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 new monthly newsletter for families here!

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 new church guidelines approved in October 2021, all adult Faith Formation volunteers working with children are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19.


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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.  


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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 10

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 a.m. Room 129        

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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.


Middle School - Ages 11-14

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 124

The Middle School class will be following the Soul Matters themes and curriculum. Attending the Worship service is central to our class as we will be continuing the discussion and themes from service during our class time. 

During this class time, we will utilize games, exploratory questions, stories, open conversations, meditation and art, among other tools, to thoroughly examine and engage with our monthly theme while focusing on community building and fun. 

We are committed to engaging the whole person; body, mind, heart, soul and imagination. Everyone learns in a different way, and focusing on various ways to interact with our theme will help to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to both learn and thrive. 

Connections are vital at every age, but more so at this tender time in a young person’s life; our classes are designed to help facilitate trust and bonding among the class members. Our goal is to start connections that will turn into lifelong friendships.

The early teen years are fraught with both challenges and growth opportunities. No one can give our Middle Schoolers all the answers, but the aim of this class is to give them tools to assist them in the journey into adulthood.


Senior High - Grades 9-12 

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.    Room 128

The curriculum for 2023-2024 has a focus on personal growth, using the Soul Matters curriculum for Coming of Age. Topics include activities and discussions concerning what has been formative in making us who we are, who we are today, and who we will become. The aim is to help the youth develop a better understanding of themselves, and to be thoughtful, intentional, and creative in who they would like to become as they grow toward adulthood. Through reflection, our youth are empowered to make choices in their lives that are aligned with their values and their understanding of who they are and intend to be. The group also spends time talking about things happening in their lives and the broader world/community. 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 Tamale Sales.