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In Neighboring Faiths, the participants learn about the religions of the world and gain cultural competency. It’s one of the highlights of our RE program and one that students remember for the rest of their lives.
What’s special about this program is that learning includes visiting local houses of worship. Youth advisors will be working with the youth so that they come to see themselves as a group of respectful and curious religious people. This program supports the group to act out our Unitarian Universalist values of respect, tolerance and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
The class is developed into Units. Units may take 3-5 weeks to complete. A final schedule will determined soon.
The basic 4 session schedule is:
Session 1- Explore the youth's current understanding of the Religion and develop a list of questions for a guest from that religion; Session 2- Invite a guest to further develop and understanding of the Religion and its tenets, customs and expectations when visiting the house of worship;
Session 3- Visiting the house of worship followed by a meal. This may be on a Friday or Saturday or Sunday depending on the Religion; Session 4- Processing the visit and integrating what they learned from this experience into our UU values.
A 3 session schedule may combine Sessions 1 & 2 or Sessions 4 and Session 1 of the next religion.
In addition to working to understanding the wisdom of various religions, the group will discuss and engage in activities to develop their cultural competency. The goals include
This program requires a different commitment from families than other RE curricula. To build a sense of community and to learn the tenets and customs of each religion prior to any visit, REGULAR ATTENDANCE is needed. However, we know that is not always possible and our goal is to have youth participate as much as possible and not feel that they will be left out if they are not able to make it. Please contact Catherine Bonner via [email protected] and she can send to you a packet of information for the sessions that your youth may have missed. It will be incumbent on the parent to review the information with the youth so that the youth are prepared prior to visiting any house of worship.
Secondly, this curricula is based on visiting other houses of worship. Our church does not have a church van and so we are reliant on parents to help transport youth and advisors. When your youth registers for the class, you will be asked to provide transportation for at least one of the visits.
We look forward to seeing your youth participate in this invaluable program. If you have any questions at all, please contact me using your favorite format.
Namaste-
Catherine Bonner
Director of Religious Education
(941) 720-8437 cell/text
[email protected]
What’s special about this program is that learning includes visiting local houses of worship. Youth advisors will be working with the youth so that they come to see themselves as a group of respectful and curious religious people. This program supports the group to act out our Unitarian Universalist values of respect, tolerance and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
The class is developed into Units. Units may take 3-5 weeks to complete. A final schedule will determined soon.
The basic 4 session schedule is:
Session 1- Explore the youth's current understanding of the Religion and develop a list of questions for a guest from that religion; Session 2- Invite a guest to further develop and understanding of the Religion and its tenets, customs and expectations when visiting the house of worship;
Session 3- Visiting the house of worship followed by a meal. This may be on a Friday or Saturday or Sunday depending on the Religion; Session 4- Processing the visit and integrating what they learned from this experience into our UU values.
A 3 session schedule may combine Sessions 1 & 2 or Sessions 4 and Session 1 of the next religion.
In addition to working to understanding the wisdom of various religions, the group will discuss and engage in activities to develop their cultural competency. The goals include
- Fostering an awareness of one’s own biases and cultural assumptions
- Developing an understanding of what cultural norms are and the ability to articulate them
- Fostering self-awareness that helps participants listen without using their own values and assumptions as the norm or the ideal
- Develop the ability to carry an attitude of respect when approaching people of different cultures
This program requires a different commitment from families than other RE curricula. To build a sense of community and to learn the tenets and customs of each religion prior to any visit, REGULAR ATTENDANCE is needed. However, we know that is not always possible and our goal is to have youth participate as much as possible and not feel that they will be left out if they are not able to make it. Please contact Catherine Bonner via [email protected] and she can send to you a packet of information for the sessions that your youth may have missed. It will be incumbent on the parent to review the information with the youth so that the youth are prepared prior to visiting any house of worship.
Secondly, this curricula is based on visiting other houses of worship. Our church does not have a church van and so we are reliant on parents to help transport youth and advisors. When your youth registers for the class, you will be asked to provide transportation for at least one of the visits.
We look forward to seeing your youth participate in this invaluable program. If you have any questions at all, please contact me using your favorite format.
Namaste-
Catherine Bonner
Director of Religious Education
(941) 720-8437 cell/text
[email protected]
Sample Unit- Coming of Age- Judaism
Session 1- What Do We Know about the Jewish Faith?
