Lifespan Religious Education » Children and Youth

Welcome to Religious Education for Children and Youth

Children and youth are the future of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Flagstaff and our liberal religious movement. UUFF offers a spiritually nurturing and intellectually stimulating religious education ministry for all children and youth because we hope to grow lifelong Unitarian Universalists.

Children and youth who participate in religious education at UUFF are invited to ask deep and meaningful questions, participate fully in spiritual community, and embrace religious diversity. They are encouraged to explore the living tradition of Unitarian Universalism, our Jewish-Christian heritage, and religions and philosophies from around the globe, while developing their own unique beliefs. Our dedicated volunteer teachers seek to make religious education safe, personally empowering, and FUN!

From September through May our teachers use Unitarian Universalist education resources to guide the Sunday morning religious learning of preschoolers and elementary-age children. We develop the themes of mystery, self, church, and world through hands-on, experiential learning in a classroom setting. During the summer months children explore a special theme like the world’s cultures and religions or creativity in a camp-like setting.

Each June our Junior High youth begin to explore Coming of Age as a Unitarian Universalist, first serving as youth leaders for children’s summer religious education and attending district summer camp. In September youth begin meeting for Coming of Age religious education on Sunday mornings and participating in a social action project. The year concludes with a worship service to honor our youth transitioning to high school.

Our high school youth group meets twice monthly for social activities and social action.

Elementary children and youth also participate actively in monthly Intergenerational worship, UU family gatherings, Random Acts of Kindness club activities, leadership development opportunities, and Pacific Southwest District camps and conferences.

UUFF also offers special religious education offerings each year. These include Our Whole Lives Lifespan Sexuality Education program for grades K-1, 4-6 and junior and senior high youth and Chalice Camp, a UU half-day camp for children ages 6-10.

Each of these experiences shapes our holistic religious education ministry for young UUs. Please checkout our Event Calendar and the Peaks Newsletter for current religious education events.

To learn more about the LRE Programs for Children and Youth, see our Children and Youth Programs page.

What happens on Sunday morning?

9:15 a.m. Worship begins. Children are present in the sanctuary with their families through the Intergenerational Sharing.
9:30 a.m. Preschool and elementary children are sung from the sanctuary to religious education classrooms with their teachers and peers. Children under 2 remain with parents in service, in foyer of church listening to service via speaker, or participating in the preschool group with a parent.
10:15 Worship service concludes.
10:30 a.m. Religious education classes conclude and children are released to their parents.

Participation and Safety

To participate in religious education parents/guardians complete a registration form for their children providing information about medical conditions, allergies and other special needs. Registration forms are available from the Director of Religious Education on Sunday mornings.

Your child’s safety and well-being are very important to us, and we do our best to maintain a healthy, safe learning environment. Parents are asked to remain on-site during the entire religious education hour. Please have your child dress for action and play. Ill children need to stay home where they can be nurtured and cared for.

We ensure that religious education volunteers are carefully selected and screened, and receive training on respectful, developmentally appropriate interaction with children and youth as mandated by our UUFF Child and Youth Protection Policy. They also adhere to the UUFF and PSWD District Code of Ethics for Adults and Older Youth in Leadership Roles with Children and Youth.