Let’s Strengthen our Children Through Love and Acceptance.

UUUC’s Religious Education strives to have age appropriate programing for children and youth year-round, offering a variety of activities. Families gather together for short programing on Sundays and then the children leave with their teachers. Our program goals include:

• To help our children develop their spiritual curiosity;

• To nurture spiritual growth;

• To provide age related content to introduce personal values based on the 7 UU Principles.

• To create activities where children feel welcome, included, safe, loved, and an integral part of our community.

Kids’ Principles are a way of articulating our 7 UU Principles in simpler language. Here’s the way the Tapestry of Faith children’s programs describe them:

We believe that each and every person is important.

We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.

We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.

We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.

We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.

We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.

Live with Purpose

(Also Known As ‘Chalice Circles’), Is A Vital Part Of Many Unitarian Universalist(UU) Congregations. Groups Of 10-12 People Meet Regularly, Usually Monthly, To Reflect On And Discuss Significant Life Topics.

Whatever The Topic The Conversation Is Respectful And Caring And Leads To Greater Understanding. In Each Session, Facilitated By A Member Of The Congregation, All Participants Have The Opportunity To Share Their Perspectives, Tell Their Stories, And Listen Deeply. The Time Together Is Structured: Groups Begin And End With Centering Readings And Often Include Times For Quiet Reflection As Well As Sharing.

Small Groups Are Great Places To Get To Know Other People And To Get To Know Yourself. Over Time, Participants Build Deep Connections With One Another, With The Congregation, And With The Sacred. Some Groups Stay Together For Years Supporting Each Other In Many Ways.

Unitarian Universalists today have many different interpretations of the flaming chalice, including the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope. We light a flaming chalice to create sacred space for worship, prayer, meditation, and singing.

A flame within a chalice is the primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice during their in-gatherings, worship services and feature the Chalice symbol prominently. We begin our services with the lighting of our unique Chalice.

The Chalice and the flame were first brought together as a Unitarian symbol by Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist. He worked with the Unitarian service committee in World War II. To Hans, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love.

Our very own UUU Chalice was created from copper in the 1960’s by Ted Gordon (1930-2002). Ted was a metal sculptor out of Glide area. He was a member of the original UUU fellowship and he shared this creative concept with the other members.

Ted’s intent was to make a bowl that reflects light symbolizing the things we know. Yet leaving holes, and openings to symbolize there are things we have yet to learn. His point was, we don’t know all the truths.

Jacie Pratt states, “If we believe the same thing today that we believed 40 years ago, we’re not thinking or paying attention. Ours is a dynamic system of belief that allows/requires evolution”.

We thank Ted Gordon for his artistry and insight, Jacie Pratt and Phyllis Zegers for sharing this UUU History.

• Words Of Welcome

• Lighting A Flaming Chalice, The Symbol Of Our Faith

• A Multigenerational Segment, Such As A “Story For All Ages” Or Singing

• An Offering, Where Each Week We Collect Food For The Fish Food Pantry And We Also Collect An Offering For The Ongoing Work Of The Congregation.

• Music, Both Instrumental And Vocal And In A Variety Of Styles

• A Time For Lifting Up The Joys And Sorrows Of The Congregation

• A Meditation Or Prayer

• Readings—Ancient And Contemporary

• A Sermon Given By Our Minister, A Guest Speaker, Or A Member Of The Congregation

• From Time To Time, Worships Incorporate Holiday Celebrations, Multigenerational Plays And Pageants, Longer Musical Performances, Birthday Declarations, Child Dedications, And Coming-Of-Age Ceremonies.

• We Offer Childcare And Religious Education For Children During The Sunday Service.