Religious Exploration for Children, Youth, and Families

Religious Exploration at First Parish in Brookline is embraced by the community as a place of connection and growth at every age. The goals of the Religious Exploration program are to help each person develop a respect for her or his own self worth, concern for others, an enjoyment and appreciation of worship, reverence for the sacred and all life, rich and meaningful spiritual life, and an enduring connection with Unitarian Universalism.

We offer a liberal religious exploration experience drawn from our Unitarian Universalist traditions, which affirms the great spiritual truths of all religions. We seek to assist each child in nurturing a spiritual life, ethical awareness, Unitarian Universalist identity, and faith development. The Religious Exploration Committee and the Director of Religious Exploration, in consultation with our Co-Ministers, carefully choose our curricula that best fit these objectives in age-appropriate groupings.

Sunday School Information

Worship for Children

On most Sundays, children and youth begin the morning in the Sanctuary with the adults at 11:00 a.m. After worshipping together, a Time for All Ages (a lively story, song, or discussion) is given by the Director of Religious Exploration, Co-Minister, or a special guest. Then adults lovingly “sing out” the children and youth as they go to their classes.

On many holiday weekends, all ages will enjoy a theme-based Children’s Worship at 11:00 a.m., followed by a multi-age participatory project with a focus on service work. These Sundays are designed to incorporate our practices and commitment to social justice work as a faith community in a way that is engaging and meaningful to children at every age.

2009-10 Worship Calendar for Children

Returning Child and Youth Registration

For those children and youth who are returning to our program, a Registration Form needs to be filled out to have on file. The information on this form is what is required to ensure we have important information and are complying with safety guidelines.

Our Intergenerational Community

Throughout the year, worship, activities, and special events are planned that bring together all ages in the spirit of fun, celebration, and community. Our Sunday intergenerational worship services include Homecoming, Thanksgiving Ingathering, Holiday Pageant, Easter, and our Coming of Age Challenge Worship. Special worship services are Samhain, Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, Passover Seder, Tenebrae, and Summer Solstice. At other times, all-church events are held that are meaningful and fun for all.

Volunteering in our Religious Exploration Program

In the spirit of a cooperative and intergenerational religious community, all adults with children in the Religious Exploration program participate in some way and many adults without children are central to our RE community. The Religious Exploration Committee strives to create an environment for children and their leaders that is energizing, engaging, and meaningful. Volunteers serve in a variety of roles—classroom teaching, mentoring, RE Committee, Social Action, RE Greeting, or Fun 'n' Games.

Volunteers are expected to submit to a background check, sign a Code of Ethics Statement, and support the practice of always having a second adult present during activities with minor children and youth.

See the Church Newsletter for announcements, or e-mail our RE department at dre@firstparishinbrookline.org for more information.

Our Director

Our Director of Religious Exploration, Anne L. Principe, is a Credentialed Religious Educator who brings years of experience working with children, families, groups, and in the community. She has served two congregations as youth director. Prior to becoming a DRE six years ago, she ran a Lynn community-based business, ARTblock, leading creative programs for children and families.

Anne brings a passion for building RE Programs that foster important relationships and spiritual connections in the context of a Unitarian Universalist community. She has presented workshops at the district and continental level relating to spiritual creativity, and has co-authored a guidebook on lifespan faith development through mission work. She is currently a student at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine.

Anne can be reached by calling the church at 617-566-1933 -- Extension 13, by appointment, or by e-mail at dre@firstparishinbrookline.org.