Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma Religious Education

To read weekly updates from Marlene Abel, Director of Religious Education, see the UUP Blog.

Parable of the talents, featuring UUP's kids with Rev. Ben Kocs-Meyers

Mission Statement For Religious Education at UUP

We will provide our children with opportunities to grow spiritually, develop a sense of personal and social responsibility, and experience joy as integral members of a loving Unitarian Universalist community. Our curriculum will balance head and heart by providing intellectual stimulation while nurturing the spirit.

How We Fulfill Our Mission

  • Teaching about the world's religions, including our own
  • Fostering social responsibility and personal growth by participation in service projects for our community and outside groups
  • Providing instruction in UU principles and practices to assist children and youth in forming their own belief system
  • Ensuring a safe learning environment
  • Providing activities and rituals
  • Integrating our children into our church community and the greater UU denomination
  • Providing knowledge of UU history to help children build confidence in their own UU identity.

Description of Philosophy

Our religious education program for children and youth teaches children ages 3 to 18 about our Unitarian Universalist identity, sources of inspiration and history; issues of peace and social justice; and the interdependent web of nature. Our children and youth will have opportunities to put UU principles into action through service projects. We will hold social events to build intergenerational community. Participation in our Religion Education program will help children and youth become self-assured, confident adults with a strong sense of their own religious identity.

UUP has committed ourselves to developing a religious community that actively involves children. Our kids are involved with our worship service until about one-third of the way through, when we sing them out to their classes:
(sung to the tune of Amazing Grace)

We wish for you an open heart,
also a questing mind;
so you may know how others live
and cherish the divine.

Nice coloring

Our current religious education (RE) curriculum are based on three stated core beliefs, which fit squarely with the Seven Principles to which Unitarian Universalists subscribe. The three core beliefs are:

  • That all children are inherently valuable without regard to gender, race, religion, family background, economic status, appearance, abilities, health, possessions or any other factor;
  • That all children have the right to feel good about themselves exactly as they are;
  • That a child's value is unconditional. Nothing the child does, says or chooses can change that.
The curriculum focuses on building self-esteem and self-awareness (especially in the areas of dealing with emotions) and healthy communication skills. The current age range of participating children is 4 -13 -- the programs are geared to the ages of the children. There are now 3 classes based upon age, as well as a nursery for infants.

Teams of UUP parents facilitate the religious education classes, and visitors (children and parents alike!) are welcome to attend. Healthy snacks are provided along with a nurturing, affirming environment.

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For more information, please contact: uupetaluma at gmail dot com
For directions to our services in downtown Petaluma, click here: Directions.