Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb

What is this program all about?:

This past fall the leadership of our congregation has been asking questions about growth and our educational programming. Questions such as: "What do our children need now in spiritual development? What outcomes do we hope for from religious education? How might our whole congregation benefit from a religious education program?" The answers to these questions emphasized the themes of connection, relationship, and deeper spirituality. In addition, in September the UUFD Board and RE leaders met with a consultant from the Central Midwest District and during the training session we developed the following mission statement: Our UUFD faith development program provides opportunities for exploration and learning for all ages to foster spiritual growth as a foundation for building loving communities and a just world. Once we had clarified our mission, we then explored the content and methods we might use to foster the outcomes we desired.

Our decision resulted in the change to our Sunday morning schedule and the introduction of the Lifespan Faith Development Program (LFDP). The LFDP at UUFD is a 1 hour intergenerational gathering based on the Evensong for Families curriculum. In addition, we will incorporate a special activity session once a month. In method, our LFDP is modeled after our UUFD Deepening Groups and will be facilitated by many of our Deepening Group leaders.

The goals of this program are:
· to strengthen communication (form habits and memories that help cope with hard times),
· promote respectful and loving ways to be together,
· and to have fun!

All are welcome…single adults, couples, parents, children. We will meet in the UUFD Fellowship Hall and begin and end promptly. We are running the program this year (December 9, 2007 through May 25, 2008) as an open system, therefore no registration is required. Yet we encourage regular attendance as it will build a unique sense of community that will bless our entire congregation. Also, some weeks there will be materials for you to take home that will deepen and enhance the experience from week to week.

The proposed new schedule follows:
9:00 a.m. Church opens for Coffee & Conversation
9:45-11:00 a.m. Worship - Note: Children (age 4+ stay with us through the entire service)
11:00-11:15 a.m. Coffee quick break
11:15-12:15 p.m. Faith Development programming for all ages

Here below is the Lifespan Faith Development Program schedule:

Dec 9 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Who Is Your Family? - Part I
Dec 16 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Holiday Song Fest & Cookie Exchange
Dec 23 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Who Is Your Family? - Part II
Dec 30 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Pilgrimage

Jan 6 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Family Rituals: Mealtimes, Bedtimes, Hello & Goodbye - Part I
Jan 13 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Family Ritual: Mealtimes, Bedtimes, Hello & Goodbye - Part II
Jan 20 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Prophethood: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jan 27 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Come n' Play - Board Games, Cards & Puzzles

Feb 3 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Family Rituals: Birthdays & Holidays - Part I
Feb 10 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Family Rituals: Birthdays & Holidays - Part II
Feb 17 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Making A Joyful Noise - Drums & Percussion
Feb 24 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Things You Love To Do Together - Part I

Mar 2 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Things You Love To Do Together - Part II
Mar 9 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Good Times & Bad - Part I
Mar 16 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Good Times & Bad - Part II
Mar 23 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Easter Egg Hunt & Potluck
Mar 30 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Your Family's Ten Commandments - Part I

Apr 6 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Your Family's Ten Commandments - Part II
Apr 13 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Sharing & Privacy - Part I
Apr 20 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Earth Day Celebration
Apr 27 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Sharing & Privacy - Part II

May 4 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Field Trip - Communing with Horses & Nature
May 11 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Celebrating Your Family - Part I
May 18 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Celebrating Your Family - Part II
May 25 - 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Special Activity: Memorial Day - Caring For Our Church Home

We have a vision. We have a strategy. We have the talent, commitment, and ability in our leadership to maintain a creative, intergenerational model for lifespan faith development and for congregational growth. We have a world where our children are stuff-rich and relationship-poor. We have all ages who feel estranged, isolated, and unappreciated in a world where they can be needed, loved, and ministers for peace.

The time is now. Let us succeed at connection, relationship and deeper spirituality. We invite you to join us.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb
158 N. Fourth Street
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-756-7089
uufdchurchoffice@aol.com

 

Child care services available.

Our church is handicapped accessible.

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