Youth Faith Formation
Here at First Parish we offer age appropriate faith formation for all our children and youth.
*No two children are created the same, our goal at First Parish Taunton is to make sure our Faith Formation Program reflects this sentiment and is accessible and enjoyable for all. While classes do have age groups, they are more to suggest the developmental stage that activities, games, and group discussions are geared towards. Our Director of Lifespan Faith Formation is happy to work with all families to figure out what class is the best fit for each child.
*No two children are created the same, our goal at First Parish Taunton is to make sure our Faith Formation Program reflects this sentiment and is accessible and enjoyable for all. While classes do have age groups, they are more to suggest the developmental stage that activities, games, and group discussions are geared towards. Our Director of Lifespan Faith Formation is happy to work with all families to figure out what class is the best fit for each child.
Our Childcare and Chalice Children wing is in the newest part of our building. You will find them down the hall past the bathrooms and the staff offices.
Our Youth Group meets upstairs in The Loft.
Our hired Nursery (0-3) and Playroom (3-5) childcare attendants are in their rooms at 9:45 Sunday mornings and parents are welcome to drop off their children before service. Parents may then pick children up once Sunday School is over.
Chalice Children and Youth Group typically join in the first 15 minutes of worship and then head off to their classrooms after the Time for All Ages story. At 11:15 a teacher will bring all children to coffee hour and release them to a Parent/Guardian.
And of course, children and youth are also always welcome to stay for worship in their seats with their families or at our kids’ corner in the Commons.
Our Youth Group meets upstairs in The Loft.
Our hired Nursery (0-3) and Playroom (3-5) childcare attendants are in their rooms at 9:45 Sunday mornings and parents are welcome to drop off their children before service. Parents may then pick children up once Sunday School is over.
Chalice Children and Youth Group typically join in the first 15 minutes of worship and then head off to their classrooms after the Time for All Ages story. At 11:15 a teacher will bring all children to coffee hour and release them to a Parent/Guardian.
And of course, children and youth are also always welcome to stay for worship in their seats with their families or at our kids’ corner in the Commons.
Youth Faith Formation at a Glance
The Nursery - Designed for our youngest children 0-2 years old
Purpose - The purpose of the Nursery is to provide excellent child care for the families of First Parish.
Goal - The goal is for infants and babies to get their first experiences with being in community through our nursery. For our nursery to be one of the first places they experience love and kindness outside their families.
The Playroom - Designed for toddlers, preschoolers and kids not quite ready for the structure of Sunday School.
Purpose - The purpose of the Playroom is to provide excellent child care as well as begin to build a foundation and introduction to our faith.
Goal - The goal is for toddlers, preschoolers and children not quite ready for Sunday School to become familiar with some of the language and rituals connected to our faith, while seeing church as a fun place to be.
Chalice Children is our elementary program offered on Sunday mornings during the worship service suggested for kids ages 5-11
Purpose -The purpose is to teach the 8 Principles of Unitarian Universalism, while helping children learn how they can live their faith every day and in all that they do.
Goal - The goal is for kids to begin to understand how Unitarian Universalism can and should show up in their everyday lives. It is also a time to begin exploring faith, and to talk about life’s big questions. The use of fun activities like science projects, crafts, games, and discussion are used to help kids explore our monthly themes and shared faith.
Sunday Youth Group is our middle and high school group offered Sunday mornings during the worship service suggested for youth ages 12+.
Purpose - The purpose is to help youth begin to articulate their beliefs and ideas about faith while living them out in their every day lives. As well as guide youth on the path to their UU Identity and to help them to find how they personally connect with their faith.
Goal - The goal is to help youth continue to build on their understanding of how they live their faith and explore the big questions of life. While also helping youth gain a firm grasp of their faith and what they believe in and stand for. The use of fun activities like science projects, crafts, games, and group discussion questions are used to help youth explore and gain a firm grasp of their faith as well as what they believe in and stand for.
Taking Flight: Sexuality Education for Youth in 8-10th Grade is 12 week Sexuality Education class that runs weeknights every other year
Purpose - The purpose of is to provide a comprehensive sexuality education through the use of interactive workshops and lesson plans designed to engage participants in honest and accurate information. Taking Flight dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives.
Goal - The goal of Taking Flight is to helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
***Taking Flight is a condensed version of the 7-9th Grade Our Whole Live Curriculum**8
Coming of Age is a week night class that for our 10th-12th graders that runs every other year. Coming of Age is a program designed to help youth explore their Unitarian Universalist identity. Youth participants investigate their personal spirituality and are encouraged to develop and articulate a deep sense of what they believe.
