Children and Youth

Here at MVUUF, we are a vibrant faith community, offering Sunday morning Religious Education classes and special programs for children, youth and families. At every age, the foundation of Religious Education is the co-creation of a classroom community that reflects Unitarian Universalist values:

affirming the inherent worth and dignity of each individual
searching for truth and meaning from many sources
encouraging each person’s free and responsible exploration of big ideas and questions
treating one another with compassion, respect, and inclusion
making choices that reflect our values
harnessing our power to create a world with more love, joy, and justice

From preschool through high school, children and youth are offered age-appropriate Religious Education classes that support their spiritual development. In order to engage kids with different interests, each class has a variety of activities, including stories, singing, sharing joys and concerns, spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, games, crafts, and hands-on projects. As a community, we commit ourselves to nurturing the growth of our children and youth, and we celebrate them as important members of our church community.

Church Year (September – May)

During the regular church year, services are held at 10:30am. Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship offers Sunday morning nursery care for children ages 6 months to 4 years and Religious Education classes for Kindergarten through high school during the worship services. Registration is required for returning families and requested after visiting two or three times for new families. Please fill out a new family registration form available at the welcome table in the foyer.

Summer (June 9 – August)

During the summer months, we have a worship service at 10:30 a.m., and childcare is offered for children ages 6 months through 4 years old. Children age 4-High School are invited to attend church in the summer with their parents.

Visiting Welcome!

We are so happy you are here! If you are joining us for the first time, please arrive 15 minutes before the service starts and check in at the Welcome Table in the Atrium so that we can get you signed in and settled. Please feel free to attend a class with your child, bring them to the worship service with you, or drop them off in their classroom while you attend service.

Questions

Andrea Johnson is our Minister of Congregational Programming (which encompasses Religious Education across the Lifespan: Children, Youth, Adults and Families). Please contact her with any questions you have about our program. programs@mnvalleyuu.org or 612-216-4318.

RE Registration for 2019/2020

Religious Education Registration 2019/20

Parent/Guardian 1 Name*
Parent/ Guardian 1 Preferred Email*
(will receive periodic emails regarding your child(ren’s class activities and events)
Parent/Guardian 1 Preferred Phone Number*
Parent/ Guardian 1 Address, City, State, and Zip*
Parent/ Guardian 1 Membership Status*
Parent/ Guardian 2 Name (if applicable)
Parent Guardian 2 Preferred Email
Parent/Guardian 2 Preferred Phone Number
Parent/ Guardian 2 Address (if different from Parent/Guardian 1)
Parent/ Guardian 2 Membership Status
Is this the first time your family has registered for RE at MVUUF?*
Which Parent (s)/Guardian (s) will fulfill your family’s volunteer requirement?*
We are a co-op program, depending on parent engagement to co-create a vibrant multigenerational church experience for all our families and children. Volunteers serve on a team approximately 8 – 10 Sundays per year. Complete session plans, classroom setup, prepared materials, staff support and training are provided. Please indicate how you would prefer to volunteer your time*
- Classroom Volunteer (K-8th Grade)
- Nursery Volunteer (babies 6 months old – 3 years old)
- Coming of Age/High School mentor (accompany youth as they create their statement of faith)
- Choice Sunday Volunteer (help kids with interactive activities in the Social Hall one Sunday a month)
- Chaperone/driver for Youth Events and Overnight Retreats (7th-12th grade)
- Family Night Volunteer (help with dinner clean-up, supervise movie or craft activity)
- Unable to volunteer due to extenuating circumstances (please provide brief explanation below)
Extenuating circumstances which prevent you from volunteering:
If applicable, please indicate the classroom in which you’d like to volunteer:
Child/ Youth 1 Name*
Child/ Youth 1 Birth Date
Child/ Youth 1 Grade Entering Fall 2019*
Does this Child/Youth have allergies or need accommodations or support (physical, emotional, behavioral, social) to help them have a positive experience? Information will be shared with teachers/caregivers unless you request otherwise. If no allergies or special needs, list "none."*
Child/ Youth 2 Name
Child/ Youth 2 Birth Date
Child/ Youth 2 Grade Entering Fall 2019
Does this Child/Youth have allergies or need accommodations or support (physical, emotional, behavioral, social) to help them have a positive experience? Information will be shared with teachers/caregivers unless you request otherwise. If no allergies or special needs, list "none."
Child/ Youth 3 Name
Child/ Youth 3 Birth Date
Child/ Youth 3 Grade Entering Fall 2019
Does this Child/Youth have allergies or need accommodations or support (physical, emotional, behavioral, social) to help them have a positive experience? Information will be shared with teachers/caregivers unless you request otherwise. If no allergies or special needs, list "none."
If you have further children to enter, please do so on another form. If there is anything else you feel we should know about your child/ youth, please share here.
Please click below to indicate your consent to the following conditions of participation: I agree to release Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, its staff and volunteers from any and all liability which may arise for damages, loss or injuries, either to person or property, which my child(ren)/youth may sustain while participating in childcare and/or Religious Education activities at Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I agree to assume responsibility for any liability which may arise for damages, loss or injuries which may be caused or contributed to by my child(ren)/youth to the person or property of others at Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I understand that Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship may take and use photographs of my child(ren)/youth to help publicize their programs. I do not expect any compensation for the use of any images. I understand that child(ren)/youth will never be named in published photographs.*
- I am a legal parent/guardian of the child(ren) listed on this form. I understand and agree to the conditions above, and give consent for my child(ren) to participate in childcare and Religious Education activities at Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship.

Religious Education Registration, 2019-2020

Important information for families registering for Sunday morning childcare and Religious Education for children and youth:

From September through May, MN Valley offers Sunday morning childcare for children ages 6 months to 4 years, and Religious Education classes for 4 year-olds through high school.

There is no fee for Religious Education or childcare.

Our model is a cooperative one, with families learning and growing in religious community together. We depend on one another to create a vibrant experience for all ages! Each family is asked to support the program by serving on a volunteer team 8-10 Sundays during the church year. Training, complete session plans, prepared materials, and staff support are provided.

Returning children and youth must be re-registered annually (registration opens in late April) in order to attend classes or childcare on Sunday mornings during the upcoming church year.

Visitors are always welcome! Please feel free to visit a class with your child, or bring them to the worship service with you, or drop them off in their classroom while you attend service. Whatever works best for your family is just fine. Please do arrive to church 15-20 minutes early and check in at the Visiting Families Welcome Station if you and/or your child would like to visit a class so we can get you signed in and settled. We ask that you register after 2-3 visits.

Upon choosing to register, we ask that you please make regular Religious Education attendance a family priority. Children and youth who attend regularly build deeper connections and derive the greatest benefits from their lessons and church community. When the same group gathers each week they get to know one another, explore together, grow together, and look forward to being together again. Your family’s presence enriches the experience for everyone.

Children & Youth

RE Registration for 2019/2020

Religious Education Registration 2019/20