Welcome to the First Unitarian Universalist of Hunterdon County’s Religious Education Program

Our Mission

Our Mission is to provide the youth of this fellowship a foundation based on Unitarian Universalist principles, and a community dedicated to providing an environment in which spiritual awareness, tolerance, acceptance, and personal growth can be nurtured and developed according to each child’s unique nature.

Classes, schedules and teachers

The Fellowship year runs from September 13th, 2009 through June 13th of 2010.

Sunday Services start in the Old Stone Church at 9:15 am and 11 am. Each service is one hour long. Religious Education classes are offered at both services in Dodd Hall, the building behind the church. Classes for pre-k through fifth grade are held at 9:15 and pre-k through 8th grade at 11 am.  On the last Sunday of the month there is only one service and one session of RE at 11 am.

The RE Program starts on September 20th. Please see our Events and Activities page for more up-to-date event information and take a look at the RE calendar and our curriculum page for more information about the 2009/2010 RE program.

The schedule for age group sessions is as follows:

9:15 am Rainbow Chapel

This is an interactive, interage children’s worship offered each week.

11:00 am RE Classes

PreK - 2nd grade: Spirit Play

3rd - 5th grade: Faithful Journeys & Moral Tales

6th - 8th grade: Amazing Grace

The PreK/K through Middle/Junior High groups have teaching teams. Each teaching team of three adults/older teens takes turns facilitating classes. This year, classes require two facilitators: one of the team teachers and an assistant. Parents, other adult members, and older teens are asked to volunteer as assistants.

The Senior High youth group has a team of advisors who rotate amongst themselves. Due to the sensitivity of some of the topics and discussions and a level of confidentiality, additional volunteers are not required. Guests may occasionally visit for certain topics. Please see Senior High youth group for more information.

Visitors are always welcome

If you are bringing younger children to RE classes for the first time, you may want to stay with them until they feel comfortable. On Sundays, Kim Mason, our Director of Lifespan Programs and Services, or a member of the RE committee, will be there to welcome you and your children, help direct them to their classes and have you fill out a visitor form. You may want to attend a few times to get a feel for what the program is like. If you and your children decide FUUFHC fits your needs, Kim or another member of the RE committee will provide you with a registration form.

There are no attendance requirements, even though we encourage regular attendance so that you and your children become comfortable and get the most out of what the program has to offer. Newcomers are not asked to volunteer for at least six months to allow time for them to get acquainted with the fellowship and vice versa.

Registration forms

Registration for the fall takes place in May the previous year. However, forms are available in Dodd Hall all year long and we accept mid-year enrollments. Forms are also available in pdf format online here. If you plan on having your children in RE classes on a regular basis, please fill out a form so that we have pertinent information and a record of their enrollment. You can return the form to Kim Mason, one of the team teachers, or a member of the RE Committee.

Safe Congregations Policy

To ensure the physical and emotional safety of all members of the FUUFHC community we have a Safe Congregations policy. It sets guidelines for a variety of events and situations and establishes protocol for dealing with allegations of misconduct. You can read the Safe Congregation Policy here.

Volunteer Opportunities

This program is a cooperative effort that benefits greatly from everyone’s participation and help. Working with our children and youth is fun and there are many ways to get involved: becoming a team teacher, assisting in a class, hosting or helping with a special all RE event, or bringing in needed items. Teaching experience is not required — only a willingness to share and learn and grow spiritually. Sign ups will be available at the RE booth on September 7th and will also be emailed, posted on the fellowship listserve and on the bulletin board in Dodd Hall.

The RE Committee

The RE Committee chooses curriculum, sets policies, and plans special events each year. The committee is made up of the Director of Religious Education, the committee chair and three or four members. The committee chair is Kathleen Cosgrove.

Director of Lifespan Programs and Services: Please contact Kim Mason to further discuss our RE program at re at hunterdonuu.org or phone: 908-996-3964 ext 3