Children's Religious Education

The Religious Education (RE) Program at UTUUC strives to inspire students in their search for truth and meaning, ensuring that our Program – both inside and outside the classroom – offers guidance, allows for questioning and exploration, and provides a warm and loving learning environment.

The Program works towards a total religious education experience that frees the minds and souls of students, encouraging them to rely on their inner authority and to integrate the seven Unitarian Universalist principles in their lives. Participants welcome questions about Unitarian Universalism and feel comfortable answering them.

Within the context of the RE Program, students are challenged to look outside of themselves and expand their boundaries of self to include the larger world community, working towards the greater good of our planet. Through hands-on participation in social and environmental activities, their desire to contribute will be encouraged and affirmed, and their sense of social responsibility will be heightened.

Despite the conflicts and difficulties of today’s world, our students, as a result of their participation in the RE program, will...

• choose a sense of hopefulness, knowing and feeling that life is worthwhile
• understand that they can make a difference through their outlook and interactions, one day at a time.

For more information about this program, feel free to email us at reunitytemple.org.

Our Mission Statement    Children's Registration    RE Curriculum    Classroom Locations

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Mission Statement

The mission of the UTUUC Religious Education (RE) program is to guide our young people in building a solid foundation in the Unitarian Universalist (UU) tradition and philosophy. That foundation encompasses the examination, questioning, and proactive stance regarding the keystones of:

1. peace and justice
2. the interdependent web of life
3. our UU roots in the Judeo-Christian heritage
4. an understanding of world religion
5. our own UU religion based on seven indispensable humanitarian principles.

In the circle of our intergenerational congregation, RE celebrates the milestones achieved by our younger members so as to acknowledge and support their unique spiritual growth and contribution to our larger church community. As our young people grow in the UU tradition, the RE program recognizes its role in:

1. being an example first, and not just a curriculum
2. trusting our young people to become creators of their own traditions and faith.

This mission will be carried out in a spirit of love, trust, cooperation, patience, and mutual respect.

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Children's Registration

All children must be registered before they can attend any of the children's classes. To register a child, you must fill out a registration form and a medical release form.

The forms are fairly lengthy and are best filled out at home where your personal medical and insurance information is available. Please follow the instructions below.

1. Print a copy of the Registration Form and fill it in. One form can be used for multiple children from the same family.
2. Print a separate copy of the Medical Release for each child. Fill in the form(s).
3. Sign all of the forms.
4. Mail the completed forms to the Unity Temple office. Please enclosed a check to cover the registration fees. The check should be made payable to UTUUC. Please also write "RE Reg" in the memo space of the check.

   Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation
   ATTN: Bob Fox
   875 Lake Street
   Oak Park, IL  60301

The forms must be in the possession of the RE staff before children can attend classes. The first day of classes is Sunday, September 11th. You may bring the forms with you on that day and deliver them to the RE desk in Unity House. However, mailing in the forms in advance is preferred!

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