Religious Education

As a Welcoming Congregation, we actively welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people as full participants in the life of the church. We are committed to standing on the side of love in our congregational life and our advocacy in the larger community.

Your Support Is Appreciated

Our Church

Religious Education

Welcome!

We offer a variety of experiences to enrich the spiritual lives of children and youth. This year our classes explore sacred stories and wisdom from many faith traditions. We strive to help young people grow in their own spiritual awareness and practice, deepen their understanding and respect of our religiously diverse world, and live UU principles in daily life.

Our program includes the following elements:

We encourage parents to ask questions, visit classrooms, and participate in a variety of programs to support your own spiritual growth. We look forward to working with you to nurture the spiritual lives of our children!

General Information

Cooperative Program

There is no fee for participation in our religious education program. The program is supported through the annual operating budget of the church, so your generous pledge to the annual fund is requested.
The vitality of our program also depends on the involvement and support of many volunteers. When you register your child please let us know how you'd like to share your gifts with our community. Helping in the religious education program is a great way to get acquainted and learn more about our living faith.

Attendance

We appreciate diverse family schedules and commitments. We also ask that parents make a commitment to regular attendance (as possible within your family circumstances). Only with regular attendance may your child best connect with other students, and experience the full benefits of participation in this program and community.

Childcare

Free childcare for infants - age 2 is provided at every service, except Christmas Eve. We have a professional childcare provider with over 20 years of experience, who works with a team of dedicated volunteers to provide a safe and nurturing experience for our youngest members!

Information for Visitors

If you are visiting for the first time, please plan to arrive by 10:15, so one of our greeters may welcome you and walk you to your classroom. Classes begin at 10:30am and continue 15 minutes past the end of the worship service to allow parents time for fellowship and classes time to complete their work. To help ensure safety we ask that all children in grades 4 and younger be picked-up by a parent at their classroom; dismissal time is 11:45am. If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Religious Education, Colleen Vahey, re@ccuu.org; 847.359.8440 x4.

Library

We have an extension collection of books which are available for browsing or checkout in our RE library room. View our holdings online to view and search the collection

Worship

Worship is an important part of our religious education program, providing an opportunity for all ages to celebrate and explore the mysteries of life. Children and youth participate in several types of worship experiences:

Spirit Circle for All Ages - Join us the first Sunday of each month, 9:30-9:50am, for a new worship experience designed to touch the hearts and minds of all ages, followed by time for food and fellowship, 9:50-10:20am.
Intergenerational Services - several times each year children attend the full worship service in the Sanctuary; these services are led by our Director of Religious Education and are designed to welcome all ages; Thanksgiving -- Nov. 15; Winter Holidays --Dec. 20; Earth Day --April 18
Family Services - once each month children attend the first 20 min. of worship, then go to their RE classes
Spirit Circle & Classroom Ritual -- on remaining Sundays, children in Grades 1-4 attend a Spirit Circle service led by our Director of Religious Education, and all classes begin with an intentional time of centering and worship - lighting the chalice, singing, and sharing joys and concerns.

Children and Youth Education

Our Children and Youth Religious Education Program is designed to nurture our children to:

develop a positive self - image;
become part of an intergenerational religious community
form a Unitarian Universalist identity;
experience the values, traditions and celebrations which are part of our heritage and ongoing religious life;
explore the truths to be found in the teachings of world religions;
develop, articulate and live by their own religious values;
sense their interconnectedness with each other and with the universe;
practice stewardship of the earth and its resources; demonstrate social responsibility;
experience the joy and wonder of lifelong learning.

Classes for the 2009-10 church year

Chalice Children (infant - age 2)
Spirit Play (age 3 - Kindergarten)
Grades 1-2: Moral Tales & Picture Book of World Religions
Grades 3-4: Holidays and Holy Days
Grades 5-7: Neighboring Faiths
Grade 8: Coming of Age
Senior High Youth Group

Click here for detailed class descriptions

Registration
(click here to obtain registration form - PDF format)
(click here to obtain a permission form- PDF format)
(click here to obtain a permission form - Word format)

Registration takes place in September for new and returning RE students and for newcomers throughout the year. Please see our Religious Educator for a registration form. There is no fee for participation in our Religious Education program for children or youth. The program is supported through the annual operating budget of the church, so your pledge to the annual fund is encouraged.

Adult Involvement

Our Religious Education program is based on volunteer assistance. We need your help to make this successful. Consider offering your talents. We need teachers, librarians, assistants, event coordinators and helpers. When you register your student, please advise us what you are willing to offer.

Social Action

We believe social action is a vital part of learning. Each year our children and youth explore various social justice issues and engage in a number of service projects and activities. This year our young people will be invited to participate in:

Guest-at-Your-Table - to benefit the UU Service Committee
Palatine Township Holiday Gift program - providing holiday gifts to area families in need
Sleep-out-Saturday - supporting Journeys from PADS to Hope, helping area families in need of emergency shelter and services
Monthly Share-the-Plate offerings - to support local organizations
Chicago Pride Parade - senior high youth group participates
Green Sanctuary - embracing environmentally-sustainable ways of living

Our Whole Lives (OWL)

OWL is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum that helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. We have seven members of our congregation who have been certified to teach our OWL classes. On alternate years, we offer OWL for children in K-1st grade; 4th -5th grade; and 7th-9th grade youth. The Elementary OWL sessions meet for 8-weeks before RE & Worship (9:00-10:15am). Jr. & Sr. High OWL meet for 12 weeks after RE & Worship (Noon-2:00pm). Please contact our religious educator if you are interested in learning more about this program: 847.359.8440 x4.