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!
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 10
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 a.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.
Middle School - Ages 11-14
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 124
This year, the Middle School group is excited to explore and experience different religions through the Soul Matters Crossing Paths curriculum. We will be focusing on shared values and feelings in other religions, in addition to how these religions are shaped by different cultures. We are planning on four to six field trips to various houses of worship in the local area to help us understand these religions and cultures more. We will also be utilizing tools provided by the Soul Matters curriculum, and inviting congregants that have knowledge and expertise in different religions to come and share with our group. We will rely on deep discussions to grow together and develop insights to not only other religions, but our own beliefs and our UU faith.
Senior High - Grades 9-12
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Room 128
For the 2025-26 year, high school faith formation will continue to work with the Soul Matters curriculum 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. Although there is no trip planned this year, fundraising this year is an important component of maintaining our biannual trip schedule.
New this year—Soulful Home Parenting Group!
Each week, a different member of the Youth Faith Formation Staff will be in Room 126 during 2nd Hour to discuss ways to integrate Faith Formation into your home and daily lives. Each month begins with Christine Rehder, Director of Faith Formation, introducing the monthly Soul Matters theme. In the following weeks of the month, our YFF Staff will incorporate the theme into discussions relevant to each age group. Parents of children and Youth of all ages are encouraged to come and share their wisdom and experience of every age.
Multigenerational Events
We have many 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 that we might not normally be able to spend time with. Events are welcoming to all and promote our shared values of generosity and interdependence.