Are you interested in volunteering in Faith Development Ministry at OUUC? Apply here!

2018-2019 Prospectus for Lifespan Religious Education at Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

• We will use monthly themes, TBA, and coordinate/interpret our lessons across as many ages as possible with those monthly themes. There will be opportunities for collaborative planning with monthly or semi-monthly Zoom (online platform) meetings.
• In our 3-year rotation through our Six Sources (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/sources)  in pre-5th grades, this year as we plan lessons and stories we will focus on 2nd and 4th Sources: Prophetic People and Jewish and Christian teachings
• Spirit Play is a Montessori-based method (pre-5th at 9:15 and preK at 11:00) and will have stories chosen to coordinate with the themes of the month and to meet the four content areas of our Spirit Play program: Our UU Story, the Cosmic Story, The UU Principles and Sources, and The Wheel of the Year. It is also a goal for us to present diverse stories. There will be no Spirit Play class on the 1st Sunday of each month, when we will have Family Chapel.
• Labyrinth Learning (1st-5th grades at 11:00) is a learning-stations based method and will have lessons to coordinate with the monthly themes, and following our content areas for this age group: UU Identity, Religious Literacy, Nature Connection, and Making a Difference. The class will be organized with a Family Chapel on the 1st Sunday of each month, regular classes on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays, and a Service Sunday on the 4th Sunday.
• Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education programs are offered each year in a rotation of grades, and this year we will be offering the 7th-8th grade and the K-1st grade programs.
• Middle School Group (6th-8th grade at 11:00) will be doing Neighboring Faiths/Building Bridges (which comes in rotation every three years or this age group)
• High School Group (9th-12th grade at 12:30 on the 1st and 3rd Sundays) is on an adult/youth collaborative leadership model and tries to “Have Fun/Do Good” each month. They will do the Soul Matters Sharing Circle on the 1st Sunday of each month, and will collaboratively plan other events for the 3rd Sunday and other times, as desired.
• Adult Education classes will be offered in two sessions (Fall and Winter/Spring). Our core UU classes will be Articulating Your Faith in late summer, UU history in the Fall, and UU Theology in the Winter/Spring. Other classes can be proposed by contacting the Adult Education Committee.
• Soul Matters Sharing Circles and Covenant Circles are the two methods for small group ministry for next year. Each are discussions and reflections on the theme of the month. Covenant Circles form in the Fall and meet once or twice a month for the whole year as a committed small group. Soul Matters Sharing Circles will be offered once a month on a “drop-in” basis open to all, with no commitment for long-term attendance.

RE Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to learn more about Unitarian Universalism, connect across the generations, and help create a safe learning community for our children and youth.  All volunteers working with children and youth must have been part of OUUC for at least 6 months, be able to pass a background check, and be approved and trained by the DRE.  Volunteers serve under the ongoing supervision and support of the DRE. For more information or to volunteer, contact:

Sara Lewis, Director of Religious Education, dre@ouuc.org, 360-786-6383 x. 102

Job Descriptions

Please join us!  There are several ways to volunteer this year:

1. Spirit Play
   • Team of 4-6 teachers, teaching in pairs or working with an assistant (occasionally teaching solo if needed).
   • Time commitment: Once or twice a month, teach during the 11:00 service. Small amount of prep time (Volunteer “Huddle” 30 minutes before class, approx 15 minutes to review story materials before class, and reading an email mid-week). Approximately 3-5 hours to do initial self-guided training materials, a Fall and Spring volunteer gathering (about 3 hours each), and quarterly Volunteer HuddleUPs (slightly longer Huddles for evaluation and feedback to program planning staff).
   • Type of activity:  in this method, the teachers come in and read a story to the kids, using physical props that are put together in a “story basket”.  The method here really is the message, as we strive to create an environment of calm, reflective, loving care for each individual’s exploration of experiential wondering questions.  If you can sit on the floor and enjoy young children, this position is for you.

