The aim of our faith development program is not to teach children, but to give them the opportunities and resources to come to their own insights and conclusions.  This is done by focusing on three fundamental spiritual experiences:

Silence: meditation, mindfulness, listening

Service:  leadership, helping others

Sunshine: connection with nature

Our Children’s Faith Development mission is to reveal to our children the values, heritage and sources of Unitarian Universalism and help them articulate their faith so they can lead lives of meaning and service.

Building Community

On Sundays, children will start upstairs with their parents/guardians and enjoy “Wisdom for All Ages” with the congregation, and then go downstairs with their Faith Development Facilitators.  Downstairs, we convene as one group in Children’s Chapel, where we light our chalice using special words, sing the “Seven Principles Song,” share events in our lives and take part in an activity or “BIG QUESTION” related to the month’s theme. We also take a collection of loose coins to support our UUFM KIVA Kids microloan program.

We always end with a snack and social time together!

Facilitators sign an ethical behavior policy and agree to background checks.  We also use two-person teams and all classrooms have public visibility. Parents can pick up their children at 11:30; older children are welcome to meet their parents in the social hall.  There is an activity table for all ages in the Social Hall and the Library has games and books available for check-out.

Parents/guardians are always welcome to review the curriculum at any time.  Also know you may join your child in Children’s Chapel or at other activities.

Whole Family Faith Development

Our monthly themes will extend to our worship as well, engaging everyone of all ages in the thought-provoking questions and providing opportunities to actively engage in the deep questions of our life.

UUFM recognizes that faith development doesn’t happen for thirty minutes on Sunday morning.  We strive to engage families and give them the tools and resources to take what they’ve learned and experienced on Sunday home with them.  Another way we do this is by sharing time together around a focused discussion.  UUFM Parent’s Group provides an intimate, safe place to articulate personal beliefs and joys and challenges of raising UU kids.

 Materials for the parent’s group will be sent out beforehand via email.  A light meal with potluck options is provided, as is childcare.

How We Are Together

How we are together matters, and during Children’s Chapel and CFD time, we encourage children to listen to each other, to support each other and to actively engage in the discussion or activity taking place.  UUFM Staff and the Facilitators will make every effort to have everyone participate.  If a child is having a bad day, however, and is not able to be in the group in a healthy way, we may excuse them and ask you to leave worship service to attend to your child.

After CFD time is concluded, the whereabouts and safety of your children is your sole responsibility.  Supervision of children will end no later than 11:45 a.m.

Child Dedication & Coming of Age

In the Unitarian Universalist tradition, we celebrate the birth of our children with a special naming and dedication ceremony before the gathered congregation.  Older children may also be dedicated, if they have come to our community at an older age.  Child dedications are held throughout the year. See our Child Dedications page for more information. If you are interested in this for your family, please contact the UUFM office administrator at uumankato@gmail.com to be put in touch with someone from the worship committee.

Key Principles

Because Unitarian Universalism is a creedless, liberal faith and honors the individual search for truth and meaning, UUFM does not “teach” its young people any specific theology.  Rather, we strive to encourage exploration, open-mindedness and direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder.

Attendance & Registration

Children and youth benefit most from our program if they come regularly. Only then will they find continuity in the program and a circle of friends so they look forward to coming each Sunday.  We ask all families to register their children, including regular visitors, so that we have needed contact and safety information. We ask that you do this each fall so that we have the most up-to-date information on each child.  There is no registration fee.  However, parent involvement is required to conduct the program.

How to register: Registration forms are available online or from our CFD Director. If not done online, please return completed forms to the basket in Children’s Chapel or the UUFM office.

Adult Involvement

Many volunteers contribute their time and energy to make our Children’s Faith Development program one of quality and vision.  There are many numbers of ways that you can be involved.  Being a member of the CFD committee of joining one of our teaching teams are two examples.  We ask each teacher to commit for one 4-6 week unit to create consistency and stronger relationships with our children and youth.  There are also many opportunities to make guest appearances with our teachers to share particular talents, such as music or drama or art as it related to our curriculum. Other ways to participate include planning special/holiday events and social justice outings, working on multi-generational services and plays, reviewing curricula, and much more.  Please see the volunteer opportunities in more detail on the registration form.

Your involvement in your child’s Faith Development experience also enriches your child’s learning in our program. Showing an interest in their classes, participating in multi-generational activities, and initiating discussions at home are all important pieces to your family’s experience and spiritual growth.  We look forward to our time together.

Safety Policies

We want you to know that all of our members who work with children and youth sign an ethical behavior policy and agree to a background check.  All of our classrooms have public visibility and we plan for a 2-person teaching team each week.  We are committed to a safe, nurturing environment.

Love a UUFM Younger

Our children and youth are living within constraints and frustrations as much as we adults. They could use some encouragement to develop their resilience and creativity, or just to know that love is coming toward them from outside their immediate families. And everyone loves getting a letter in the mail, right!? Are you willing to write to a child or youth in the next two months? Please send Rev. Rita an email, and she will match you with a child or family.

Love a UUFM Elder

Keep an eye on emails from Rev. Rita and Macey about outreach to the elders of our UUFM community! We will be nominating an elder each week and inviting families to write to them. Perhaps if your family doesn’t find time to write much, you can encourage your child to pick some artwork they have made to send! If you need stamps and envelopes or if you need to have an envelope picked up and delivered, Rev. Rita or Macey can help with that. We offer this opportunity as another way to keep our community connecting while we are away from each other. We hope that this will be a fun way to brighten the days of our elders, especially those who are living alone.

Contact Us

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato, Faith Development
937 Charles Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001
cfddirector@uumankato.org