Unitarian Universalist Church
of Athens and Sheshequin

 

About Us | Newcomers | Children & Youth | News & Events | Get Involved | Contact Us |

Home

What is Religion?

"The function of the church is rather to teach us how to put religious and ethical qualities into all kinds of experience." Sophia Lyon Fahs

Our Children and Youth RE Programs

In children and youth religious education classes, we provide children a grounding in the values represented in the Statement of Principles adopted by congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

We believe:

- That each and every person is important;
- That all people should be treated fairly;
- That our churches are places where all people are accepted and where we keep learning together;
- That each person must be free to search for what is true and right in lfie;
- That everyone should have a vote about things that concern them;
- In working for a peaceful, fair, and free world;
- In caring for our planet earth

Children participate in the beginning of the service. They go to their classes after the service segment called "Story for Children of All Ages."

From September through June, Sunday School is held at the Athens building. In 2008, for the first time, we will have Sunday School in the summer. Sunday School in July and August will be at the historic Sheshequin Church building on Sheshequin Road in Athens Township.

Our Religious Education Philosophy

We want our children to be part of an extended community where they feel welcome, are valued for the gifts they bring and the people they are. This is a community where questioning the mysteries of life is valued.

We want our children to feel part of the Unitarian Universalist tradition. Free thinking, questioning, and personal discovery, we want our children to articulate what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and be proud that they are part of this liberal faith.

We want our children to know other religious faiths and to celebrate the ideas brought to the world by other cultures and religions. We want them to develop tolerance for ideas and people. We want them to know that they could use ideas from other faith traditions and blend them into a personal theology. This is a religion that allows for personal growth and diversity.

We want our children to develop social consciousness and responsbility. We want them to feel they can make a difference in this world. We want them to know that there are people and causes out in the world that cry out for assistance and that they can improve lives by leaving their own marks on the world.

We want our children to have a place to think and talk about life's issues - getting along with others, death, peace and war, sexuality and violence. We want to give them a safe forum in which to explore ideas and to get input.

We want our children to listen to different ideas of spirituality and develop their own ideas and feelings about spirituality.