*Gathered Together to Learn and Grow in the Spirit of Love*

First Church is a spiritual home to adults, youth and children of a variety of backgrounds who freely covenant to support each other in the individual search for truth and meaning, while striving to serve the larger community.

As we grow and evolve as individuals and a community, we strive to provide a religious education program for our children that:

• Provides a learning environment of safety and acceptance
• Teaches the importance of every person
• Encourages thoughtful reflection
• Supports children in developing a strong spiritual core
• Encourages individual thinking
• Offers several opportunities for social action
• Teaches respect for, and draws inspiration from, our UU Sources of Faith:
• Judeo-Christian teachings and traditions
• World Religions
• Earth and the Cycles of Nature
• Wonder and Awe; direct experience of the Mystery
• Science and Humanism
• The words and deeds of men and women who inspire us

Classes begin September 18th but you are welcome to join any time.

A Spirit Play teacher helps a child water the plant while they wonder together about nature...

Children's Religious Education Classes

Classes for children from ages 3 to 14 meet Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 from September through May.

Children's Worship

In addition to their own worship service as part of church school, the children gather in the meeting house for the beginning of the service every Sunday. There are also inter-generational  services conducted throughout the year. In this setting, children become part of the whole First Church worshiping community. They are invited to contribute to the service in many ways: chalice lighting and steeple bell ringing, pageants and youth services.

Classes

Our Sunday School classes offer age-appropriate material designed to teach our UU values through a variety of fun and engaging activities. Classes are taught by volunteer teachers who bring their own special warmth, wisdom and talents. 

Our classes for Fall 2011

Preschool:
Spirit Play for ages 3-4

Lower Elementary:
Wonderful Welcome, Grades K-2
Timeless Themes Grades 3-4

Upper Elementary: Grades 5-6
Fall: You the Creator of Justice Age
Spring:Bibleodeon

There are no registration fees, and new students are welcome to join throughout the year.

Nursery

Our youngest children are cared for in the Nursery each Sunday morning. The Nursery is a warm, accepting atmosphere where trust can be formed so that the children are comfortable and happy in their first association with our church. One paid  staff member along with volunteers from the congregation provide this care. In addition, children of all ages are always welcome at church services.

Stories and smiles in the nursery...
Youth Group

8-12th graders are welcome to join our Youth Group. The group will be meeting every Sunday from 6-7:30  to have fun and support each other socially and spiritually. Traditionally the youth group has carried out social action projects, attended "cons", and planned and carried out their own worship service for the congregation.  If you would like to know more about this group or are interested in joining now or in the future please contact Jenny Carlson-Pietraszak.

Inter-generational Choir

Come sing with us!  Adults and children and Youth are invited to join the choir  one Sunday per month.  Watch the newsletter and this website for details.  Once a month there will be a brief rehearsal (9:30 sharp) before worship to learn a fun and very easy song which  will be sung during worship.  It's low-key and light-hearted so don't be shy, all you closet choristers!

What does "service" mean when we talk about it in church, and how can kids make a difference in the lives of others?

About once a month we offer a social action project, or Cool Deed as we like to call them. Last year our kids:

• Trick or Treated for UNICEF
• Written holiday cards to political prisoners through Amnesty International
• Collected several bags of much needed children's clothing for Cradles to Crayons
  
• Made bracelets to raise money to help send a tent to Haiti

Do you know of an organization that needs our help, or a great fundraising idea? Contact Aoife Barrington-Haber 

Updates:

• The Dedham Food Pantry was very grateful for the big boxes of food we collected. Thank you for donating from your hearts.
• Combined with Trick-or-Treating and selling bracelets, we raised $48 dollars for UNICEF! This money will help to fight the cholera epidemic in Haiti.

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Click here for a Church School Registration form

Children will begin in the meeting house every Sunday.

Click here to see the 2011/2012 Church School Calendar

Church School began on Sunday September 18th but you can join in anytime!!

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