Religious Education
Following a brief time in worship with the adults of the congregation, our children from 4 to 14 years old are welcomed into our Sunday School. Utilizing Nita Penfold’s Spirit Play Montessori-based methods, children are given space to work at their own pace, wondering about the questions that are currently relevant to them. Our Sunday School is a multi-age one-room schoolhouse. We believe that this encourages a deeper sense of community among our children who learn to rely on and be available to each other. Older children eagerly take on leadership roles with their younger classmates. Each morning begins with a brief ritual time and story. Children are then free to work with materials in the classroom to explore their wonderings.
Stories focus on Unitarian Universalist values, the mystery that some people call God and lessons about life and death from the rich diversity of cultures throughout the world. Children, like adults, wonder about the big questions with which we are all faced. “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “Why do bad things happen?” “What happens when we die?” At First Parish Church, we recognize that these questions do not have easy answers and we encourage children to continue to wonder about them.
Multigenerational Worship
Several times each year, our congregation worships together – children, youth and adults. This gives us an opportunity to share special celebrations including Christmas Eve, Easter, Balloon Sunday and Children’s Sunday. All members of our community are encouraged to join in the celebration.
Several times each year, our congregation worships together – children, youth and adults. This gives us an opportunity to share special celebrations including Christmas Eve, Easter, Balloon Sunday and Children’s Sunday. All members of our community are encouraged to join in the celebration.