The Big Sky Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has a small but energetic religious education program. Currently, we serve the needs of around 13 families, with Sunday attendance ranging from 2 to 10 kids.

Our current group functions like a one room schoolhouse—the older kids helping with the youngsters, and the younger kids charming their elders with delightful stories and questions.

The majority of our participating children are pre-schoolers, so we have kept the lessons short, and focused on weekly crafts and stories. The activities are loosely based on either the Church of the Larger Fellowship weekly curricula or one of our library of Unitarian Universalism curricula for preschoolers and early elementary children. In the 2008/2009 school year, we will be following the Unitarian curriculum, We are Many, We are One.

Last year 23 parents volunteered to spend a part of a Sunday service helping with the kids. After a session downstairs, most of them were more than willing to volunteer a second time to make art and discuss Unitarian principles with our young but articulate members.

On most Sundays, the kids remain upstairs with the adults for the first twenty minutes of the service. This time includes the lighting of the Unitarian Universalist chalice, one hymn, the fellowship’s sharing of joys and concerns, and a story for all ages. Any under-twos who become bored in the sanctuary are welcome to join our enthusiastic teen volunteer, Mary, in the downstairs playroom.

A little before noon, the fellowship “sings the children out” with the adult volunteer of the week. Then Mary and the volunteering adult lead the children in a short convening ritual, a sharing of their own joys and concerns of the week, and the week’s craft or art project.

In 2007-08, the kids made dream catchers and discussed Native traditions, fashioned Shofars for Rosh Hashanah, and filled hanging feeders with nuts and berries for the returning Spring birds. Please stop by our religious education area to check out our RE art display and newly purchased Unitarian children’s books!

Near the end of the adult service, the children are led upstairs to join their parents and friends in our weekly ending song, “Shalom Havareem”.  Then, we all retire to the community room for the weekly coffee and treat time or our monthly delectable potluck. If you would like more information, or would like to be included on our parent and volunteer RE email list, please email Becky.

If you are planning on attending with a very young child or infant, please email in advance, so that we can make sure to have infant\toddler care ready for your family.

We hope that you come to visit our growing fellowship!

We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together

We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life

We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them

We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world

We believe in caring for our planet earth, the home we share with all living things.