Second Parish in Hingham

Religious Education

Welcome to Religious Education at Second Parish. We offer your children and youth curricula that aim to raise the big questions and give your kids the context within which to learn to answer them for themselves.

We welcome all families and would like you to feel at home here. If you are new, please be sure to sign our guestbook and registration form. You can also contact the Minister of Religious Education, Rev.Kim Preveza by email MRE@secondparish.org or by calling the church.

Children start their Sunday mornings in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. by attending the first part of the service with the whole congregation, often for a "story for all ages." The congregation "sings them out" as they go to their classes. Nursery School is located upstairs for 6 month to Pre-School children until after coffee hour. K-12 is upstairs above Cushing Hall until 11:00 a.m. Babies can stay with a parent in the sanctuary. If your child is having a difficult time please come to the nursery to comfort them.

Please see class descriptions below for more information.

Our Goals

In Religious Education, we think we can help you add something to your children's lives. We want to help you give your children a grounding in a wonderful liberal religion. We have 37 Sundays from September to June (if you attend every Sunday) to help our children develop a sense of what religion is all about.

First, we would like our children to be part of an extended community where they feel welcome, are valued for the gifts they bring and the people they are. "Do unto others" is the big rule. This is a community where questioning the mysteries of life is valued. It takes time to develop a sense of belonging.

We want our children to feel part of the Unitarian Universalist tradition. We want your children to know the tenets of the church and be able to articulate what it means to be a UU. Free thinking, questioning, and personal discovery are the order of the day. We want our children to be proud that they are part of this liberal faith. It takes time to develop a sense of pride.

We want our children to know other religious faiths and to celebrate the ideas brought to the world by other cultures and religions. We want them to develop tolerance for ideas and people that are not part of their everyday life. We want them to know that they could use ideas from other faith traditions and blend them into a personal theology. This is a religion that allows for personal growth and diversity. It takes time to understand and appreciate.

We want our children to develop a social responsibility consciousness. We want them to feel they can make a difference in this world. We want them to know that there are people and causes out in the world that cry out for assistance and that they can and should reach out. It takes time to work on social responsibility projects.

We want our children to have a place to think and talk about life's issues-getting along with others, death, peace and war, sexuality, violence of one kind or another let's give them a safe forum in which to explore ideas and to get input. Children need places to think out loud and to gather ideas and feedback. Church should be one of those places. It takes time to talk and to listen.

We want our children to expand their pool of friends to children and adults that are UUs. We want them to link up with people who are humanists and value this faith, who think it is important and has meaning in their lives. We want them to listen to different ideas of spirituality and develop their own ideas and feelings about spirituality. It takes time to connect and develop ideas about spirituality.

So, come. It's only 37 hours--not even a full work week--and we have so much to do! Let's get started on the education that will be a meaningful gift for a lifetime.

Our Principles

1. We respect the importance and values of all beings
2. We are fair and kind to others
3. We yearn to learn and grow together
4. We search for what is true
5. We believe in our ideals and act upon them
6. We build a fair and peaceful world
7. We respect and care for our planet

Our Sources

The Words and Deeds of UU Women and Men
Christian and Jewish Teachings
World Religions
Spiritual Teachings from Earth-Centered Traditions

NURSERY - 6 months through 4 years

Nursery care is located above Cushing Hall. It is provided by trained teens before, during the length of the Sunday service, and into our social hour from 9:45-11:45. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children until they are familiar and comfortable with the caregivers. Stories, games, and toys will entertain the children.

Large Group/Small Group K-Middle School

Large Group/Small Group, a one room school house style class for ages Kindergarten through Middle School.

Stewardship: The Joy of Giving Sept 19- Oct 10

Children will learn that Stewardship means taking care of something we value .They will explore different ways we are stewards, that we "take care" of ourselves, our congregation, our community, our UU faith, and the earth
They will learn that Stewardship calls us to take responsibility and to make a contribution of our time, talent and treasure. They will come up with service projects and start the practice of taking a class an offering.

Bibleodeon Oct 24- May 5

An experimental program introducing children to stories of the Hebrew and Christian Bible

Goals
- Become familiar with and interested in a range of well-known Bible stories
- Have a basic understanding of the Bible's history
- Recognize the relevance of Bible stories to our lives today

Service Projects

Typically the Second Sunday of the month.
Intended to help children put their values into action.

Coming of Age Class (Grades 7-10)

This class celebrates the transition from childhood to youth -- a time when people come of age. The curriculum uses rituals, learning, testing, and celebration to help each young person explore his/her beliefs and develop a faith statement by the end of the year. Each youth will be paired with an adult mentor who is a member of the congregation. Throughout the year they explore their beliefs and develop a faith statement.
This year we will team-up with the youth of Old Ship church, Unitarian Universalist. Classes will be in the sun-basement level of Cushing Hall (stairway located around back side of the kitchen). on Sundays from 10:00-11:00. Youth will proceed directly to their classes.

Hosted at Old Ship, 90 Main Street
12:15 - 2:00 : 10/25

Life Span Faith Development

UU's believe in the lifelong search for truth and meaning. We have a number of opportunities for adults to gather in small groups or educational class settings to continue learning, sharing and enriching each others lives with their spiritual stories.

