2023-2024 Classes for Children and Youth

Welcome to the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists Religious Education Program! 

Our aim is to provide a safe, welcoming, fun learning environment for everyone, acknowledging that we are all teachers and we are all learners.

One of our goals is to host events that will decrease barriers and increase likelihood of fun. We believe in the importance of fun, joy, and laughter.

We offer age-appropriate religious education classes during the service here at Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists. Our awesome volunteer teaching teams prepare sessions for the children, and together we explore our Unitarian Universalist faith.

Spring 2024 Class Schedule

Here are the details for Spring 2024, starting on January 7:

  • Sunday Service: 10:00-11:00 am
  • Religious Education Classes: 10:20-11:20 am
  • Classes Offered on Sunday:
    • Preschool (ages 3-5): The Rainbow Connection
    • Lower Elementary (grades 1-3): Soul Matters
    • Upper Elementary and Middle School (grades 4-8): Soul Matters
    • High School (grades 9-12): Soul Matters

For Soul Matters, this year’s overarching frame is The Gifts of Our Faith. We’ll focus on ten beloved UU values and explore their potential to shape us and, in turn, shape the world. We will get at such questions as: How do these values offer us both challenge and comfort? What might it mean to place them at the center of our living and loving? What promise do they hold for us individually as well as collectively?

It’s exciting to know that our wider faith community also will be exploring these themes. As part of our UUA’s Article II Commission work, a proposed new statement of UUA purposes and values has been developed. Our 2023-24 Soul Matters themes were created with that proposal in mind in the hope of supporting subscribing UU congregations as they do the sacred work of discerning which of our beloved UU values will best guide our faith as we engage today’s world. Click HERE to read a bit more about the strategies we are using in our RE packets to engage our RE children and families with the proposed new values and inspirations statement.

Join us!

Soul Matters 2023 – 2024 Themes

September: Welcome
October: Heritage
November: Generosity
December: Mystery
January: Liberating Love
February: Justice & Equity
March: Transformation
April: Interdependence
May: Pluralism
June: Renewal

Religious Education Offerings for Families

Preschool (Ages 3-5)
The Rainbow Connection

A central concept of Unitarian Universalism is the seven Principles that all congregations affirm and promote. These Principles are considered to be strong values and moral guides that each of us may use to guide our lives.

The Rainbow Connection uses storybooks for preschoolers to discuss those values inherent in the Principles and in Unitarian Universalism. Four sessions are devoted to each Principle, helping preschoolers to explore the values that unite us as UUs.

At the preschool age, children begin to understand the concepts of justice and fairness and begin to learn about what is “right” and “wrong,” or “beneficial” and “not beneficial.” Storybooks are chosen to help illustrate the values supported by parents.

Because socialization and comfort are important goals for this age, each class contains a fun craft project, time for songs and games, and time for free play with friends.

Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3) & Upper Elementary/Middle School (Grades 4-8)
Soul Matters

For Soul Matters, this year’s overarching frame is The Gifts of Our Faith. We’ll focus on ten beloved UU values and explore their potential to shape us and, in turn, shape the world. We will get at such questions as: How do these values offer us both challenge and comfort? What might it mean to place them at the center of our living and loving? What promise do they hold for us individually as well as collectively?

We’ll read stories, make crafts, and have a ton of fun together. We’ll continue to have treasures from the treasure box for the younger children, and look forward to the fun!

Teen/High School Room

High School (Grades 9-12)
Soul Matters

The teens explore their Unitarian Universalist faith together with their group facilitators. This welcoming, inclusive group explores our Unitarian Universalist faith through the lenses of deep listening and personal reflections on our Sources. Join us!

Unitarian Universalism draws from many Sources, among them:

  • Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life
  • Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions, which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers