Youth and Religious Education - Kathy Silver, Director of Religion Education


We believe that our world will become a better place when we have more Unitarian Universalists in it. To that end, we work to educate our children in the Principles and Purposes of our faith. Children are our future. It will be their energy and idealism, which will carry us forward into a world that will care more about people's needs than stockholders' profits, a world that believes that all people should have dignity and value and enough to eat. We want our children to grow up feeling the larger UU community around them, guiding them and loving them. We want to encourage them to feel a responsibility to help make the world a better place. The best way that we can do this is by our own example, by becoming active in our church, by helping when we are called upon, by volunteering to spend time with youth. It takes a whole church to raise Unitarian Universalists. 


Special Message For Parents

We ask that you commit to the regular and punctual attendance of your offspring so that they may gain the full benefits of the spiritual and social experiences offered here at New Hope. Frequent attendance helps children to feel a part of the group. It also underscores the importance of Unitarian Universalism in a family. It's not enough to say that church and religious education are important in our families. We need to come to church on Sundays. kathy silver closeup


New Hope Religious Education Classes

- Our Youth:  Because we are a small congregation here at New Hope, our program for children and youth focuses on creating community in a group of mixed ages and interests.  Our older students take an active role in our program and work with our younger ones as friends and mentors.  Unlike most school experiences, our youngsters develop relationships with people from all age groups, from preschoolers to high schoolers to senior citizens.  Little people love to include teens in their circle of friends.  It makes them feel special and more grown-up.  Our teens enjoy the energy and antics of the little ones and like being looked up to as role models.

- Our Younger Children: While babes in arms go to church with their parents, our youngest children participate in a flexible Sunday morning Religious Education (RE) Program that allows them to spend time with the older children in discussions and activities.  When their needs dictate, the little ones are also provided time in their special play area. We want them to learn that church is a place for families and friends, for kindness and fun, for helping others and expressing themselves.  They learn to sit in a group and listen, while they take turns sharing their ideas with others.

- Our Intermediate Children: Students in our multi-age class will experience a new curriculum, “Faithful Journeys” developed by the UUA. DRE Kathy Silver will adapt the program to meet the needs of our New Hope children.  We will be learning about our Unitarian Universalist faith from an historical perspective, which includes stories about our famous religious forbears.  Using the UU Principles and Purposes as our guide, we’ll understand better what it means to live one’s faith in our families, in our church, in our communities and in our world.  We’ll discuss our responsibilities toward ourselves and to each other.  The search for truth and meaning is a lifelong quest, which begins in childhood.  Children are innately spiritual beings and we’ll continue working on the spiritual practices, which have been a ongoing part of New Hope’s Religious Education Program..


Religious Education A Cooperative Venture

We are a small church with BIG ideas. Our Religious Education Program is a cooperative program. This year, many volunteers will donate their time to create a quality church experience for our young people. Each segment of the program needs several adults to participate with the children in the lessons for the day. We will team teach each class so that all volunteers share in the responsibilities, and are also able to attend the adult services on a regular basis. Sign up now to do your part to help make our future world a better place!