For children and youth
At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester

The Great End in Religious Instruction

–by William Ellery Channing
One of the founders of American Unitarianism

The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own;

Not to make them see with our eyes, but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own;

Not to give them definite amount of knowledge but to inspire a fervent love of truth;

Not to bind them by ineradicable prejudice to our own particular sect or peculiar notions, but to prepare them for impartial, conscientious judging of whatever subject may be offered to their decision;

Not to burden the memory, but to quicken and strengthen the power of thought;

Not to impose religion upon them in the form of arbitrary rules, but to awaken the conscience, the moral discernment;

In a word, the great end is to awaken the soul; to bring understanding conscience, and heart into earnest, vigorous action on religious and moral truth to excite and cherish spiritual life.

Multigenerational Services

Religious Education Philosophy

The Religious Education Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester recognizes the need to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children and youth to explore their spirituality, their commitment to social justice and action, and their relationships with themselves, family, community, and the larger world.

The Committee selects age-appropriate curricula that encourage self-esteem, respect for each person’s individuality, environmental responsibility, appreciation of our religious practices and traditions, and tolerance of the opinions and differences of others.  Consistent attendance over the years will expose our young people to the full range of benefits to be obtained from the liberal religious education process.

Our young people are a valued and important part of our church community.  We support them as they put their faith into action, and we encourage everyone to show them the way.

From the Director of Religious Education

To the Children

You are the world's most valuable resource. In your hands rest the future of the universe and it's my hope that within the walls and community circles of our church you find the tools and ideas necessary to guide you on your path, whatever that path may be. I hope that one day you will look back on your time as a child and youth and recall moments that will one day inspire you to make decisions that will bring happiness to yourself and your loved one.

To the Parents and Guardians

We thank you for the trust that you place in myself and our teaching staff as we help your children to discover the seven principles that frame the Unitarian Universalist Faith. We hope to instill the independence needed to consciously and responsibly question the world around them knowing that their actions not only impact themselves but those who share this fragile planet we call Mother Earth. When I look at the world today and the overwhelming amount of information that continuously bombards our young ones it’s my hope that they find a place within our community that helps them to center and find themselves.

I encourage you to think about getting involved in the Religious Education (R.E.) program at UUCM. It has been my opinion for many years; of all the opportunities to get involved in our church community, R.E is, by far, the most rewarding work one could ever experience. If you are interested in learning more please find a moment to talk to me.

Rick Carkin, Director of Religious Education

From Our Minister

As you know, our Unitarian Universalist religious tradition has always had a lot to say — reliably ahead of its time — about the education and development of children.
        Pioneers like Horace Mann, Elizabeth Peabody, Bronson Alcott, and Sophia Lyons Fahs opened up for us an understanding of the magnificent potentialities of children and taught us to believe in them.  They advanced our understanding, too, of how children learn.
        And how much there is to learn in the nurturing environment of our spiritual movement!  There is so much that we want to pass on to our children, and how we aspire that they might grasp it better than we ourselves have!
        A wonderful committee and staff of teachers and other volunteers, led by our gifted Director of Religious Education — have come together here to do this work. 

—Jay Deacon

Take a look at our curriculum here!

For more information about our RE Program or Curriculum, please contact Rick Carkin by email or through the church office at (603) 625-6854.

Read our Safe Congregation Policies for Children and Youth