Religious Education

Our Religious School Education Program was developed to address the needs of children from nursery (children 2 years old and younger) through those graduating from high school. To learn about the program, please click here to download the 2009-2010 Church School Prospectus. Contact the church office regarding registration.

Note: In order to read the Church School Prospectus (portable document format), you must have the free application, Adobe Acrobat Reader, on your computer. To download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, click here.

Our Curriculum

The content of religious education materials is based primarily on materials purchased from the Department of Religious Education of the Unitarian Universalist Association or from other Unitarian sources. Members of our own congregation develop curricula deemed appropriate by the Director of Religious Education and the Children’s Ministry Team. Any of these courses may be supplemented by books, films, and activities selected by individual teachers or workshop leaders.

Brief Descriptions of the population in our religious school program:

Nursery (Children 2 years old and younger)

A nursery is provided with paid caregivers to care for infants and our youngest children while their parents attend the worship service.

Pre-School (Children 2 and 3 years old)

Supervised play provides a happy, safe, and secure environment that will make these children feel at home in our church.

Kindergarten: Children 4 and 5 years old

Treasure Hunting: This literature based curriculum uses classic stories to illustrate themes of treasures: friendship, nature, individuality, feelings, family, etc. Simple crafts and games allow children to create something each week to collect in their Treasure Chest.

Grades 1-5

River Explorers: Using the workshop rotation model, children will explore their Toolbox of Faith. Following a brief worship service in the Chalice Room at 11:00, a different workshop is presented each week with activities to illustrate UU principles found in parables from many traditions. To read a complete description of this curriculum, click here.

Middle School: Grades 6-8

Our Whole Lives, a noted sexuality education course, is being offered to our Middle School through December 15. Youth not enrolled in OWL are invited to join their families in the worship service. In January, the Middle School will be engaged in Neighboring Faiths, learning about different faith communities in Memphis and visiting many diverse places of worship. Note: On the first Sunday of the month, the Middle School attends the worship service until after the Object Lesson and meets with the Middle School Adventure Club for the rest of the hour.

High School: Grades 9-12

Except for the first Sunday of the month, the high school class meets at 10 o’clock on Sunday mornings for Popcorn Theology, exploring their Unitarian Universalist values through popular film. January-February, the high school class will meet each week to prepare for Youth Sunday on February 28, 2010. Popcorn Theology resumes March 7 for the rest of the church year. Note: On the first Sunday of each month, the high school meets as the YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) at 10 o’clock and attends the worship service together at 11:00.

Youth Groups for Middle School and Senior High

The Middle School Adventure Club (MSAC) for children in grades 6-8, meets with their adult advisors after dismissal from the Object Lesson on the first Sunday of each month. They plan monthly outings, activities, and service projects to help them become better acquainted with each other and to put their Unitarian faith in action in the community.

Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU)

Senior high youth group meets monthly on the first Sunday of the month to plan social events, service projects, fundraisers, and annual service learning trips. On Youth Sunday each spring the YRUU inspires our community with their leadership in the Sunday morning worship service of music, readings, and sermonettes. The YRUU enhances the social, emotional and spiritual development of our youth and our community.

Most religious school classes are held on Sundays, from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM. The high school
class meets from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. The Our Whole Lives class meets from 11:00 - 1:30.

CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR 2009-2010