children's Faith Development videos!
Sunday Morning Programs
PreK–12th Grade
Parents or guardians are required to register all children and youth under 18 in order to participate in religious education programming. Paper copies will be available on Sunday morning, or simply register ahead of time online through this link.
PreK through 6th Grade
PreK-6th grade programming will take place outdoors starting at 10am, with participants masked at all times. There will be opportunities to explore, wonder, play, and build in nature together in person!
CLICK HERE to see what this group has been doing lately!
Grades 7–12
Youth in this age group are welcome to join the PreK-6 group as helpers, or join the indoor worship on Sunday mornings. See below for descriptions of opportunities outside of Sunday mornings for this age group. We are offering OWL and Youth Group this year!
Programs for Older Youth
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
Coming of Age
Youth Group
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
Our congregation offers a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum called Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.) every two years. We will be offering OWL together with the First Church in Salem to our 7-9th grade youth beginning in October 2021, and it will take place outside of Sunday morning programming. Read more about it here.
Coming of Age
Our Coming of Age for teens is a program that helps our youth in their journey toward young adulthood. Our youth start the process of deeply understanding what they have been learning about Unitarian Universalism in a more structured and committed way. Coming of Age is a faith journey. Every youth is paired with a mentor who helps guide them throughout the year. Lessons are planned around faith, exploring God concepts, good and evil, why bad things happen to good people, and life and death. The youth become involved in a service project, develop an elevator speech about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, and write a faith statement. Each youth reads their faith statement during a Celebration of Coming of Age in the spring.
Youth Group (15-18 years old)
Our Senior Youth program is designed for high school students who have typically gone through some earlier part of the Religious Education program. Our youth group meets outside of Sunday programming and sometimes during evenings for social events, service projects or programs. The group takes part in structured discussions and programming, along with social events, service projects, and occasional mission trips.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this group
Greetings!
Due to the pandemic, we have been forced to pivot and develop new protocols to help us gather together as safely as possible. For children under 12 and others who are not yet able to get vaccinated, we must be extra careful. Therefore, our Sunday morning religious education program will take place outdoors at times. Consult the Weekly Update for current plans. Here is the short video of our wonderful outdoor religious education program from the fall and here the link to our winter pageant video production of Raven Steals The Light. I invite you to share both videos with your friends and family!
Read descriptions of our Sunday morning programming below.
Parents or guardians are required to register all children and youth under 18 in order to participate in religious education programming. Paper copies will be available on Sunday morning, or simply register ahead of time online through this link.
See you Sunday!
Director of Community Life and Learning