Children, Youth & Family
Welcome to MVUUF Children, Youth and Family Ministry!
We are a vibrant faith community, offering Sunday morning classes and special programming for children, youth and families. Our goal is to inspire and guide faith formation, spiritual growth and the moral and community grounding of children and youth of the Fellowship from Nursery-age through High School and their Families. We are so happy you are here!
On CYF Sundays (September-May), children will begin downstairs with 2 volunteer/staff teachers for age-specific lessons, stories and activities. A special welcome if you are visiting or planning to visit MVUUF! Please feel free to attend a class with our child, bring them to the worship service with you, or drop them off in their classroom while you attend a service. For multigenerational worship services (1/month), the nursery|preschool room will be open. Also, you are welcome to color sheets, toys located by the sanctuary entrance and in the sanctuary. Hospitality Teams will lead social hour with fellowship, snacks, and coffee in the Fellowship Hall downstairs. CYF Calendar is Here.
This year’s overarching frame is living love through practices of our faith. This is a way for us to connect with the UUA’s new core value of love as we live it our in our deeds and embody love in our daily lives.
This year our Nursery through Preschool aged children will be using our Soul Matter’s Curriculum and play-based learning.
Our elementary children will explore Soul Matters Activities. Experiencing meaningful, engaging worship throughout childhood helps our youngest members develop a sense of connection to something larger than themselves, and gifts them with practices they can turn to for comfort and inspiration throughout their lives.
Fourth, fifth and sixth graders are welcome to sign up for Our Whole Lives this Fall. We are excited to have dedicated facilitators trained and ready! In the Spring, this group will transition to an In the Middle Soul Matters program.
Middle and High School youth will be on a journey called Coming of Age. First they will explore their roots, exploring how they are shaped by their current communities of belonging. As the year progresses we will introduce an option of Brain Body Balance, a curriculum written for youth to learn about mental and physical health and drug addiction. Registration and required orientation information will come out in December.
| Year | Youth Curriculum | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Coming Of Age | celebrating and exploring the transition from youth to young adult |
| 2025-26 | Our Whole Lives | 7-9th grade sexuality education |
| 2026-27 | Crossing Paths | learning about other religions and neighboring faiths |
When registering, please let us know of any comments you have about how we can help your child thrive in CYF programming. We strive to make MN Valley a welcoming place, and we work together to ensure everyone’s needs are accommodated. This is something we are happy to do for one another as we seek to build an affirming, responsive religious community that reflects our values. Registration is Open!
Be well,
Maria Bavier
Children, Youth and Family Ministry Director,
Credentialed Religious Educator
CYF@mnvalleyuu.org
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
(612) 216-4224
