First Parish offers a comprehensive religious education program designed to introduce young and old to the principles of Unitarian-Universalism and the mission of our congregation.

The program is led by a professional religious educator with volunteers serving as teachers. Parents are fully engaged in the development of each year's curriculum.

Religious education classes for students 4 through 12 are offered each Sunday during the worship service. Teens are offered the opportunity to participate in the "Coming of Age" program, an intensive, year-long program during which students deeply examine their own faith and develop a personal statement of beliefs.

The First Parish youth group offers an opportunity for the young people (ages 13-18) to gather once a month in a social setting to build leadership skills and explore their faith and values. The youth group also runs the annual yard sale with the proceeds being used for group-approved activities ranging from social functions, to church repairs to charitable contributions.

This year's religious education program at First Parish Church will focus on the eclectic and personal nature of our faith. During our spiritual life-journey, we learn about and experience different expressions of the divine. If we provide our children with a core set of values and the ability to approach the diversity of religious expression with an open mind, they will be able to make meaningful decisions about what to keep for their own.

To illustrate this, each child will receive a small wooden box - their portable or travel altar. Portable or travel altars are used in several faith practices including pagan and Buddhist traditions.

Each month's lessons will culminate in creating or collecting an item to place in their prayer box. At the end of the year, the children will have a beautifully decorated box with a collection of memories and inspirations that they will be able to take them home.

Much like our lifelong spiritual journey - collecting inspirational memories and lessons - our children may keep their boxes as touchstones for years to come, adding items that will remind them of their faith and values, removing some that no longer move them, while using their physical collection as part of a regular set of spiritual practices.

We have 3 weeks this month to get reacquainted with each other, our space and our expectations of one another

Whether we worship our ancestors or draw inspiration from their words and example, learning about where and from whom we come can be enlightening. Each child will be asked to bring a photo or other object that reminds them of a loved one to add to their box.

Family Sunday 10/26 Halloween

We will be spending this month sharing things we are thankful for and expressing our gratitude. Our goal is for the class to create a list of 100 things they are thankful for. A collection of 100 beads or other small items can be included in their box.

Family Sunday 11/23 World Hunger

We will spend this month learning about and discussing the history and meaning of the symbol of our faith. Each child will create a miniature chalice to include in their box.

Family Sunday 12/21 IllUUmination Sunday

We will spend this month learning about and discussing the history and meaning of the symbol of our faith. Each child will create a miniature chalice to include in their box.

Family Sunday 1/4 New Year's

We will share words and acts of kindness and explore the "Golden Rule". Each child will receive a "Warm Fuzzy" - a collection of kind words and complements from their classmates - to be included in their box.

Family Sunday 4/12 Easter

This month we will be decorating our travel altars and talking about how they can be used for prayer, meditation and reflection.

Family Sunday 3/22 Vernal Equinox

March will end our Sunday School curriculum. During Sunday School for April and the few days we have in May, we will be preparing for the Children's Sunday presentation.

Family Sunday 4/12 Easter

Family Sunday 5/3 Pete Seeger's Birthday, 5/17 Boyden Wildlife Refuge, 5/31 Children's Sunday

For more information, please contact Barry Sanders, Religious Education Director at dre@firstparishtaunton.org or 508.822.2107

December 26 marked the 3rd anniversary of what has been called the deadliest earthquake (and resulting tsunamis) ever.

Rev. Tedesco and DRE Barry Sanders organized the First Parish Church contribution to the relief effort.

Trevor Arrives!

Trevor is a smallish bear (seen below as our Director of Religious Education Barry Sanders introduces him to the congregation on December 31, 2006) who will shortly begin traveling through Canada and the U.S. Barry explains:

"I am a big proponent of acting on ideas.  You just never know where something is likely to go until you get it started.  That is how First Parish Church's penny drive for the Southeast Asian Tsunami survivors' started.  That idea took on a life of its own and ended up being one of the things in my life of which I am the most proud."

"Trevor is another one of those ideas.  The idea is to send a stuffed animal bear to Unitarian Universalist churches around the country as a sort of pen-pal experience for the Sunday School class at First Parish Church in Taunton.  On December 27th, my wife and daughter and I went to the local Build-A-Bear Workshop and created 'Trevor' - a 16 inch golden brown stuffed bear with an adorable little maroon and tan outfit with matching hat and a blue backpack.  My daughter named him."

"I posted my idea on an email list for Unitarian Universalist religious educators.  Within 2 days I have already received 10 requests for Trevor to visit churches from an hour up the road to across the country.  I couldn't be happier.  Sunday, at church, I will introduce Trevor to our congregation and get the Sunday School kids involved in getting Trevor ready for his first trip."

And Trevor has this to say about himself:

"Let me tell you a little about me.  My name is Trevor and I'm a Unitarian Universalist.  My birthday is December 27th and I'm left-handed."

"I think Sunday School is wicked cool!!"

"I don't talk much, but I love to meet new friends and learn new things."

See more pictures of Trevor's travel preparations & follow his adventures on Barry's blog site which is HERE.