Purpose - To help our youth explore and begin to answer these 5 questions:
- What do you believe in?
- What does it mean to be UU?
- How do we live our religion – principles?
- What are your standards & morals?
- How do know if you see another UU?
Goal - The goal of our CoA program is to:
- Promote self-understanding, spiritual depth, and maturation.
- Help youth learn to think critically and to ask serious questions about life and religion
- Promote understanding of Unitarian Universalism and our Principles and Purposes.
- Gain a sense of self and a stronger sense of purpose
Popcorn Theology Youth Group is offered for our teens various nights throughout the year.
Purpose - The purpose is give youth a safe space to and fun way to connect with peer, build community, and become empowered to stand firm in their UU Faith
Goal - The goal of Popcorn Theology is to use pop-culture movies/shows as a tool for youth to explore their beliefs and values, develop leadership skills, engage in social justice work, so much more. This all happens while having fun and building relationships in a safe environment.
Purpose - The purpose of the Nursery is to provide excellent child care for the families of First Parish.
Goal - The goal is for infants and babies to get their first experiences with being in community through our nursery. For our nursery to be one of the first places they experience love and kindness outside their families.
The Playroom - Designed for toddlers, preschoolers and kids not quite ready for the structure of Sunday School.
Purpose - The purpose of the Playroom is to provide excellent child care as well as begin to build a foundation and introduction to our faith.
Goal - The goal is for toddlers, preschoolers and children not quite ready for Sunday School to become familiar with some of the language and rituals connected to our faith, while seeing church as a fun place to be.
Chalice Children is our elementary program offered on Sunday mornings during the worship service suggested for kids ages 5-11
Purpose -The purpose is to teach the 8 Principles of Unitarian Universalism, while helping children learn how they can live their faith every day and in all that they do.
Goal - The goal is for kids to begin to understand how Unitarian Universalism can and should show up in their everyday lives. It is also a time to begin exploring faith, and to talk about life’s big questions. The use of fun activities like science projects, crafts, games, and discussion are used to help kids explore our monthly themes and shared faith.
Sunday Youth Group is our middle and high school group offered Sunday mornings during the worship service suggested for youth ages 12+.
Purpose - The purpose is to help youth begin to articulate their beliefs and ideas about faith while living them out in their every day lives. As well as guide youth on the path to their UU Identity and to help them to find how they personally connect with their faith.
Goal - The goal is to help youth continue to build on their understanding of how they live their faith and explore the big questions of life. While also helping youth gain a firm grasp of their faith and what they believe in and stand for. The use of fun activities like science projects, crafts, games, and group discussion questions are used to help youth explore and gain a firm grasp of their faith as well as what they believe in and stand for.
Taking Flight: Sexuality Education for Youth in 8-10th Grade is 12 week Sexuality Education class that runs weeknights every other year
Purpose - The purpose of is to provide a comprehensive sexuality education through the use of interactive workshops and lesson plans designed to engage participants in honest and accurate information. Taking Flight dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives.
Goal - The goal of Taking Flight is to helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
***Taking Flight is a condensed version of the 7-9th Grade Our Whole Live Curriculum**8
Coming of Age is a week night class that for our 10th-12th graders that runs every other year. Coming of Age is a program designed to help youth explore their Unitarian Universalist identity. Youth participants investigate their personal spirituality and are encouraged to develop and articulate a deep sense of what they believe.
Purpose - To help our youth explore and begin to answer these 5 questions:
- What do you believe in?
- What does it mean to be UU?
- How do we live our religion – principles?
- What are your standards & morals?
- How do know if you see another UU?
Goal - The goal of our CoA program is to:
- Promote self-understanding, spiritual depth, and maturation.
- Help youth learn to think critically and to ask serious questions about life and religion
- Promote understanding of Unitarian Universalism and our Principles and Purposes.
- Gain a sense of self and a stronger sense of purpose
Popcorn Theology Youth Group is offered for our teens various nights throughout the year.
Purpose - The purpose is give youth a safe space to and fun way to connect with peer, build community, and become empowered to stand firm in their UU Faith
Goal - The goal of Popcorn Theology is to use pop-culture movies/shows as a tool for youth to explore their beliefs and values, develop leadership skills, engage in social justice work, so much more. This all happens while having fun and building relationships in a safe environment.