Older Youth

Youth not participating in the Coming of Age Program and COA graduates attend adult services

Second Parish Unitarian Universalist 685 Main St., Hingham, MA 02043
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Our 2010/2011 Religious Education Brochure Life Span Faith Development UU & Me! UU Kid Talk Young Religious UUs Children's Books at UUA Bookstore Liberal Religious Educators	Religious Education Welcome to Religious Education at Second Parish. We offer your children and youth curricula that aim to raise the big questions and give your kids the context within which to learn to answer them for themselves. We welcome all families and would like you to feel at home here. If you are new, please be sure to sign our guestbook and registration form. You can also contact the Minister of Religious Education, Rev.Kim Preveza by email MRE@secondparish.org or by calling the church. Children start their Sunday mornings in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. by attending the first part of the service with the whole congregation, often for a "story for all ages." The congregation "sings them out" as they go to their classes. Nursery School is located upstairs for 6 month to Pre-School children until after coffee hour. K-12 is upstairs above Cushing Hall until 11:00 a.m. Babies can stay with a parent in the sanctuary. If your child is having a difficult time please come to the nursery to comfort them. Please see class descriptions below for more information. Our Goals In Religious Education, we think we can help you add something to your children's lives. We want to help you give your children a grounding in a wonderful liberal religion. We have 37 Sundays from September to June (if you attend every Sunday) to help our children develop a sense of what religion is all about. First, we would like our children to be part of an extended community where they feel welcome, are valued for the gifts they bring and the people they are. "Do unto others" is the big rule. This is a community where questioning the mysteries of life is valued. It takes time to develop a sense of belonging. We want our children to feel part of the Unitarian Universalist tradition. We want your children to know the tenets of the church and be able to articulate what it means to be a UU. Free thinking, questioning, and personal discovery are the order of the day. We want our children to be proud that they are part of this liberal faith. It takes time to develop a sense of pride. We want our children to know other religious faiths and to celebrate the ideas brought to the world by other cultures and religions. We want them to develop tolerance for ideas and people that are not part of their everyday life. We want them to know that they could use ideas from other faith traditions and blend them into a personal theology. This is a religion that allows for personal growth and diversity. It takes time to understand and appreciate. We want our children to develop a social responsibility consciousness. We want them to feel they can make a difference in this world. We want them to know that there are people and causes out in the world that cry out for assistance and that they can and should reach out. It takes time to work on social responsibility projects. We want our children to have a place to think and talk about life's issues-getting along with others, death, peace and war, sexuality, violence of one kind or another let's give them a safe forum in which to explore ideas and to get input. Children need places to think out loud and to gather ideas and feedback. Church should be one of those places. It takes time to talk and to listen. We want our children to expand their pool of friends to children and adults that are UUs. We want them to link up with people who are humanists and value this faith, who think it is important and has meaning in their lives. We want them to listen to different ideas of spirituality and develop their own ideas and feelings about spirituality. It takes time to connect and develop ideas about spirituality. So, come. It's only 37 hours--not even a full work week--and we have so much to do! Let's get started on the education that will be a meaningful gift for a lifetime. Our Principles 1. We respect the importance and values of all beings 2. We are fair and kind to others 3. We yearn to learn and grow together 4. We search for what is true 5. We believe in our ideals and act upon them 6. We build a fair and peaceful world 7. We respect and care for our planet Our Sources The Words and Deeds of UU Women and Men Christian and Jewish Teachings World Religions Spiritual Teachings from Earth-Centered Traditions NURSERY - 6 months through 4 years Nursery care is located above Cushing Hall. It is provided by trained teens before, during the length of the Sunday service, and into our social hour from 9:45-11:45. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children until they are familiar and comfortable with the caregivers. Stories, games, and toys will entertain the children. Large Group/Small Group K-Middle School Large Group/Small Group, a one room school house style class for ages Kindergarten through Middle School. Stewardship: The Joy of Giving Sept 19- Oct 10 Children will learn that Stewardship means taking care of something we value .They will explore different ways we are stewards, that we "take care" of ourselves, our congregation, our community, our UU faith, and the earth They will learn that Stewardship calls us to take responsibility and to make a contribution of our time, talent and treasure. They will come up with service projects and start the practice of taking a class an offering. Bibleodeon Oct 24- May 5 An experimental program introducing children to stories of the Hebrew and Christian Bible Goals - Become familiar with and interested in a range of well-known Bible stories - Have a basic understanding of the Bible's history - Recognize the relevance of Bible stories to our lives today Service Projects Typically the Second Sunday of the month. Intended to help children put their values into action. Coming of Age Class (Grades 7-10) This class celebrates the transition from childhood to youth -- a time when people come of age. The curriculum uses rituals, learning, testing, and celebration to help each young person explore his/her beliefs and develop a faith statement by the end of the year. Each youth will be paired with an adult mentor who is a member of the congregation. Throughout the year they explore their beliefs and develop a faith statement. This year we will team-up with the youth of Old Ship church, Unitarian Universalist. Classes will be in the sun-basement level of Cushing Hall (stairway located around back side of the kitchen). on Sundays from 10:00-11:00. Youth will proceed directly to their classes. Hosted at Old Ship, 90 Main Street 12:15 - 2:00 : 10/25 Life Span Faith Development UU's believe in the lifelong search for truth and meaning. We have a number of opportunities for adults to gather in small groups or educational class settings to continue learning, sharing and enriching each others lives with their spiritual stories. Older Youth Youth not participating in the Coming of Age Program and COA graduates attend adult services	'The great end in Religious Education is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own: Not to make them see with our eyes, but to look inquiringly with their own. Not to form an outward regularity, but to touch inward springs. Not to bind them by prejudices to our particular sect or peculiar notions; but to prepare them for impartial, conscientious judging of whatever subjects may be offered to their decision. Not to burden the memory, but to quicken and strengthen the power of thought; Not to impose religion upon them in the form of arbitrary rules, but to awaken the conscience, the moral discernment. In a word, the great end is to awaken the soul, to excite and cherish spiritual life.' William Ellery Channing (April 7, 1780-October 2, 1842)
	Copyright 2010, Second Parish in Hingham Hingham, MA 02043 (781) 749-1671