Grow in Faith: Faith Formation for Children & Youth
Faith Formation Hour: Sundays, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Faith Formation is the lifetime process of growing into our fullness as spiritual and ethical human beings. Faith Formation occurs as we face life’s Big Questions...”What happens when we die? What is my purpose in life? How should I live? Who is my neighbor? How do I know what to believe?” As Unitarian Universalists, we do not provide the answers; we provide tools for seeking personal answers. We also provide companions for the journey. Faith Formation happens through meaningful relationships. ORUUC intentionally nurtures this formation in age-appropriate ways, through small groups that learn, serve, and care together. We also provide guidance and support for parents, who are always their children’s foremost teachers of faith formation.
All groups, Kindergarten and older, meet during Faith Formation hour. The Nursery and Preschool are open during both worship & faith formation hour.
Check out our monthly newsletter for families here!
Check out our Youth Faith Formation calendar HERE to find out what’s happening in the program throughout the school year.
Youth Faith Formation Registration
Faith Formation for Children and Youth is a cooperative venture. Please complete a Youth Faith Formation Registration Form by your third visit. For more information on Faith Formation Volunteer Opportunities please email our Director of Faith Formation, Christine Rehder, here.
Faith Formation Leaders
All adult leaders have been active at ORUUC for at least a year and have been recommended by the Youth Faith Formation Staff. All leaders must complete an application, provide references, and agree to adhere to all Safety Policies of the church. Per church guidelines approved in October 2021, all adult Faith Formation volunteers working with children are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Nursery - Birth to 3 years
9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 127
Susan Rosenbaum, Nursery Coordinator, and long-time church member, capably and lovingly cares for our tiniest ones, with the help of a weekly nursery assistant.
We honor each family’s readiness to separate. Parents are welcome to remain in the nursery with their children. Our aim is to help the children get comfortable enough for the parents to leave when they are ready.
On a typical Sunday, we play with toys, read books, sing songs, and have a snack—usually Goldfish and Veggie Straws.
When leaving children, please take time to help them feel secure. Bring special items that may ease the separation. Also, bring diapers, extra clothing, and bottles as needed (label everything, please.) Let the caregivers know where you will be in the church building and when you will return.
Preschool - 3 to 5 years
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 123
Preschoolers will spend the Worship Hour in the Nursery with Ms. Susan. During the Faith Formation Hour, children move into the Preschool room where a Class Leader and an assistant will introduce children to UU rituals and symbols. Children will also begin to learn UU values and build a faith community. Group goals are to be safe, have fun, make friends, and learn.
Spirit Play - Ages 5 to 8 (approx.)
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 129
Spirit Play develops each child’s innate spirituality within the nurturing and broad-minded community that is the Unitarian Universalist faith.
Children learn narratives of the history, religion, and shared human experiences that shape our world. A trained Storyteller tells these stories, using props and vivid language.
The weekly Story is followed by Wondering—open-ended questions about the story’s meaning & how it pertains to the children’s lives.
During Work, children may choose to play with the story props or choose from a variety of art and other open-ended materials to derive their own meaning from the stories.
The hour concludes with Feast and Blessing, a time to share a small snack, each other’s company, and best wishes for the week ahead.
NEW! Faith Foundations - Ages 9 to 12 (approx.)
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 124
Faith Foundations is the bridge between our Spirit Play and Crossing Paths groups. Children in Grades 4-6 will examine four dimensions of major world faiths as identified in the Crossing Paths curriculum: Central Spiritual Practices, Core Stories, Holy Days and Key Figures, and Distinctive Music. The hour will include lesson time, group reflection with discussion and games, and individual reflection with art materials, Lego, and other building materials.
Middle School - Ages 13 to 15 (approx.)
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 126
The Middle School group is thrilled to be able to continue exploring different religions with the Crossing Paths curriculum. We will finish this curriculum during the 2026-27 school year. The group will focus on shared values and feelings in different religions, in addition to how these religions are shaped by different cultures. We will have four to six field trips to various houses of worship again this year. This year, we will be focusing on Islam, Quaker, Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism, and Humanism. We will be utilizing the tools and support offered by the Crossing Paths curriculum and inviting congregants whom have knowledge and expertise in these religions to come and share with our group. We will rely on deep discussions to grow together and develop insights not only on other religions, but our own beliefs and our UU faith.
Senior High - Ages 16 to 18 (approx.)
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 128
For the 2026-27 year, High School Faith Formation will adopt a “Choose Your Own Adventure” model for engaging the youth, focusing on the various opportunities that youth have to engage with the congregation, form friendships, and find people with mutual interests. This focus includes how we are part of the congregation individually, both at ORUUC and in the wider community, and as a group, during Faith Formation hour and in the wider UU world. We will continue to foster identity, growth, community, and a deepening of our UU values. As always, our first goal is to have a space where youth can be themselves and be supported. This requires a careful balance of planning and spontaneity as we plan activities, but remain responsive to the needs of the youth in the room. We’ll discuss events happening in the world and locally, as it affects them, and hold space when necessary, all from the source of our UU faith.
Fundraising is an important and ongoing process in this group; the youth bond and raise money for biannual trips through congregational lunches, one-off fundraisers, and our annual holiday fundraiser.
Multigenerational Events
ORUUC has numerous Multigenerational Events throughout the year. These events are designed to bring all members of our church together in a shared experience or goal. They provide time together in a way that allows us to interact with members of our community with whom we might not normally be able to spend time. Events are welcoming to all and promote our shared values of generosity and interdependence.