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DRE Statement
Written by Terri Albrecht-Schmitt   
Monday, 18 August 2008 09:09

2008 – 2009 AUUF RE Program Statement

by Terri Albrecht-Schmitt

DRE Statement: As DRE for the AUUF, I will maintain the quality of RE for all participants and will strive to increase it as I am able. I am a facilitator of the Religious Education service for AUUF, and as such I intend to increase the numbers of those helping in some manner to better integrate the adults and children into a multigenerational community of faith.

Goals for the RE program:

* Maintain or increase the quality of RE classes

* Serve as a liaison between parents and teachers, kids and AUUF members, etc

* Provide leadership and assistance as needed for the teachers and kids

* Develop a rotational program of curricula that can be maintained for years to come

 

Objectives for the kids:

* Create a community of faith development for all the ages together

* Have them grow in understanding of what it means to be a UU

* Provide enough spiritual and religious essence to the program that graduates of it will have a “rock of faith” as young adults to rely on

 

Objectives for the teachers:

* See that they are being supported enough to have their own faith development occur

* Increase awareness in AUUF about the need for RE involvement

* Foster an environment where teacher and learner are both nurturers of UU beliefs and ritual

 
RE Parents Letter
Written by Terri Albrecht-Schmitt   
Sunday, 17 August 2008 23:50

Friday, August 8, 2008

Dear Parents,

I am excited to write to you about the upcoming Religious Education year! We have another great theme, “Because we are UU”. This message will help the children in our church better understand their religion and allow them to develop their own spirituality.

We will be adding depth to the already great RE program, by adding special RE days in which all the children come together to study and celebrate a particular day. We will also have “RE for All Ages”. Please mark these days on your calendar. People of any age are invited to participate in a fellowship-wide RE activity. The first of these is International Day of Peace, September 21st. This is also the first day of RE for the 2008 – 2009 RE year. Amy Kaiser will be leading us in making pinwheels for peace and then we will plant them together in front of our church building.

I strongly encourage all of you to make a commitment to bring your kids to RE every Sunday. The consistency is important for them to build a relationship with the dedicated teachers that we have. They will gain a greater sense of themselves and will become an integral part of a caring community that will help them grow in many ways. Also the children get a better chance to know each other and it helps the teachers in planning their lessons.

There is a change of time for RE this year. We will begin at 11:15 am and will finish at 12:15 pm. With this longer time, we will cover our topics more fully. For preschoolers, the session will end at noon, however.

RE for All Ages Sundays:

September 21, 2008 International Day of Peace

April 19, 2009 (before Earth Day)

RE Together Sundays:

January 18, 2009 (MLK Sunday)

April 12, 2009 (Easter Egg Hunt)

February 8, 2009 (Valentine’s Express)

Please come to a parent orientation meeting on Sunday, August 31, 2008 in the Busch Center. We will begin at 9:15 am and end before the service starts. Breakfast will be provided! We will cover some important topics, as well as address any questions or concerns you may have. Don’t worry childcare will be provided. Please let me know if you will need childcare.

Registration this year will take place in several ways. The traditional and tasty Sundae Sunday will be on September 7th (following Ingathering). There will be early registration during the August 31st meeting. Also, we will have the registration form available on AUUF’s website.

We are always interested in parental volunteers. Consider being a guest in a classroom sharing your talents. If you would like to stay behind the scenes, we need RE Elves to help us with various tasks such as cutting, photocopying, and more! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Warmest Regards,

Terri Albrecht-Schmitt

Director of Religious Education

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Religious Education
Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 02 January 2008 20:09

RE

 

Community worship is an important component of our religious experiences. Our children participate in worship services every Sunday. Children join the congregation for the Chalice lighting, a song or two,"Joys and Concerns" and the offertory. After which there is a children's story read or told by a member of the fellowship, following that there is a period of supervised free play while the service continues. This portion typically last 20-30 minutes. Religious Education (R.E.) classes for children are offered following the service. Classes are grouped by age and use age-appropriate curriculum incorporating the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes.

R.E. classes are designed primarily for children to enjoy, and to help them develop a sense of individual worth, a regard and respect for each person's uniqueness, and a knowledge and reverence for the beauty and diversity in the world. In our classes we include material on ethics, values, nature, cultures, Judeo-Christian heritage, world religions, and Unitarian Universalist history.

If you want more information about the children's R.E. program contact the R.E. directors. They welcome the opportunity to discuss the curriculum and programs with you. 


AUUF RE Mission Statement (adopted xx, 20xx)

The Religious Education Program of the AUUF is dedicated to fostering a sense of wholeness in our children and youth and enriching their spiritual lives as they explore faith traditions and religious and ethical questions within a supportive UU community. Guided by the AUUF Mission Statement and the UUA principles, and leading by example, those involved with the RE program empower young people to respect the inherent worth and dignity of themselves and others, search for individual spiritual meaning, make responsible decisions, and understand what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist in a world of religious diversity.  We strengthen the bonds between AUUF young people and adults, and help our children and youth understand the importance of working with the larger community to care for the earth and to bring about a safe and just world.