What We Offer Through the Lifespan

​

We provide children, youth, young adults, and adults an opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn in a nurturing spiritual community.

 

Unitarian Universalist religious education programs offer all ages, inspiring:

• Ethical growth – internalizing enduring values like justice, equity, and compassion, and gaining tools to act on them in everyday life.

• Social growth – connecting with peers and people of all ages on a deeper level. Finding acceptance among people who see beyond the superficial.

• Spiritual growth – feeling a connection with the sacred within, among, and beyond us.

​

Religious education programs include more than classes. On a Sunday you might find the preschoolers singing songs about kindness, the 2nd graders engaging with a story about loss and bereavement, the 5th graders talking with a Muslim couple about Islam, the 7th graders learning about responsibility in a lesson from our progressive sexuality education program, and the high-school youth raising money for the local homeless shelter. Many programs incorporate social justice activities, worship opportunities, service trips, fellowship, and fun.

​

Our religious educator and minister lead many of our congregations’ lifespan programs. Parents and other members of the congregation often lead them, too. Teaching can be a very fulfilling way to deepen one’s own faith.

​

Children’s religious education programs are typically offered on Sunday mornings, and high school youth and adult programs are usually offered on afternoons or evenings.

​

Safety for children and youth is paramount and it’s part of our moral obligation to seek parental consent for programs with sensitive topics such as sexuality. In all matters, Unitarian Universalist religious education works to affirm, equip, and accompany parents and legal guardians as children’s primary religious educators.

​

We invite you to explore these pages and contact our religious educator to get connected.

 

Sunday Children's Exploration at Georgia Mountains UU Church

Nursery care is available for newborn infants and up.

​

During Services

As a multi-generational congregation, children and youth are welcome and present in the sanctuary at the beginning of Worship Services. After a short children’s story, the congregation “sings them out” and they go to the RE Classrooms where religious education is provided for children and youth of all ages for the remainder of the hour. Childcare is provided for infants and young children only during this time. Children of all ages are always welcome to stay in the sanctuary with their parents throughout the service if preferred.

Several times a year children and youth remain in the sanctuary for multi-generational worship services. These services may include special ceremonies, plays, or musical offerings that are designed to appeal to congregants of all ages. Children and youth often contribute to the service by lighting the chalice, doing readings, or participating in plays.

​

​

Children’s Safety

GMUUC works to provide and ensure a safe environment for the physical and emotional well-being of all children participating in church activities.

​

GMUUC has a policy of having two teachers with the children each Sunday. Our Children’s Faith Development Coordinator, Chelsea Reid, is with the children every week. There are up to 8 teachers who rotate and teach the lessons. All teachers have had recent criminal background checks.

​

Please see our Child & Youth Protection Policy for more information (requires Member Login).​​

​