Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Welcome to Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation (TUUC) and our Religious Exploration Program (RE Program). Our congregation was established in 1943 and we welcome new friends and families of all kinds.  We hope that your visit is rewarding and that you will join us as often as you are able. Each week's services and activities can be quite different, so we suggest you visit a few times to get a sense of the variety.

I am Lori Fernholz-Hartman, the Director of Religious Exploration. As the director, I coordinate all the children and youth programming our congregation offers, together with our Religious Exploration (RE) Committee and countless volunteers.

While there are many ways to describe Unitarian Universalism, this quote from The Dalai Lama simply expresses our faith:

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple: The philosophy is kindness.

We offer an open, welcoming atmosphere to begin, continue and deepen your religious journey. Our hope is that we can connect with you and your family through our Sunday services and other activities for children, youth and families.

Please feel free to introduce yourself to me and I look forward to meeting you.

Warmly,

Lori Fernholz-Hartman
Director of Religious Exploration
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(253) 474-4646

*For the most current information on our Religious Exploration program, please see the "RE Pages" in our monthly newsletter, The Dialog.

Children age 3 and under are welcome in the nursery 15 minutes before service and can be picked up 15 minutes after service. The nursery is at the bottom of the stairs, first door on your left. Young children are also welcome in the sanctuary for the beginning of the service. Our nursery caregivers are Lisa, a parent and longtime member, and Val, a college student studying philosophy.

Children 4 years-old though High School and adults all gather in the sanctuary for the beginning of the service. The children staywith the adults for the opening hymn and the lighting of our chalice and then are "sung out" with the simple hymn "Go Now In Peace". The children proceed downstairs to their Religious Exploration (RE) classes. You are welcome escort them to their classes and to stay and participate. After the service, new children and children under 6 years-old remain in the classroom until an adult returns for them so that children are accounted for at all times.

Programs

• Religious exploration classes offered during Sunday worship service by grade level (currently Preschool, K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8)
• Coming of Age Program for grades 7-9 (offered every 3 years)
• Age of Reason Program for 2nd-3rd Graders (offered every 2 years)
• Youth Group for grades 9-12
• O.W.L. (Our Whole Lives) age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality program (by grade level on a rotating basis; upcoming class spring 2010: K-2nd grade)
• Summer RE for multi-age group: World Travlers Program
• Chalice Camp-Summer Day Camp: July 20-23 from 9 AM - 3 PM
• R.E.A.P (Religious Education Accessible to Parents) monthly potluck dinners and discussion course
• Parent Support Groups are formed as needed.  They can be general or meet according to common circumstances, like Parents of Preschoolers, or Parents of Teens, Adoptive Families, Interfaith Families, or Single-Parent Families

Activities

• Intergenerational bowling
• Pool Party with Pizza-Making for dinner
• Family Game Nights
• Participate in social action projects (sandwich making for homeless, packaging toiletries for domestic violence shelters, Hylebos Waterway cleanup)
• Earth Day Nature Walk at Pt. Defiance in Tacoma
• Holiday caroling at Alterra Wynwood assisted care facility
• Field Trips to other Houses of Worship
• Quarterly Family Luncheons with an ooportunity to share ideas and ask questions of church staff and other parents

Opportunities for Adult Participation

• Member of Religious Exploration committee (meets second Sunday of month at noon downstairs)
• Volunteer teachers and teacher assistants (Fall, Winter and Spring terms) we encourage non-parents to teach and offer teach training!
• Decorate bulletin board/hallways (seasonal decorating)
• Greet new families that come to TUUC on Sunday mornings
• Mentor youth in COA program
• Teach O.W.L. sexuality education classes for elementary children or middle school/high school youth (must complete 15 hours of training before teaching this class)
• Help clean classrooms and paint on RE workday in June
• Plan and/or participate in All Family Worship Services in October, December, April or June
• Cook or bake with young people
• Sew or quilt with young people
• Dance or sing with young people
• Any talent or passion you'd like to share with children or youth is welcomed, see Lori to make a plan

Our Religious Exploration classes are taught entirely by volunteers. We always welcome parent observation and participation in any of our classes. Our teachers will provide a comfortable and safe atmosphere for your child. Each week we light a chalice, which is the Unitarian Universalist sacred symbol, share joys and sorrows, and learn from our chosen curriculum.

Preschool (ages 3-5) - The preschool class is using the curriculum titled, "Friendship Finders" this year. The children practice sharing toys and their feelings, learn that all families are special, church is a caring place, and we can all be friends and learn together.

Kindergarten-1st Grade - Is doing Way Cool Sunday School. Our theme is Peace: Living the UU Principles and we explore it using music, dance, art, cooking, games and Children's Worship Services.

2nd-3rd Grade - Age of Reason Program. This is a specially designed UU curriculum for 7-8 year olds that provides roots in community, plus wings. A formal rite of passage equivalent to first communion, to consider the role of UU principles in their lives, to connect families with church and its staff, to understand and articulate beliefs, to involve the whole congregation in ceremony.

4th-5th Grade - This year their focus has been the message of Jesus from our liberal religious perspective. Using the curriculum, A Kingdom of Equals, they learned about the social and political forces of Jesus' time, have built a village from that time, and watched Jesus Christ Super Star. This spring, they are writing a play about four important times of his life.

6th-8th Graders - Spring 2009, Compass Points. In preparation for their Coming of Age year which starts this fall, this group will meet for community-building games, cooking and projects. They will learn to use a compass and explore the past and present of Unitarian Universalism.

High School Youth Group - The youth group is for 9th to 12th graders and is led by our youth advisor, Anne-Marie Davidson. A schedule of their activities can be e-mailed to you on your request. Anne-Marie and the youth work together to form the topics they will discuss and the places they will go for special outings and activities. In the past they have gone biking at Point Defiance and had sleep-overs at the church. They have gone on field trips to a Mormon church and a Buddhist Temple. They also watch movies, trail clean-up days, create their own worship services and have game days. Their them this year is, "Can music change the world?" If you are interested in learning more, please contact Anne-Marie at 425-246-3581.

We encourage parents to engage in religious dialog with children. Check the RE postcard to see what is happening in your child's class and the Dialog monthly newsletter to see what we have been doing.

Regular attendance encourages class bonding and strong Unitarian Universalist identity. Please help your child attend regularly.

Questions about our Religious Exploration Program? Ask for more information:

• Betsy Robinson, Religious Exploration Program Council Representative
• Lori Fernholz-Hartman, the Director of Religious Exploration
• Debbie Cafazzo or Heather Urschel-Speir, RE teachers
• Lisa Kelley, our head nursery attendant
• Your child's teacher or our greeters in the front foyer

This fall the Religious Exploration Committee will start Support Groups for Families.  We will invite families to meet with others that share their joys and challenges with the intention of learning from each other, listening to each other, and giving support to one another.  We hope to have a "Families withTeens" group and a "Families with Toddlers" group, and could also have groups organized for inter-faith or inter-racial families, blended or adoptive families.  If you would like to join a group, or have an idea for a group, please contact Lori Fernholz- Hartman, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .