Children's Religious Education at
Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale (UUCFL)

Sometimes the minister and DRE ask the children to join them for "Children's Space" in the service. They share a special time and message with the children and then invite them to their classes.

On most Sundays, children begin their day in Religious Education classrooms. Each class begins the Sunday session with its own special chalice lighting and sharing of joys and concerns.

A basket is passed to collect an offering from the children. We ask that this offering come from the children's "pockets". This way, they can learn that it takes a little sacrifice from all of us to keep the Unitarian Universalist light shining in Fort Lauderdale, and that we all reap the harvest of that sacrifice.

• Martin Luther King Day - Our children create signs, march in the parade, and participate in social service as ways to honor Dr. King, celebrate equality and freedom.

• UNICEF - Our children raise funds for the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF).

• Guest at Your Table - We and our children contribute money equivalent to feeding a guest in special boxes on our dining tables. Funds go to worldwide projects and services performed by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).

• Service for UUCFL - We and our children regularly participate in greeting guests, coffee hour, building and grounds work days, the annual rummage sale, and other church service events and activities.

• Passover Seder - In the spring, our children celebrate this Jewish holiday by listening to this exciting story of religious freedom, singing songs, and enjoying traditional foods.

• Flower Communion - In the springtime, this inter-generational UU service celebrates loving, sharing, and community. We and our children bring a flower to place in the grand bouquet on the pulpit and later take a different flower.

• Water Service - At the end of summer, this inter-generational UU service celebrates the special places where we have been over the summer. A community container combines the small amounts of water that we and our children collected at special places.

• Easter Egg Hunt - Following the Easter service, our children hunt for colored eggs and candy.

• Stone Soup Sunday - Following this autumn service, we and our children contribute an ingredient for soup that is served to our congregation for a fee. Proceeds go to the Cooperative Feeding Program.

• Pumpkin Carving Party - One evening before Halloween, we and our children carve pumpkins, roast marshmallows, sing around a campfire, and celebrate the arrival of autumn together.

• Holiday Gathering - One Sunday afternoon in December, we and our children make Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa decorations; decorate the halls and trees; sing carols; eat cookies; and get our pictures taken with Santa.