Religious Exploration is an important part of First Parish life. All children and youth are welcome!
What is Religious Exploration?
One of the Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles is "A free and responsible search for truth and meaning." Religious Exploration is the embodiment of this principle, and the exploration of all of our principles. Religious Exploration is an integral part of First Parish life, and Children and Youth are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways.
If you have any questions about Religious Exploration at First Parish, please contact Allison Gammons, Director of Religious Exploration.
Sunday mornings at First Parish take one of three forms:
Religious Exploration Groups start up again after Labor Day.
Childcare is available at ALL summer services.
A sampling of other Religious Exploration opportunities:
Pancake Breakfast
During the Church Year we offer a wonderful Pancake Breakfast on the first Sunday of each month.Coming of Age:
In 2010-2011 We will be offering a Coming of Age program for our 7th and 8th grade youth. This program will provide a special opportunity for them to explore what they believe within a safe group.Our Whole Lives:
Our Whole Lives is a sexuality education program that is offered for a variety of ages, from Kindergarten through Adult. In 2010- 2011 we will be offering OWL for our Middle School group.And Much more!
There are many other programs in consideration for the coming year, and we welcome all suggestions and ideas!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
The purpose of our religious growth and learning programs at First Parish is to engage children and youth in a caring community where they will discover a life-sustaining faith and ethical framework modeled by adults who empower them to act on Unitarian Universalist principles.
- Ethical development
- Spiritual development
- Unitarian Universalist identity
- Faith development
- To create a religious community of children, youth, parents, and other adults at First Parish.
- To provide a cohesive, comprehensive curriculum of religious education for children and youth from birth through high school that conveys the essential values, heritage, and sources of the living tradition of Unitarian Universalism.
- To train, support, and recognize parents as religious educators in the contexts of home, work, church, and community.
- In cooperation with the Life Long Learning Council, to support First Parish in providing high quality programs that enhance religious education for all ages, including children's and intergenerational worship, youth programs, and intergenerational activities.
- To have fun.
Children and Youth Religious Exploration Committee
Allison Gammons, Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration (DRE) dre@firstparishportland.org
207-773-5747
Celine McFarquhar, Board Rep
Betsy Whitman, Faith in Action Liason
Mary Bloch,
Matthew Bampton,
Lynn Blom
Allison Gammons, Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration (DRE) dre@firstparishportland.org
207-773-5747
Celine McFarquhar, Board Rep
Betsy Whitman, Faith in Action Liason
Mary Bloch,
Matthew Bampton,
Lynn Blom