lifespan re presentation
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An overview of Lifespan Religious Exploration at TJUCTRANSCRIPT
Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church
Lifespan Religious Ex<loration Prog>am
We light our chalice in celebration of our communitA
And its commitDent to religious ex<loration.
May our ritHal of enlightenment be a reminder
that just as our chalice must be lit again and again,
So must our commitDent to religious ex<loration
Be renewed again and again if our light is to be shared
And our faith is to be sustained and ex<anded.
Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church offers lifespan religious education prog>amming that holds parNicipants in love, igOites their passion for justice, and helps them to know more deeply the diversitA and wholeness of our Unitarian Universalist faith. We intentionally have come to call what we do here “religious ex<loration” to list up the imporNance we place on an individual search for t>Hth and meaning in a supporNive communitA of connection.
Our Values Guide Us-‐ We AffirD and Promote: v The inherent worNh and digOitA of everA person
§ Respect all people; they have digOitA & worNh too v Justice, equitA and compassion in human relations § Offer fair and kind t>eatDent to everAone
v Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritHal g>owth in our cong>egations § Young & old, g>owing together in communitA-‐ all through our lives
v A ^ee and responsible search for t>Hth and meaning § Grow by searching for your own t>Hth and meaning
Our Values Guide Us-‐ We AffirD and Promote: v The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our cong>egations and in societA at large § Believe in your ideals and voice your vote
v The goal of world communitA with peace, liberNA and justice for all § Insist on justice, ^eedom, and peace for all
v Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a parN § Value the earNh, our home, and the web of life
Our Tradition Draws From Many Sources v The sense of wonder we all share v Women and men, long ago and today — people whose lives remind us to be kind and fair
v Wisdom ^om the world's religions v Christian and Jewish teachings which tell us to love all others as we love ourselves
v Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the gHidance of reason and the results of science
v EarNh-‐centered t>aditions which celebrate the circle of life, inspiring us to live in harDony with natHre
Our Vision Building a loving, respectfHl communitA and supporNing the search for t>Hth and meaning across the lifespan.
UUA Lifespan RE Vision Statement We envision children, youth and adults who: • Know that they are lovable beings of infinite worNh, imbued with powers of the soul, and obligated to use their gists, talents, and potentials in the sergice of life; • AffirD that they are parN of a Unitarian Universalist religious heritage and communitA of faith that has value and provides resources for living; • Accept that they are responsible for the stewardship and creative t>ansforDation of their religious heritage and communitA of faith;
UUA Lifespan RE Vision Statement • Realize that they are moral agents, capable of making a difference in the lives of other people, challenging st>HctHres of social and political oppression, promoting the health and well-‐being of the planet, acting in the sergice of diversitA, justice, and compassion; • RecogOize the need for communitA, affirDing the imporNance of families, relationships and connections betieen and among the generations; • Appreciate the value of spiritHal practice as a means of deepening faith and integ>ating beliefs and values with everAday life; • Ex<erience hope, joy, mysterA, healing, and personal t>ansforDation in the midst of life’s challenges.
Why are we here? To supporN and nurNHre each other throughout
our individual faith development jourOeys
Wherever we are on our jourOey, we have questions…
v What is my faith and how do I live it?
v What is Unitarian Universalism?
v How do I deal with “the big questions”?
v How do I deal with religious ex<eriences?
v How do I develop spiritHalitA?
v How do I fit into this communitA?
v How do we encourage diversitA?
v How am I different –How are we the same?
v What responsibilities do I have to the interdependent web?
v How do I develop my social conscience?
v What role does sexHalitA play in my life?
v How do my values affect my spiritHalitA?
What does the Lifespan RE Cur>icula include? � Views the whole church as the cur>iculum
� Focuses on our principles and sources � RecogOizes the power of learOing through stories and the imporNance of supporNing learOing with activitA
� Lists up faith in action through social justice � Provides age-‐level appropriate ex<eriences � RecogOizes the imporNance of both multigenerational and generationally specific opporNHnities
Lifespan Religious Ex<loration St>ives Toward… � NurNHring the four foundations of a meaningoHl, relevant and vibrant faith: v Unitarian Universalist IdentitA LearOing about our UU heritage of t>Hth, love, and justice; Understanding our principles and sources; Being able to ex<lain our beliefs and faith to others
v Ethical Development Making the world a beper place by living our values. Being in right relationship with each other, the larger communitA, and the earNh
v SpiritHal Growth Sensing a connection to something larger than ourselves through worship, prayer and meditation; Ex<loring the wisdom of the world’s religions
v Faith Development Finding deeper meaning and pur<ose in life; Ex<loring personal beliefs and values within a faith contexN
Lifespan Religious Ex<loration Lists Up: v Stewardship v Social Justice and Human rights
v ResponsibilitA and Caring v SpiritHalitA and Faith v Integ>itA, Ethics, and Values v Moral Courage
v Traditions
What does our Lifespan RE Cur>icula include? � Enrichment
v Special Events and Sergice OpporNHnities v OWL SexHalitA Education Prog>am
v Interest Groups v Choirs v Chalice Circles v Open Campus Evening Prog>am
What goes on in RE for Children and Youth? � Develops communitA responsibilitA through covenanting with other g>oup members
� Mir>ors the ex<erience of the Sunday Sergice
v Chalice Lighting v Sharing Circle ( Joys and ConcerOs) v Offering v Music
v Cur>iculum content serges a similar role to the minister’s serDon
v RE supporNs families in developing the ethical and spiritHal g>owth of our children.
v RE provides a safe, supporNive environment
v Families make connections betieen home and RE
v Families are present and involved
v Together we practice tio-‐way communication
RE for Children and Youth is a ParNOership
Volunteer OpporNHnities for Adults � ParNicipation on CYRE Leadership Teams
� CYRE Room Helpers
� Youth Group Advisors � Coming of Age Mentors for Youth
� MysterA Friends
� Open Campus Class Leaders
� Serge on RE Commipee
� Serge on Adult RE Team
Looking Toward the FutHre, We Envision � A communitA of lifelong learOers that affirDs the imporNance of individuals, families, relationships and connections betieen and among generations;
� Prog>aming that is both multigenerational and generationally specific;
� Evening RE prog>amming that appeals to and engages our many generations;
� More opporNHnities to put our UU faith into action;
� Greater apention to learOing stAles and creativitA.