Goals: To have the participants share what they know about Judaism, prepare a list of questions for a guest interview, to increase bonding within the group.
Sharing Circle- Lighting the chalice and Participants "check-in" about their week.
Readings- Each participant reads a portion of Handout 1
What Do We Know- Open discussion on Judaism and what the participants know.
Summary Presentation- Leader will share some information and history on Judaism
Communal Drink- Learning about Kiddush, the blessing over the wine of Shabbat and on Holy Days.
Planning for the Guest Interview- Participants will brainstorm on questions they have about Judaism that will be asked the guest at the next session.
Art Activity- Participants create their own symbols that represent them individually.
Closing Circle- Extinguishing the Chalice with song.
Session 2- Exploring Judaism with a Guest
Goals: To have the participants learn more about Judaism from an experienced person and to deepen the way the guest lives his or her faith.
Sharing Circle- Lighting the chalice and Participants "check-in" about their week.
Guest Introduction and Interview-Participants to greet the guest and introduce themselves, Guest to more fully introduce themselves and provide a short presentation on Judaism followed by a discussion period including using the prepared interview questions.
Business Meeting- Participants and Leaders discuss the logistics of their visit to the Synagogue.
Closing Circle- Extinguishing the Chalice with song.
Session 3- Visit to the Synagogue
Participants to visit the synagogue according to the plans determined by the group. Dinner to follow the visit.
Session 4- Intergrating our Experiences
Goals: To explore thoughts and feelings about the ways Jews practice their faith, understand how Judaism forms Jewish values and behaviors, exploring how Jewish values, behaviors and practices inform us a Unitarian Universalists and how this visit may have impacted the participants own spirituality.
Sharing Circle- Lighting the chalice and Participants "check-in" about their week.
Reflecting and Exploring- Participants will describe briefly two beliefs, values, and practices that they observed or experienced.
Integrating- Participants will create a Comparative Religions Chart to be used to help compare aspects of each religion they will visit through-out the year along with Unitarian Universalism.
Thank You Cards- Participants to create in small groups thank you cards for the guest and the synagogue.
Closing Circle- Extinguishing the Chalice with song.
Goals: To have the participants share what they know about Judaism, prepare a list of questions for a guest interview, to increase bonding within the group.
Sharing Circle- Lighting the chalice and Participants "check-in" about their week.
Readings- Each participant reads a portion of Handout 1
What Do We Know- Open discussion on Judaism and what the participants know.
Summary Presentation- Leader will share some information and history on Judaism
Communal Drink- Learning about Kiddush, the blessing over the wine of Shabbat and on Holy Days.
Planning for the Guest Interview- Participants will brainstorm on questions they have about Judaism that will be asked the guest at the next session.
Art Activity- Participants create their own symbols that represent them individually.
Closing Circle- Extinguishing the Chalice with song.
Session 2- Exploring Judaism with a Guest
Goals: To have the participants learn more about Judaism from an experienced person and to deepen the way the guest lives his or her faith.
Sharing Circle- Lighting the chalice and Participants "check-in" about their week.
Guest Introduction and Interview-Participants to greet the guest and introduce themselves, Guest to more fully introduce themselves and provide a short presentation on Judaism followed by a discussion period including using the prepared interview questions.
Business Meeting- Participants and Leaders discuss the logistics of their visit to the Synagogue.
Closing Circle- Extinguishing the Chalice with song.
Session 3- Visit to the Synagogue
Participants to visit the synagogue according to the plans determined by the group. Dinner to follow the visit.
Session 4- Intergrating our Experiences
Goals: To explore thoughts and feelings about the ways Jews practice their faith, understand how Judaism forms Jewish values and behaviors, exploring how Jewish values, behaviors and practices inform us a Unitarian Universalists and how this visit may have impacted the participants own spirituality.
Sharing Circle- Lighting the chalice and Participants "check-in" about their week.
Reflecting and Exploring- Participants will describe briefly two beliefs, values, and practices that they observed or experienced.
Integrating- Participants will create a Comparative Religions Chart to be used to help compare aspects of each religion they will visit through-out the year along with Unitarian Universalism.
Thank You Cards- Participants to create in small groups thank you cards for the guest and the synagogue.
Closing Circle- Extinguishing the Chalice with song.