Grand Valley UU Children's Religious Education (RE)
We offer children's programming each Sunday in a combined preK-5th grade class at 10:30am. Teachers lead classes drawing from the Soul Matters curriculum while making use of creative activities including music, art, theater, and story. The Soul Matters curriculum presents the same themes the adults engage in during service in an age-appropriate format. Our classes and services are designed to foster community, empathy, and a sense of social responsibility among our children and youth.
Children’s Religious Education
April 2024 - The Month of Interdependence
April 7
Interdependence - What is it? In this session, we explore what interdependence means for us as Unitarian Universalists, the difference between independence and interdependence, and how our faith teaches us and lifts up the idea that we can’t go it alone. April 21 Caring for the web of Creation In this session, we explore how The Gift of Interdependence and Earth Day are both reminders that we are called to care for our planet, its natural resources, and the life and nature that inhabit it. |
April 14
The Web of Community - How we nurture it and it nurtures us In this session, using the metaphor of “pouring, “we explore how our interdependence with our communities is such a vital part of our community. Kids will explore the many different ways we can contribute and pour ourselves into our church communities and how our communities pour their support, wisdom, concern into us, filling up our cups. In other words, we can find nurturing and comfort in our church communities and how we can nurture it back. April 28 How the Web of Creation Cares for Us We have explored the importance of caring for the earth and nature, now in this session, we explore how our Earth and the web of creatures and creation take care of us! Children will have the opportunity to explore how nature is a gift and how being in it and connected to it allows us to live, thrive, and feel cared for. |
A Message from Maya Kraushaar, Director of Programming & Community Outreach
I am excited to be able to delve into the theme of Interdependence with our youth this month. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part would be my favorite of our 7 Principles if I had to choose. The kids in our program know this well, as we talk about it a lot and they too never seem to tire from its message.
Dedicating a full month to this concept will allow us to branch off into three main focuses: community, creatures, and creations, and how we have a give-and-take relationship with them all.
The first Sunday in April will focus on what interdependence means using games to emphasize that we are not “in it alone.” The second Sunday will offer kids a chance to explore how communities, in general, are an excellent source of nurturing. Through stories and activities, we’ll see how our UU community offers support and wisdom. Our third and fourth sessions will work together to highlight first how we can care for and are connected to the earth, nature, and all its creatures and creations, and then how earth, nature, and all its creatures and creations care for and make our lives better.
The goal this month is to have fun working together in a way that helps kids explore what interdependence means for us, the difference between independence and interdependence, and how honoring this bond teaches us that we are all connected.
With gratitude,
Maya
Dedicating a full month to this concept will allow us to branch off into three main focuses: community, creatures, and creations, and how we have a give-and-take relationship with them all.
The first Sunday in April will focus on what interdependence means using games to emphasize that we are not “in it alone.” The second Sunday will offer kids a chance to explore how communities, in general, are an excellent source of nurturing. Through stories and activities, we’ll see how our UU community offers support and wisdom. Our third and fourth sessions will work together to highlight first how we can care for and are connected to the earth, nature, and all its creatures and creations, and then how earth, nature, and all its creatures and creations care for and make our lives better.
The goal this month is to have fun working together in a way that helps kids explore what interdependence means for us, the difference between independence and interdependence, and how honoring this bond teaches us that we are all connected.
With gratitude,
Maya
Thank you volunteers!
A big thank you to our incredible teachers! Volunteers make our RE program fantastic!