Religious Education - first unitarian church of chicago

Choosing Your Child's Religious Education Program

Choosing your child’s religious education program is an important decision, just as important as choosing your own religious home. Yet making that decision can be confusing. What should you look for? Where will your child be happy, safe, and learning how to be a loving, spiritually literate person?

At First Unitarian, we take children’s spiritual, emotional, and social development seriously. We offer age-appropriate classes that run during or directly after our worship services. In their classes children have an opportunity for age appropriate worship and explore themes such as Unitarian Universalist identity, world religions, our Jewish and Christian heritage and social justice. This year we are learning using an innovative curriculum developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association called Tapestry of Faith. Focusing on spiritual growth and developing community while fostering Unitarian Universalist identity this curriculum provides our children the context in which to explore their developing faith.

Babies and toddlers are cared for during services by Carolyn Sander, an experienced and trusted child care provider, along with a volunteer assistant. Parents are welcome to leave their small children or stay with them until they are comfortable being on their own. The nursery is wired so that adults can hear the service while they are with their little ones.

In addition to our regular classes, we have many special multigenerational events throughout the year that serve to enhance the experience of each child. Important yearly events include a Halloween party for all ages, Thanksgiving Seder, holiday pageant, intergenerational Kwanzaa service, Easter egg hunt, and many others.

All of us at First Unitarian hope that you will find this to be a warm and inviting place for your whole family!

For more information, contact Virginia LeBeau, our Director of Religious Education. She can be reached online at dre.firstu @gmail.com, or at the church office, (773) 324-4100 x15.

Religious Education Curricula for Fall 2011

Chalice Children (preschool and kindergarten)

Picture Book UU
A UU journey through children’s stories by Katie Covey

Each week a wonderful and engaging children’s picture book forms the basis of the session as young children explore our UU principles, values and faith, supporting their spiritual growth and identity. Combined with a focus on creating a caring and compassionate community where all are welcome, this program will delight our four through six year olds.

Explorers (first through second grade)

Love Surrounds Us
by Rev. Lynn Kerr and Christy Olson

This program concentrates on the communities that are most recognizable to our early elementary aged children - their Beloved Communities of family/home, school, and neighborhood. Based in our seven principles, the children are encouraged to wonder about their world and faith and engage in ways to live their values.

Seekers (third through fifth grade)

Spirit of Adventure
by Katie Covey

Older elementary students will focus on learning and exploring through challenge, adventure and physical movement. While many traditional programs focus on crafts and discussion, this one engages children in a new and exiting way while still based in our UU principles and faith.

Junior Youth (sixth through eight grade)

Compass Points
by Gaia Brown

A full year program that focuses on exploring themselves, their beliefs, their UU faith, their relationships with others and the world. Compass Points will lead its adolescent participants on a year long spiritual journey during which they will have opportunities to explore their feelings as they enter adolescence, articulate and refine their belief systems, and make decisions based on their values.

Senior Youth (ninth through twelfth grade)

Youth Group

Our senior youth are empowered to take responsibility for their group and their time together under the co-leadership of their adult advisors. Exploration of personal faith, social action, and shared community are often the focus.

Our Whole Lives (OWL)

Open to grades eight through ten, parent orientation and pre-registration required

This widely used UU relationship and sexuality curriculum is grounded in a holistic view of youth’s faith development. This year-long curriculum helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality and human development. This group will be meeting in conjunction with other area UU Churches and will take place one Saturday per month.

Director Virginia LeBeau

Virginia LeBeau enthusiastically began her service to First Unitarian Church as Director of Religious Education in August of 2010. She has primary responsibility for the religious education program for children and youth, including curriculum, development, and administration, and working in close cooperation with the Senior Minister and the Religious Education Council.

Virginia was raised Unitarian Universalist in her hometown of Moscow, Idaho. She was active in the congregation’s religious education programs throughout her childhood and youth and served as a nursery attendant during high school.

While attending the University of Idaho her service to the Moscow congregation continued as she worked as the Religious Education Assistant. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in child development, Virginia accepted the position of Director of Religious Education and had the joyful experience of serving the congregation in which she was raised for three years.

Virginia came to Chicago in order to attend graduate school at Erikson Institute. She completed her program this spring, graduating with a Master of Science in child development, administration emphasis. She has fallen in love with Chicago’s vibrant, diverse nature and lives here with her husband.