THE WHY: Growing a Unitarian Universalist Identity in people of all ages through UU community is a high priority as we answer the call of Love. As I begin my second year at UUCC, I have learned that there is a longing throughout the congregation for a full, vibrant, meaningful program for religious education and faith development for the children and the youth at UUCC. This is a vital piece of a thriving and growing spiritual community. As adults and youth connect and learn together with practices that deepen our shared UU identity we will strengthen our covenantal community, and we will add to the creation of a sustainable, vibrant, thriving UU congregation with love  at the center.

Last year we had an adequate program that was enjoyed by many families. Adequate instead of flourishing only because of the low number of adult community members involved in sharing their values and love with time spent creating and implementing our opportunities. And, we had many more families by the end of the year than we started with, I expect because UUCC made them feel welcome and cared for and that they could see potential for their family in a loving community that values Love and is guided by that love to commit to spiritual growth and actions that will transform the world.

You have to share those values with others in community and to be honest if we hope for them to transform the world we have to hand them down and encourage the development of a deeply held value of Liberating Love in the faith development of our youngest community members.

The possibilities and opportunities are right here. Reach out to our Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Jenni Papp, to offer your time and talents in our programming for children and youth. There are all levels of opportunities. No one will be asked to do anything alone. There will be support and guidance from both Jenni Papp and the team you will be working with.

This starts with the email. Then, a conversation with Jenni about the possibilities that best fit you.

PAUSE TO REFLECT: Still haven’t sent that email? Sometimes it helps me to check back on the Vision and Mission of the congregation to see if my participation is in alignment. I have put them below so you can reflect. We all have ways we can share in our community. This opportunity is a great one. Perhaps for you.

UUCC Vision:

To be a large, vibrant spiritual community, known for our warm welcome and fierce, compassionate commitment to justice.

UUCC Mission:

• Community >> within and without
• Spirituality >> searching and growing
• Justice >> in action

Here you go: jenni.papp@uucleveland.org

THE HARD FACTS: Some people like numbers and facts to support their decision making process. If you are like that, I have that information also. Read on.

• There are approximately 50 children and youth active in YRE activities. They come from 27 families.
• We gained at least 20 new children and youth last year. We expect to gain more this year
• UUCC offers child care for the littlest every Sunday from 9am to 1pm with one paid caregiver.
• Best practices for safer spaces require 2 unrelated adults in each space with children and youth, no matter how many kids are in the room.
• Each offering that we aspire to have (see the list of possibility below) needs a team of 4 – 6 adults in order to have a team that shares the planning and accomplishment of activities.
• Last year we had 9 adults intentionally committed to doing the planning and implementation for the various programs that we did. Four on Sunday morning and 4 for OWL and 1 more for youth group.
• How did they do it? They showed up prepared every single week and then grabbed adults in the hallway to sit in the room with them for safety’s sake.
• Two of those 9 will not be continuing with our YRE this year.

Click here to invite a conversation with Jenni Papp.

I am truly so excited about the possibilities for this coming year. I’m ready to work with teams to build and support the offerings. It is truly within reach, we have the financial resources, staff expertise, and physical space to make it happen. So, please offer yourself, that last and most important piece, to our faith development programming.

In Peace, Jenni Papp

The Congregation is the Curriculum.

Faith Development is ALL we do. Unitarian Universalism is ALL we teach.

Possibility and # of kids we have	To Make it Happen	Still Need
Sunday Childcare 8 children	1 staff, 4 congregants	1 staff, 4 congregants
Spirit Play (PreK – 1st grade) 8 children	Team of 4 congregants	2 congregants
Adventurers (2nd – 5th) new multi-modal format 11 children	Team of 6 congregants	5 congregants
World Religions (6-8th) 10 youth	Team of 4 congregants	2 congregants
Coming of Age (9-12th) at least 6 youth	Team of 4 congregants	3 congregants
Our Whole Lives (K-1st) winter/spring 2026 6 children	Team of 3 congregants* (requires OWL training)	1 congregant
Our Whole Lives (5-6th) fall 2025 at least 5 children	Team of 3-4 congregants* (requires OWL training)	1 congregant
Our Whole Lives (7-9th) at least 6 youth	Team of 3 congregants* (requires OWL training)	1 congregant
Youth Group (7-12th) 15 youth	Team of 2-3 congregants	1 congregant

Are you still here? Thank you for reading all of this. I look forward to hearing from you and planning a time for our conversation. — Jenni

Share this post: