Learning

Coming of Age (Grades 9 – 10)

Meeting on Sunday afternoons

Coming of Age (COA) is a rite of passage in UU congregations, designed to help youth explore their personal beliefs and values. Through workshops, mentorship, and other projects, participants engage in self-reflection and spiritual growth, culminating in the creation and presentation of a personal credo (a statement of their beliefs and values) to the congregation.

Senior Youth Group (SYG) (Grades 9 – 12)

Meeting on Sunday evenings

Our high schoolers meet most Sunday evenings to connect with peers for fun, supportive, and inspiring activities. Teens and their adult leaders organize social and service activities throughout the congregational year, and plan a weeklong service/learning trip during February or April vacation week.

Each First Parish Milestone is aimed at a particular time in a child’s life and development. Collectively, they mark a child’s spiritual growth from infancy into young adulthood.

• Child Dedication
  • Generally done during infancy, a dedication ceremony is a public proclamation of the congregation’s commitment to the health and well-being of a child and their family.
  • Presided over by the minister, the dedication is an important reminder that we are all bound as a loving community to care for one another, especially the youngest among us.
  • Many parents will invite their extended family to the ceremony and may wish to present godparents will also proclaim their commitment to the child.
• Chalice Keepers
  • Around the time a child turns eight and enters the stage of life developmental psychologists label the “age of reason,” children are invited to participate in the Chalice Keepers program.
  • This milestone connects children to some of the specific aspects of congregational life and their First Parish family.
  • Children complete a number of tasks aimed at strengthening the relationship between them and this community. This includes serving as a chalice lighter, having a Q&A with the minister, reading a couple of age-appropriate books about our values, and doing group activities that promote using their “thinking minds, loving hearts, and helping hands.”
  • On completing the program, chalice keepers are recognized in a short ceremony and given the gift of personal chalice.
• UU Seekers
  • In the fifth or sixth grade year, children once again explore their spirituality through a guided self-study. This time, however, the goal is to develop an understanding of and a connection to the broader faith and traditions of Unitarian Universalism.
  • Children in this program will learn about historic figures, study some of our important sources, and will complete a service project with their classmates or family.
  • Recognition of this accomplishment will take place during a spring worship service and, once again, participants will be given a small, personal gift from the congregation.
• Coming of Age
  • The Coming of Age (“COA”) class meets during the youth’s 9th grade year. It marks the culmination of their studies at First Parish and invites them to explore deeper questions of spirituality, faith and religion, and their own sense of belief.
  • Each youth will work with a mentor who helps to guide him/her through the process. The program ends in a worship service built and delivered by the members of the COA class.
  • During this time, each youth shares his or her personal credo and is recognized and honored by the congregation.
• Bridging
  • The final step in our milestones program occurs just as a young person graduates from high school and from the First Parish Youth Group.
  • Each teen is welcomed into their adult years by the congregation in a special ceremony.
  • We think of this as a moment “bridging” their childhood years with first parish and their spiritual life going forward as an adult.

Yet, for many of us, church is where our children learn some of the lessons we most values, about morals and ethical choices, faith, UU principles and practices, and so on. It is the one place where time is devoted specifically to nurturing our child’s spirituality and to helping her or him connect to our wonderful principles.

With this in mind, we’ve gathered some resources for families to use at home as a kind of supplement to the weekly RE experience at church. Here you’ll find some nice stories or lessons that can easily fit the home environment, including a number of short bios about important Unitarian Universalists and a fun summer challenge to keep you and your child focused a bit on the 7 Principles while enjoying vacation and other activities.

You’ll also find a number of links to online resources, included a link to the Church of the Larger Fellowship which is a virtual space for UUs without a home congregation and postings about current opportunities for children and families, here in Needham and beyond. You might want to consider a summer experience in the Adirondacks or up at New Hampshire’s Starr Island where UU-oriented camps offer lots of cool programs.

So, take a look around, come back regularly and let us know if there is something we should add here, or if you have a specific request to help us become partners in your child’s religious exploration.

Resources for families

Teaching as a Spiritual Act

RE@Home Book List

A Perfectly UU Summer

Stories about UU’s

The Unitarian Universalist Religious Educator

The Unitarian Universalist Poet

The Unitarian Universalist King

The Unitarian Universalist Nurse

The Unitarian Astronomer

Helpful Links

Church of the Larger Fellowship

Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)

UU World Family Pages

Ferry Beach

Camp Unirondack

Rowe Camps for All Ages

What this means is…

• All RE classes and youth programs are taught/led by adults who have undergone a CORI check with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and who have signed the church’s statement of Code of Ethics form;
• No RE class or program will operate without at least two adults present. Senior youth (high school) may serve as one of the two in certain circumstances;
• The church maintains an up-to-date Policies and Procedures to Safeguard Children and Youth and annually reviews procedures for dealing with related issues;
• The Director of Religious Exploration and the Minister serve as trained, mandatory reporters of abuse within the state system and make up part of our Safe Congregations Response Team;
• First Parish maintains its Welcoming Congregation practices and provides a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth and adults, and;
• Regular review of other safety issues and procedures takes place throughout the church as well, including fire safety and evacuation procedures.

• Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
• A Forum on Public Affairs, Spirituality, Culture, and Science
• Upcoming Schedule

We frequently offer workshops and workshop series offered by lay leaders, guest facilitators, and First Parish religious professionals.

Recent examples include:

• The New UU
• Widening the Circle of Concern study group
• The Defining Moment in Poetry
• Courage for Racial Justice, and
• Building Your Own Theology

We offer interest groups by lay leaders, guest facilitators, and First Parish religious professionals.

Recent examples include:

• Meditation
• Writing Escapes 
• Creative Escapes
• Vespers

We offer Support Groups for First Parishioners who are looking for solidarity and support.

Our Support Groups, which are facilitated by caring members of First Parish, include:

• The Cancer Support Group (monthly)
• Caregivers Support Group (biweekly), and
• Grief & Loss Support Group.

• Last Sunday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
• Since 1995, members of the Sunday Night Book Club have enjoyed reading and socializing around books, both fiction and non-fiction.

• The Sunday Night Book Club has served as a gateway for new people to meet members of the congregation.  Everyone is welcome and you have the flexibility to read the books you choose.
• Monthly reminders are printed in the Bell Notes.
• Check out our list of over 150 books we’ve read.
• Meetings are currently being held on zoom.
• Contact: Jeannette Anderson at bookclub@uuneedham.org

After a brief check-in and reflections on a short introductory reading, the conversation usually involves what the topic means to each of us, and how we have experienced it. The key to the impact of our meetings is that we talk sincerely and listen respectfully. Although we may disagree, we commit to being non-judgmental, not giving advice, and never trying to change anyone’s mind. The overriding goal of SGMs is to foster the practice of deep listening.

If you are seeking a setting where you can experience thoughtful conversations about meaningful topics, you can reach out to one of the facilitators listed on the website referenced above to explore joining a group.  If you prefer to learn more about the SGM program before selecting a SGM to join, contact Cathy Livingston who serves as the point person for our SGMs.  You can email her at crazycat4@comcast.net.

Prospective members are asked to arrange a time to meet with the group’s facilitator in advance of joining a group. Meeting with the facilitator in advance allows you to learn more about how a particular group functions, review the group’s covenant, and discuss what is expected of those choosing to participate.