Youth Religious Education Lesson Descriptions

May 3rd at 10:15am

PreK & Kindergarten – Chalice Children
Teddy Bear Month – Lost!
The theme of this session is “Sharing our fears with friends makes us feel less afraid.” Activities and stories demonstrate that fear is a normal, natural feeling everyone shares. Using a third party—teddy bears—helps the children talk in a nonthreatening way about how it feels to be lost and scared.
Children are invited to bring a teddy bear or stuffy to class for the next two sessions.

1st & 2nd Grade – Looking Inward
On The Threshold
In this session, children will explore the idea of a “threshold”—a place where a journey begins and ends. They will learn that thresholds can be both physical (like a doorway) and spiritual (like the beginning of a new experience).
The session introduces children to spiritual practices like walking a labyrinth and reflecting on the importance of ritual, journey, and returning home with new insights.

3rd & 4th Grade – Spirit of Adventure
Web of Life: Beatrix Potter
In this gentle, curiosity-filled session, children explore their connection to animals and the natural world through the life and stories of Beatrix Potter. By observing animals, drawing detailed sketches, playing animal-themed games, and sharing beloved stories, participants experience the sense of wonder that inspired Potter’s work from a young age.

5th & 6th Grade – Amazing Grace
May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor
Using the movie Hunger Games, the class will consider how unequal access to resources creates a divide which is difficult to overcome; explore why some have the drive which propels them to succeed against the odds, but most merely accept their oppression without question; and come to understand how economic division in our world leads to inequality and injustice.

7th & 8th Grade – Coming of Age
Prep for COA Services and Practice Reading Credo Statement
In this Coming of Age session, we will do final prep for the upcoming COA service and practice reading at the microphone.

High School Youth Group
Chaos at the Threshold
Thresholds are messy. They’re not neat, calm, or perfectly meaningful. They’re confusing, funny, awkward, and sometimes chaotic. And that’s okay.