Children and Youth Religious Exploration (CYRE)
Welcome!
CYRE welcomes all Children, Youth and Families! On the first Sunday of each month during the church year, families are invited to participate in a Family Chapel designed for all generations. On the fourth Sunday, we enjoy multigenerational worship together with all ages in the Sanctuary. Other Sundays, children and youth start with their parents in the Sanctuary before departing for Fellowship Hall for spiritual exploration programs that use art, song, and other activities to explore the same themes being considered in the service that morning.
-Tim Versteeg, Religious Educator
tim@uuhamilton.ca
CYRE Mission Statement
“We seek an outcome of respectful, responsible, life-loving kids who are both curious and questioning and know they are valued for all of who they are and are ready to show others the same deep acceptance.”
-Adapted from Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
Our Eight Principles
| Adults | Children |
|---|---|
| 1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person. | We believe that each and every person is important. |
| 2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations. | We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly. |
| 3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. | We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together. |
| 4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. | We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life. |
| 5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. | We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them. |
| 6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. | We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world. |
| 7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. | We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things. |
| 8. Individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions. |
CYRE Programming
For any questions/concerns/comments about anything related to the Children and Youth programming, guidelines or policies please contact any of the following people:
Religious Educator
Tim Versteeg
tim@uuhamilton.ca
905-527-8441 x222
CYRE Team Lead
Pat Dickinson
pdickinson5@cogego.ca
Minister
Jamie Boyce
jamie@uuhamilton.ca
905-527-8411 x223
Sunday Mornings
- Service starts at 10:30 a.m.
- Church year runs from September to June
- Summer programming is shorter and less structured
We use the UU principles to explore spirituality and faith. With a deep focus on actions rather than a set creed, our children are encouraged at all ages to explore what is fair, right and true in their search for peace, meaning and freedom within the interconnected web of which all life is a part.
Every Sunday morning our children begin their worship with the adults in our congregation. Each Sunday there is a story for all ages read in the sanctuary which ties the monthly adult themes to the activities the children and youth will experience. Following the story, the children typically depart for an age-specific program in our Fellowship Hall and the adjoining rooms.
Children are most often divided according to age or may come together as a larger group:
- Nursery care is also provided for ages 0-2 during the service
- Rainbow Kids (ages 3-6)
- Primary People (ages 7-8)
- Junior Youth (age 9 through 13)
We begin our time together each week in Fellowship Hall with the following Children’s Chalice lighting words:
We light this chalice
To celebrate Unitarian Universalism
This is a church of open minds, loving hearts and helping hands
Together we care for our earth and each other.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the congregation
The church has clear policy and guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of all children and youth in our programs. For example:
- We require two screened volunteers (including training and vulnerable sector police checks) for all programs
- The church is a designated nut and scent free area
- Our programs are consistent with the Welcoming Congregations designation of our church
Rights and Responsibilities of the parents
“Parent” is defined as the responsible adult who brings a child to the CYRE program.
To ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth while participating in CYRE activities, there is a list of parent accountabilities in the CYRE guidelines. Essentially, these set out responsibilities such as:
- Signing children, five and under, in and out of the program each Sunday
- Assuming responsibility for children anytime they are not directly involved in CYRE programming
- Remaining on the premises whenever children are present.
They also identify freedoms; e.g., parents may participate in their child’s program and/or remove their children from the program at any time so long as staff and volunteers have been informed.
Registration and Nametags
Parents are asked to register all children when they begin in September (or on their first visit to the program). The registration form is available from our weekly CYRE Volunteer Greeter or the Religious Educator. Filling out this form ensures that we know about any dietary limitations and other special needs and can aid in the safety of the children and youth.
Once registered, children will be provided with nametags that identify any dietary limitations or other allergies. Parents are asked to ensure that children obtain and wear their nametags while participating in CYRE programming, and to return them before leaving.
Coming of Age (COA)
This program marks the “graduation” of our children from the children’s programming as they enter adolescence. Like Confirmation and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in other faith traditions, Coming of Age is a time for our young people to explore their Unitarian Universalism beliefs and identities. However, unlike creedal religions, our youth are challenged to develop their own credo for the presentation at a special service.
- The COA program is normally offered on alternate years and dependent on the needs.
- The COA program will be offered this church year 2019/2020.
- The program is open to those youth beginning Grade 7 and 8 in the fall of 2019, or older youth who might not have had the opportunity to participate in the past.
- First and third Sundays most months from Oct 20, 2019 to late May 2020.
- Special service for presentations will be June 7, 2020.
Youth Group (ages 14-18)
Our Youth Group meets for fun, learning and fellowship on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month unless otherwise arranged. The program is largely youth driven according to our Unitarian Universalism principles and values. Each year the youth will develop a covenant with each other, agreeing on group expectations and process. Two screened adult volunteers are present for all meetings.
The UU Family
UU family events are multi-generational gatherings held every month or every other month to provide an opportunity for congregants of all ages to come together for a potluck meal and an activity. Past popular events have included board game nights, music/singalongs, craft nights and seasonal celebrations.
Mystery Friends
Mystery Friends is a program that builds bridges between generations in our church. Each year, children are given the opportunity to be matched with an adult with whom they exchange letters for six weeks. Each participant (child and adult) is assigned a code name to use when signing their letters as to keep it a mystery. And at the end of the six weeks, participants (and each child’s parents) are invited to meet their Mystery Friend face-to-face at a potluck luncheon.