Religious Education
Together, we seek to expand our hearts and minds, make a difference in the world, mark important milestones, and explore big questions. We are a supportive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multigenerational, radically welcoming religious community.
Many Ways into Community for Families, Youth, and Children
First Universalist Church has one of the largest and most robust Children, Youth, and Families Religious Education programs among Unitarian Universalist congregations in the United States, and we are proud of our welcoming, inclusive, vibrant programming that serves families and nurtures children and youth with joy and care.
One key element of our ministries with kids and families is Religious Education. During the church program year (mid-September through May), Religious Education (RE) for children in Kindergarten through 9th grade, youth group for high schoolers, and childcare for the littlest ones is offered most Sundays. Children and youth (except for 8th grade OWLets) start their morning at church in worship with the congregation and then are dismissed to their age-specific programming partway through.
Our RE classes are broken out by age (see dropdown menus below for more details), offering children and youth an opportunity to build deep and meaningful relationships with their peers, while also enjoying opportunities on Sundays and throughout the year to be in multigenerational community with folks younger and older than them.
On some Sundays throughout the year, we will offer a particularly all-ages-engaging, ritual-centered, family-friendly, and intergenerational worship service. On those days worship will serve as our Religious Education and we encourage children and youth to join their families and friends in worship at either the 9 or 11 a.m. service.
On Sundays during certain holiday weekends (for example, Thanksgiving weekend or President’s Day weekend), we will not offer our regular Religious Education programming but will instead offer an opportunity for kids and youth of all ages to participate in a service, justice, or art project. On those days all children and youth in Kindergarten and older will begin in the Sanctuary for worship as usual and then dismiss as a group to the Cummins Room, where they will be led in a values-based creative activity by our Intergenerational Service, Justice, and Leadership Coordinator, Seth Anderson-Matz.
We welcome and have created space for your family, and we are always looking at new ways to make First Universalist accessible and welcoming to people of all ages. If you have questions or hopes for your child’s ability to participate in our programming, please reach out directly to Allison Connelly-Vetter, our Director of Children, Youth, & Families Ministries at allison [at] firstuniv.org.
Religious Education Classes
Childcare
Childcare is provided by attentive adult and youth volunteers during both Sunday morning worship services for children ages 6 months to PreK. We enfold our youngest members in the warmth of our community, encourage their explorations, and share in their joy and wonder. To ensure adequate space and staff to provide a safe and positive experience for all, registration is required.
Theme: UU Values
On Sundays with Religious Education classes, children in Kindergarten through 5th grade transition from the Sanctuary to Room 209 together for “Children’s Chapel.” In Children’s Chapel the theme for the day is introduced with a story, song, or discussion.
After Children’s Chapel, the group divides into three age-based classrooms: one for Kindergarteners & 1st graders, another for 2nd & 3rd graders, and one for 4th & 5th graders. In these classrooms the children explore the day’s theme more in-depth in age-appropriate lessons which include activities, games, arts and crafts, movement, and conversation. Lessons include a story, movement, and creative elements designed to facilitate learning and friendships between the children.
The themes and lessons for our Kindergarten-5th grade Religious Education are based on the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Article II Values, approved at the UUA General Assembly in Summer 2024.
Our Kindergarten-5th Grade Religious Education program—including Children’s Chapel—is facilitated by teams of trained adult and youth volunteers.
Our Whole Lives – optional for 1st/2nd graders
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a special unit of seven lessons, grounded in UU values, that provide age-appropriate information about birth, babies, bodies and families. Parents and caregivers learn more about the curriculum and enroll their 1st or 2nd graders in OWL at a mandatory orientation to the program. The 1st grade class will run from October-December. (More information will be provided to all registered 1st and 2nd grade families in September)
More information can be found on the First Universalist OWL web page.
Our Whole Lives (September-December)
Details to come
Big Questions (January-May)
In the second semester of 6th grade, our youth explore topics which can bring up big questions: death, money, and growing up in a family. Adult facilitators lead youth through age-appropriate learning and conversation about these questions and wonder, “What does being UU have to do with it all?”
6th graders are also encouraged to attend our Middle School Youth Group, which meets on two Wednesday evenings each month from 7-8:15 p.m. See more information below.
7th grade Religious Education is oriented around three main questions:
-
What does it mean to be Unitarian Universalist?
-
What does it mean to be part of First Universalist Church of Minneapolis specifically?
-
What does it mean to be Unitarian Universalist and part of FIrst Universalist Church of Minneapolis if my friends are not UU or attend different congregations? How do I fit into a diverse faith landscape?
Youth explore these questions through a combination of classroom learning and site visits to local UU congregations.
The culminating event of the 7th grade Religious Education curriculum will be a dinner hosted by the 7th grade youth to which they invite youth of the congregations they visited throughout the year.
7th grade Religious Education meets at the 9 a.m. service only.
7th graders are also encouraged to attend our Middle School Youth Group, which meets on two Wednesday evenings each month from 7-8:15 p.m. See more information below.
Junior High Youth Group
Youth in grades 7-9 are invited to join our Junior High Youth Group, which meets once a month from 7-8:15 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month after Community Dinners. Junior High Youth Group is led by trained adult volunteer Dallas Rising, Dylan Bijnagte, Sherry Merriam, and Michael Merriam, and supported by Allison Connelly-Vetter. These gatherings include time for checking in, playing games, learning new skills, service projects, fun activities, and exploring the big questions of life, all while deepening relationships with peers. There is no membership requirement or Sunday morning attendance requirement. Bring a friend or a neighbor—all are welcome!
Please email Allison (allison [at] firstuniv.org) with any questions, suggestions, or to express your excitement regarding Junior High Youth Group.
Our Whole Lives Sexuality (OWL)
Details to come.
Youth in 6th-8th grades are invited to join our Middle School Youth Group, which meets twice a month from 7-8:15 p.m. on most second and fourth Wednesdays (the second Wednesday is immediately following Community Dinners).
These gatherings are led by trained adults and include time for checking in, playing games, learning new skills, service projects, fun activities, and exploring the big questions of life, all while deepening relationships with peers. There is no membership requirement or Sunday morning attendance requirement. Bring a friend or a neighbor—all are welcome!
Please email Allison (allison [at] firstuniv.org) with any questions or for more information.
Coming of Age
9th graders participate in a capstone Religious Education class common in UU churches, called Coming of Age (COA). Together, they build a religious community to hold their deep dive into core theological questions, exploring their beliefs about what gives life meaning, what they value and trust, what a “good” life looks like, and who they are called to be in the world. A variety of experiences — from retreats to workshops, from group discussions to conversations with mentors and ministers — are designed to help our young people name and claim their values and religious identities. The year culminates with a celebratory worship service in which our COA youth share a few of their experiences and learnings from the year with the congregation.
Coming of Age meets during the 9 a.m. service only.
9th Graders are also encouraged to participate in the
Grades 9-12
Youth in 9th-12th grades are invited to join our High School Youth Group. This youth group meets on Sunday mornings when Religious Education is offered during the 11 a.m. service only. This group also meets on Wednesday evenings twice a month from 7-8:15 p.m. on most second and fourth Wednesdays (the second Wednesday is immediately following Community Dinners).
These gatherings are led by trained adults and include time for checking in, playing games, learning new skills, service projects, fun activities, and exploring the big questions of life, all while deepening relationships with peers. Bring a friend or a neighbor—all are welcome!
Please email Allison (allison [at] firstuniv.org) with any questions or for more information.
Optional – Senior High OWL
Details to come.