First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

  605 Morewood Avenue
  Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2999
  412-621-8008

Religious Education

Jennifer Halperin, Children and Youth Ministries
The Religious Education Council

WELCOME TO OUR UU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

We view Unitarian Universalist religious education as a lifespan process of growth and learning wherein children, youth and adults develop their religious, social and ethical values. We learn through classes, worship, special events, and service projects. Our work and learning together stimulate us to find meaning in our experiences and relationships with one another within our church community.

Many parents seek a church experience that can give their children a sense of
belonging, meaning, and spiritual identity through their growing up years. We aim to provide a program which supports parents, children and youth in their religious quests. We strive to create a welcoming, stimulating and nurturing environment in which young people can develop beliefs, values, a sense of wonder, and the ability to begin to put beliefs and principles into action.

A sense of closeness with our church community comes with active participation in our programs, and makes learning and identification with Unitarian Universalist values a natural and comfortable process. Community membership is as much an element of our program as the Sunday School classes, worship, and special events. We welcome you to our community and look forward to being with you in growth and learning.

Classes at 9:30 and 11:00 on Sundays

We offer classes during both our 9:30 and 11:00 am Sunday services. At the 9:30 am service there are classes from preschool through 6th grade, and at the 11:00 am service there are preschool through Senior High classes. Classes at both services run concurrently with the service. Every Sunday at both 9:30 and 11:00 am children up to 7th grade attend the first part of the service with their families and are dismissed to class after 15-20 minutes.

Our Goals for Children and Youth

• To provide the experience of membership and participation in an active, loving, inclusive, ethical intergenerational community.
• To facilitate the development of each child as a religious thinker by fostering pride and confidence in her/his own thoughts.
• To teach about the values, beliefs and history our Unitarian Universalist movement, including our roots in Jewish and Christian teachings.
• To celebrate special holidays and life events together as a community, in the spirit of fun.
• To celebrate rites of passage, holidays during the year and life events as meaningful and important.
• To recognize and encourage the special gifts of every person.
  To affirm and model the value of diversity and difference within our church community.
• To offer opportunities for service to others to fulfill our responsibility to further the work of social justice, or a fair world for all.