Welcome to Valley UU’s Faith Formation, run by the Temporary Acting Director of Faith Formation, Kelsie McEntire. Our Faith Formation program is comprised of three parts: education, fellowship, and service.
Why “Faith Formation” and not “Religious Education” or “Sunday School”? The term “Religious Education” is only inclusive of the education portion of our ministry, and does not take into account the fellowship and service we do. Faith Formation highlights better the life-long approach to learning about the UU faith, understanding other religions, and creating community.
If you have any questions about our programing, please contact us using the form below.
Education
Our education programming encompasses Sunday morning classes for infants through High Schoolers, as well a wide variety of adult programing.
We offer all of the classes for Our Whole Lives Human Sexulaity (OWL), starting with the Kindergarten through 1st grade class, where the parents are in the classroom with the child, all the way through older adult classes.
Our Coming of Age (COA) program is offered every other year to youth in High School. A variety of activities, lessons, and discussions focus on the youths’ spiritual growth, and the program culminates with an optional trip to Boston.
Fellowship
The fellowship that we offer for the youth and children are broken up into three age groups: Elementary (WeeUUs), Middle School (MUUGs), and High School (YRUU). The Director of Faith Formation, and Faith Formation Assistant help facilitate the parents running those programs.
Service
The congregation has opportunities for service in programs such as iHelp and Paz de Cristo. Families can participate in iHelp by providing food and serving those who are a part of the iHelp program. Families with older children can sign up to cook meals for those who are a part of Paz de Cristo. Our Faith Form program has in the past offered a service trip to Agua Prieta where volunteers build houses in Mexico, and our Sunday curriculum offers service-based projects as well.
Our Principles
Unitarian Universalists hold the Principles as strong values and moral teachings. As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.”
Anti-Racism Education
Conversations around racism are crucial, no matter the age. But they can also be very difficult conversations, especially for younger children who may not understand the history behind hate, and why it is so very important to understand white privilege.
Need some tools to help start the conversation? Check out these books:
J is for justice! X is for Malcolm X! This super simple ABC board book is a perfect first step for families who want to start talking to their kiddos about activism and civil rights from a really early age.
This beautiful book (a Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner for illustration) tells the story of the 1960s Birmingham Children’s Crusade, when kids marched to protest Jim Crow laws.
This inspiring book tells the story of Sylvia Mendez, a child with Mexican and Puerto Rican roots, who helped bring about school segregation in California a decade before it was deemed unconstitutional at the national level.
Academy-Award winning actor Lupita Nyong’o wrote this book about Sulwe, a girl with skin the color of midnight, which helps children grapple with colorism and question what society teaches them about beauty and value.
Malala Yousafzai’s first picture book tells the activist’s own story, inspiring young readers to push for change — without waiting for permission.
From Martin Luther King Jr. to Dolores Huerta, this book tells the stories of some of history’s great activists during their childhood and helps teach them that anyone can help stand up for justice.
There’s a reason why this beautiful, slice-of-life story has won so many accolades: Using a simple bus ride to drive the plot, it encourages kids (and parents) to both celebrate and talk openly about the diversity they see in the world around them.
This lovely book teaches children to value kindness and empathy.
This book helps white families teach their children about racism, privilege and white supremacy so that kids understand what it means to be actively anti-racist.
This heartbreaking bestseller for teenagers tells the story of a 16-year-old girl whose unarmed childhood best friend is shot and killed by a white police officer. It’s unflinching and necessary.
Contact Us
Links to dive deeper
Faith Formation Q & A
Sunday Morning Programming
Our Whole Lives, Human Sexuality
Coming of Age
Multi-Generational Service Trip
Youth Groups
Adult Programs