First Parish Unitarian Universalist
Canton, Massachusetts

Religious Education for Children — General Information

Sunday Morning Experience

Nursery: First Parish provides nursery care every Sunday morning free of charge to infants and toddlers of parents/guardians who are attending the Sunday morning worship service. We have a consistent childcare provider each year who has taken a Red Cross Babysitting Training Course, or its equivalent. While the nursery care provider is alone for most of the period of care, the Director of Religious Education circulates through the nursery on a regular basis. Children may be brought to the nursery, which is next to the Religious Education office after 10:15 a.m. and should be picked up at the end of the worship service, before coffee hour, usually around 11:30. For the safety and security of the children, we ask that all children be signed in and out of the nursery by the nursery care provider.

Worship: At First Parish, we begin our Sunday mornings as a faith community worshipping together. We share in the singing of hymns, the chalice lighting and in the recitation of our faith covenant. After the initial worship period, children either (i) remain in the sanctuary for an Intergenerational Service, (ii) proceed to the Children’s Chapel to continue a worship service designed especially for them, or (iii) go directly to their classrooms for lessons with their teachers.

Intergenerational Services: Several times during the year, First Parish hold intergenerational services. During those services, the children remain in the sanctuary with their families for the entire service. These services are designed for people of all ages. They usually include a special story or activity called “A Time for All Ages” in which the children are encouraged to gather together in front of the pulpit to engage directly with the person presenting the story or activity.

Children’s Worship: Once a month the children (aged preschool through Grade 5) proceed directly from the sanctuary, after the beginning portion of the worship service, to the Children’s Chapel to continue with a worship service and lesson designed especially for them. In Children’s Chapel, we share joys and sorrows, we discuss the covenant, we engage in conversation and we have a special lesson presented with an accompanying activity.

Religious Education Classes: Classroom time offers our children and youth a chance to explore, learn and grow together in settings that best meet their developmental needs. Classes at all levels focus on the Seven Principles (see “The Seven Principles” below) which are the foundation of our Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. We try to teach our children to think critically, to question, and to develop their own sense of religious identity. We seek to give them the moral and ethical foundation to do this. The classes in the religious education program are intended to (i) build on one another, developing a framework that supports the entire program and (ii) create a unified and coherent education for our children. Each curricula will explore world religions, rituals and holidays from around the globe, diversity, conflict resolution, self-esteem and a celebration of the earth and family, as each relates to our Seven Principles.

The Seven Principles

There are seven principles that are celebrated by all Unitarian Universalist congregations. These principles make up the framework and are the foundation for all of the teachings in the Religious Education Program.

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person (Every person is important.)
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations (Be kind in all you do.)
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth in our congregations (We’re free to learn together.)
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning (We search for what is true.)
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large (All people need a voice.)
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all (We seek to build a fair and peaceful world.);
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part (We must care for the Earth.)

Community Service

Children are encouraged to become involved in as many community service projects as they can, no matter how small these projects may be. They are encouraged at a young age to be mindful of the needs of those around them and to take action to fill those needs. We make every effort to recognize the efforts of those who become involved in the community and we try to provide opportunities for all children to become involved. Past years organized service projects have included collecting food for and helping out at the Canton Food Pantry, collecting and delivering goods to homeless shelters, contributing to “Guest at Your Table,” sending hurricane care packages, collecting books for an underserved urban school, making tactile art for the blind, gift giving to local families during the winter holidays, helping to furnish and support the First Parish room at a local battered women’s shelter, working at a soup kitchen and making cards for members of the congregation. Every year there are new service opportunities and new ways for the children to help those in need.

Safe Congregation Policy

First Parish makes every effort to create a safe and nurturing environment for its children. Every teacher in the Religious Education Program must sign an agreement that they have received a copy of and will abide by the terms of our Safe Congregation Policy. The Safe Congregation Policy mandates, among other things, that (1) each teacher in the program be CORI checked, (2) all classes be conducted with open doors and unobstructed windows, (3) each class have at least two adults present in the classroom at all times. The Director of Religious Education circulates during class time on Sunday mornings to ensure that all the needs of the teachers and students are being met. First Parish has a Sexual Misconduct Response Team established to hear reports of any misconduct and to take appropriate action, when necessary.

Child Dedications

Rather than holding Christian-style baptism ceremonies, First Parish conducts child dedication services for infants, young adopted children, or young children whose families have recently joined the congregation. The dedication ceremony is a celebration of the blessing of new life, an expression of the parents' hopes for their child, and a call to the parents and the congregation's members to lead and nurture the child's spiritual life as it grows. Please speak to the minister or the DRE if you are interested in having a child dedication ceremony for your child(ren).

Children’s Library

First Parish has a wonderful Children’s Library located in the Parlor (in the room where we hold coffee hour after the service). Our library houses books on Unitarian Universalist principles, books on holidays and traditions from around the world, books on prayer, friendship and human sexuality, among other things. Please feel free to browse through the books at any time and if you see a book you would like to bring home, please sign your book out on the clipboard that is on top of the shelves so that we can keep track of books and users. If you are looking for a book that addresses a specific issue, please feel free to ask the DRE for help or recommendations.