Family Ministry and Children’s Religious Exploration
Connect. Engage. Build a Better World. And Do It Together Through Family Ministry.
Faith is a journey best taken together. In this complex, chaotic world, we long for connection. Those connections — relationships between family and community — are at the heart of our religious exploration offerings. After all, for most, families are the ultimate builders of values.
We are a welcoming and inclusive congregation, where children and youth of all ages and dispositions are encouraged to grow together.
Our fellowship offers childcare programming for children from infants to sixth grade during our Sunday morning services from the 2nd Sunday in September to the 3rd Sunday in June. When we offer summer services, we provide childcare.
Please arrive by 10:15 a.m. and bring your child directly to the basement children’s space. (The service begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m.) Please note that while we strive to keep our space as accessible to everyone as possible, our basement is currently only reachable via stairs. We are actively exploring solutions to this problem.
We are fortunate to have an experienced team of childcare educators to run this program. All of our team either worked professionally with children or had careers in healthcare. In accordance with UU safe church practices, we will always have at least two caregivers in attendance. In addition, we will be bringing in other caregivers to join our core team. Everyone who works with children in any capacity in our congregation will have successfully undergone a background check.
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Fun. Joy. Connection.
Music and Story Together: Activities for Young Children
Oct 19 and Nov. 16, 3:30-5:15 p.m.
We’re expanding our Saturday music and story program! Once a month over the colder weather season, we gather to celebrate our little ones and their families. Build connections, young and old together.
Our *two cohorts* for the children: one for toddlers to Pre-K children and one for children grades K-2. Activities are especially designed for the children and their grownups and siblings. And our free-wheeling family supper time together offers the grownups some time to connect with each other!
This fall we will meet monthly — on Oct. 19 and Nov. 16 — starting at 3:30. So that we can design activities for two age groups, we’ll meet in two spaces at the fellowship:
- In the open sanctuary space for music and large-body movement.
- In the basement for story and activity time.
Here’s how the afternoon will be planned:
3:30
We begin our music and story sessions (one group in sanctuary and one group downstairs). After the first 20-minute session, the two groups will trade places for another 20 minutes. Music is always in the sanctuary. Storytime is always in the religious exploration space downstairs.
4:15
We all gather together for a short circle-singing & movement time for the entire group — kids and grownups together!
4:30-5:15
We hang together for a casual family supper to close up the time together. If you want to bring a favorite snack, you are welcome. But we’ll provide a simple supper.
As other activities are planned for families, you can look here.
Questions? Contact re@uuplattsburgh.org.
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HAWK (Hope, Action, Wisdom, Kindness) Sexuality Education Program for Grades 7-9
September 29, October 20, November 10, 3:15-4:45 p.m. By registration only.
As UUs, we believe comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education is key to helping people embrace the fullness of their sexual and gender identities – while also looking out for one another. This fall we complete the sexuality education for junior youth that began in spring 2024. To learn more, or to express interest in our sexuality education programs for children and youth in other age groups: re@uuplattsburgh.org
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Meet Our Core Team
Staff member and Religious Educator, Kris Lutters, has been a member of the fellowship for 40+ years. For most of that time she has been involved with the religious exploration program. She is a retired elementary school counselor and throughout her life has enjoyed interacting with children of all ages.
Kelly Predojevic, a newer member of the congregation, is a retired RN with a long history of caregiving. Kelly has two dogs, two grown children and three grandcats. She looks forward to playing and connecting with young people in preparation for grandkids.
Elise Hathaway and Grace Suarez serve as program assistants.
Contact religious exploration volunteers for more information at re@uuplattsburgh.org.
Our Foundations
The fellowship’s religious exploration program, now accepting registration, affirms the inherent worth and dignity of all. It teaches that we are capable of changing the world for the better and draws from many resources, exploring and acting upon a variety of themes including anti-racism, environmental justice and spiritual growth.
Our seven principles form the basis for all we do. Here they are, written in an easy-to-read, kid-friendly format. Read about our 8th Principle, that the UU Fellowship adopted with a unamimous vote in 2021.