Our Programming
Children and Youth
The great end in religious instruction is
not to stamp our minds irresistibly upon the young,
but to stir up their own;
Not to make them see with our eyes,
but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own;
Not to give them a definite amount of knowledge,
but to inspire a fervent love of truth;
Not to form an outward regularity,
but to touch inward springs.
~ William Ellery Channing
Chalice by Felix
Our Monthly Themes
Kindergarten ~ 6th Grade
Soul Matters
We are part of a wider theme-based ministry network called Soul Matters. This group of over 150 Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country follows the same monthly themes. The themes are shared in worship, music, children's programming and in small group ministries. Bringing us into deeper connection, we are companions traveling a new journey together each month.
How do these values offer us both challenge and comfort? What might it mean to place them at the center of our living and loving? What promise do they hold for us individually as well as collectively? These are some of questions that will guide and bless our journey in the year ahead.
The Gift of...
September: Invitation
October: Deep Listening
November: Repair
December: Presence
January: Story
February: Inclusion
March: Trust
April: Joy
May: Imagination
June: Freedom
Coming of Age for Middle School Youth
Coming of Age (COA) is continuing fall of 2024! As youth leave childhood and enter their teen years, here at UUCHV we honor this transition with the COA program. Coming of Age is a 2 year program which focuses on helping early age youth identify their guiding values and unique spiritual beliefs. Rather than asking young people to affirm a creed, we ask them to think carefully about what they hold to be true, and the principles that guide their choices.
The participating youth will be supported on this journey by our minister (Rev Daniel), DRE (Jane) and volunteer facilitators and members from our congregation.
Across religions and cultures, people honor the transition from childhood to youth with ritual (for example, Confirmation in the Christian faith and Bar/Bat Mitzvah in the Jewish faith). This coming year, we will honor this transition with a Coming of Age ceremony.
Social Action
One of the hallmarks of Unitarian Universalism is social activism. That’s because UUs have always believed we must apply our faith to the world we live in. The Religious Exploration program is designed to encourage our children and youth to become involved in social action within our community and the world at large. Social Action is integrated into our R.E. program throughout the year. See some of the good work our children and youth do in the photos below.
Annual Easter Can Hunt
We donate cans of cat & dog food to the Westchester SPCA
Our children promote inclusion in our world.