1. Labyrinth Learning
   • Team of 3-6 assistants, assisting either our DRE or our Staff Teacher each Sunday
   • Time commitment: Once a month, assist during the 11:00 service. Small amount of prep time (Volunteer “Huddle” 30 minutes before class, approx 15 minutes to review story materials before class, and reading an email mid-week). Approximately 3-5 hours to do initial self-guided training materials, a Fall and Spring volunteer gathering (about 3 hours each), and quarterly Volunteer HuddleUPs (slightly longer Huddles for evaluation and feedback to program planning staff).
   • Type of activity:  This is a multiage (1st-5th grade) program exploring one theme each month.  First Sundays will be Family Chapel, led by our DRE, so assistants will be helping manage children and lead worship stations. Second and Third Sundays will be workshop Sundays. Each workshop will begin with a whole group presentation and then there will be three stations the children can choose from: Open Minds, Loving Hearts, and Helping Hands.  Fourth Sundays will be Service Sundays, so after the staff teacher leads a short worship and whole group presentation/discussion time, the kids will be doing something to take action. If you enjoy experiential worship, learning, and social justice action and kids …. you’ll have fun in this position!

3. Middle School Youth Group Advisors

• • • Team of 4-6 advisors, working in teams of two on Sundays
    • Time commitment: About twice a month advise/teach during the 11:00 service, chaperone one or two overnights or weekend CONs per year, and chaperone/drive carpool for one or two field trips per year. Approximately 3-5 hours to do initial self-guided training materials, a Fall and Spring volunteer gathering (about 3 hours each), and quarterly “HuddleUPs” to provide feedback and evaluation to the program planning staff.
    • Type of activity: This year the group is doing “Neighboring Faiths/Building Bridges”, so there will be a balance of learning about a faith tradition in a class-like setting, taking a field trip to visit that faith group, and then reflecting on the experience back at OUUC in another group gathering.  If you like thoughtful discussion, would like to learn and explore along-side middle graders, and have an appreciation for this age group, this is the position for you!
  • High School youth group advisor
    • Team of 2-4 advisors, working with the DRE (who is a sort of lead advisor)
    • Advisors must be over 25 years of age, and may drive youth in their car. If advisors will be driving, must have valid insurance and a clean driving record.
    • Time commitment: once a month attend the youth group meeting 12:30-2pm, chaperone one or two overnights or CON weekends per year, occasionally attend/drive for other field trips off-site and scheduled at other times than Sunday. Approximately 3-5 hours for annual self-guided training, and 1-3 in-person gatherings for advisor trainings or meetings during the year.
    • Type of activity: will be a blend of small group ministry format for some Sunday morning meetings, and other Sundays focused on service and justice projects, with a few just-for-fun social events scattered throughout the year.  If you like small group ministry, are a good caring listener, and like working with teenagers, this is the position for you.  Our DLRE plans to be with this group a lot more this year, so advisors will be working with her.

• Family Greeter/Hallway Monitor

• • Team of 4-5 volunteers, working solo each Sunday
  • Time Commitment: once a month (choose 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th Sundays) 1.5 hours, plus the time needed to read the weekly RE email and other communications about the program well enough to be able to answer questions from newcomers
  • Type of Activity: arrive by 10:30 to stand by the RE sign-in cart in the Commons and greet families as they arrive, reminding parents to sign their children in for class and answering questions and welcoming newcomers and visitors. After children leave the worship service for class, bring the sign-in clipboards to their classrooms and then “roam” during the worship service as hallway monitor making sure children are safe and where they are supposed to be, as well as supporting and encouraging families that may be needing to go in and out of worship with babies or toddlers. If you like people of all ages and are committed to OUUC being a welcoming congregation, this is the position for you!

5. Covenant Circle Facilitator

• • Up to 8 Facilitators Sought, to work solo or in pairs
  • Time Commitment: once or twice a month, host and/or facilitate a small group discussion of 90-120 minutes. Preparation time will be needed to familiarize yourself with the theme of the month and the Soul Matters packet. There will be one Facilitator Training to attend in the Fall.
  • Type of Activity: host a group either in your home or at OUUC, and facilitate reflection and conversation. If you enjoy getting to know people better and deep conversations, this is the position for you!

6. Soul Matters Sharing Circle Facilitator

• • Up to 9 Facilitators Sought, working solo or in pairs
  • Time Commitment: Anywhere from once in the year to every month, facilitate a 90 minute long sharing circle. Preparation time will be needed to familiarize yourself with the theme of the month and the Soul Matters packet. There will be one Facilitator Training to attend in the Fall, and then you can sign up for any month you would like to facilitate during the year.
  • Type of Activity: host and facilitate a drop-in “Open” sharing circle using the Soul Matters packet on the theme of the month. If you like meeting new people and are comfortable being flexible, while also exploring deep ideas in conversation, then this position is for you!

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