Our Philosophy of Religious Education

"The great end in religious instruction
is not to stamp our minds on the
young, but to stir up their own;
Not to make them see with our eyes,
but to look inquiringly and steadily
with their own;
Not to give them a definite amount of
knowledge, but to inspire a fervent
love of truth...
Not to impose religion upon them in
the form of arbitrary rules, but to
awaken the conscience, the moral discernment...
In a word, the great end is to awaken the soul..."

The Rev. William Ellery Channing
1839

We seek to stimulate and guide our children in the development of ethical and spiritual values in their lives. Rather than indoctrinate, we strive to have them question and wonder about life's mysteries and quandaries. We teach respect for the common values of all religious traditions. We share with them the wisdom that comes out of different traditions and out of our shared experiences.  Read more about the goals we strive for in Religious Education.

Religious Education Information

We provide classes for our children all year long. From the second Sunday in September through May, we provide age appropriate Religious Education curricula during the service for children ages 2-18. Beginning Fall 2010, the Children's Religious Education curriculum participates in the theme-based ministry approach, the goal of which is to give all ages in the congregation a common reference point, a common language and a chance to explore a theme in ways that invite depth and build community.

There is an infant/toddler room staffed by CPR certified Aides for children under the age of two. (Childcare is also provided at many of our other church events.) Our Coordinator of Religious Education, Heidi Cameron, would be happy to provide detailed information about classes for specific ages and to register your children. Please feel free to contact Heidi via email, too.

The first Sunday in June is our special Religious Education Sunday. We highlight what our children and youth have learned in the last year and we thank our volunteers. We also have a Child Dedication for children who are new to our community. In this ritual, we recognize the gifts that each life brings and we recognize our responsibility for each child.

Our summer classes are more informal and are geared to a variety of ages. Each Sunday uses a different interactive approach to highlight our principles. Through story-telling, dance, art and music, our members join in religious exploration with our children.

If you are looking for an informal way to get to know other families, our annual camp-out is the perfect answer. We gather at a nearby campground on a weekend in August. We would love to see you around the campfire.