2022-2023 Program

Welcome back to another year of Religious Education (RE) here at the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester (UCWC)! We are very excited to be back together again, and we are working hard to offer various ways of connecting with our RE Community, both on zoom and in person, to help everyone feel safe.

As you can see, we’ve got a new theme for this 2022-23 year! Our theme this year is REIMAGINE, and our image was created by our very own Brody Boyle – thank you so much!

Imagination is one of the most powerful tools and most beautiful gifts we have in life. From children pretending, to the sense of wonder about the world, to our personal search for truth and meaning, to the entertainment we get from our favorite stories – imagination gives meaning to life at every age.

We offer this year’s theme to guide our going out and coming in together as we REIMAGINE: what this year will look like, how we offer welcome and support in our congregation, who we want to be as UCWC in our community, and how we want to build the world we dream of.

As we gather and continue to REIMAGINE what church is, what it offers us, and what we offer back; may we offer belonging to those who feel left out, may we invite play and laughter to lift our spirits, may we find spiritual fulfillment in our community, may we choose lifegiving volunteering, and so much more.

We hope you will remember, no matter what level of involvement your family can engage, that you have a community that is here for you and that you belong here.

What Do We Do in RE?

Our children and youth are invited to join their individual classes to explore a lesson more in depth. This year our curricula are focused on our Unitarian Universalist values as we explore our 7 Principles through LEGOs, through the morals of the Twilight Zone and Simpsons, and through our self-discovery in our Coming of Age class! We also look forward to outside RE, social justice projects, holiday parties, fun and games and crafts, and the many ways we can REIMAGINE RE this year!

In a welcoming, accepting, and fun environment, children from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade are invited:

• to explore what it means to be Unitarian Universalist
• to learn about our Judeo-Christian roots
• to gain first-hand knowledge of other faiths
• to engage in worship and activities with members of all ages
• to make a difference in the local community and the world through hands-on social action projects

Younger children also enjoy:

• skits and crafts
• occasional “Group RE” days, with special activities in a one-room-schoolhouse environment

Overall, we are guided by the seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, which describe how we covenant to live with each other and in the world.

Young people have always been an important, cherished part of our congregation and we have provided religious education classes since our founding in 1954.