Religious Exploration is an important part of First Parish life.  All children and youth are welcome!

Don't Forget!  Upcoming Events:

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.  She is in the office on Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 11 - 3.

Sunday mornings at First Parish take one of three forms:

Intergenerational Sundays:  At least once a month the entire congregation worships together for the entire service.  These services are geared towards all ages, and will include all ages in the running of the service.  Childcare is availible during these services for those who need to move or make a bit more noise.

Super Sundays:  Approximately once a month, the entire children and youth Religious Exploration program (4 years and older) meet together in the Children's Chapel for special large group activities.  These take a variety of form from crafts and discussions to active games and worship services.

Religious Exploration Groups:  Most Sundays the children and youth meet in their Religious Exploration groups.  These are age-based groups which explore a variety of topics in age appropriate manners.

A sampling of other Religious Exploration opportunities:

Family Game Night

October 23rd was the first of our Family Game Nights.Families of all shapes and sizes joined us for an evening of fun.  More evenings like this are planned for later this year.

Pancake Breakfast

During the Church Year we offer a wonderful Pancake Breakfast on the first Sunday of each month.  Next Pancake Breakfast: January 10th!

Coming of Age:

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.  This spring we will be running a special OWL class for the youngest age grouping (and their parents).  More information to come later this winter.

And Much more!

There are many other programs in consideration for the coming year, and we welcome all suggestions and ideas! 

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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. 

FOCUS THEMES:

• Ethical development
• Spiritual development
• Unitarian Universalist identity
• Faith development
  
  

LIFE LONG LEARNING GOALS:

• 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

Jen Caswell, Religious Exploration Committee Chair

Jena Breece,

Mary Bloch,

Celine McFarquhar,Membership Committee Liason

Betsy Whitman, Faith in Action Liason

Childrens Religious Exploration meetings are held in the DREs office.  Times to be Announced.