Planning for the 2021-2022 Congregational Year
Our UU congregations are learning containers, and as such, we rely on one another’s open minds, helping hands and loving hearts to help guide and shape what we pass on to future generations. In the life of our congregation, Faith Development is all we do. Every moment and in every medium in which we gather supports the development of how we experience and understand our faith. Our children learn this implicitly by sharing in the fullness of congregational life with us. Each time we prioritize children and youth in our decision making, pay deep attention to them, their observations, imaginings, concerns, wonderings and recognize they have as much to teach us as we them, we are letting them know they are included and valued UUCP members.
We invite you to join our adult leadership team for Children & Youth gatherings in the coming year. We ask our leaders to guide our children’s gatherings once each month, working on a 3-4 person team with other adults. Orientation is provided and regular support given by Rev. Jennifer (ME!) to all adult leaders. We also invite you to serve as class assistants, volunteering with our younger members 3-4 times over the course of the year. As Rev. Bill mentioned on earlier pages, we require adults working with children and youth to be vaccinated for Covid-19.
We have openings to support the following age groups/programs:
• Pre-K/Kindergarten,
• Younger Elementary (Grades 1-4),
• Jr. Youth (Grades 5-7),
• 8th-10th Grade Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education and Coming of Age
•Growing Anti-racist UUs (Preschool, Kindergarten-Grade 2, Grades 3-4)
Please note that OWL adult leaders must have completed the UUA facilitator training process. We expect the UUA will begin to host OWL training workshops again in the coming year. Adult leaders for children’s anti -racism curriculum must have completed Beloved Conversations or equivalent antiracism/anti-oppression training.
Volunteer leaders determine what we are able, or are not able, to offer our children and youth. It is a rewarding ministry in which our adults often gain a deeper understanding of UU Identity, UU History, stories and rituals of world religions and experience spiritual practices and community service alongside our children and youth. We’d love to have you as part of this ministry team!
An information session to learn more about these roles and opportunities will be held in August. However, as I will be planning for the fall over the summer if you know now you’d like to be involved in some way please reach out to me at jennifer@uuprinceton.org or (609) 577- 7600.
Wishing everyone many blessings as the summer season begins! – Rev. Jennifer Kelleher