Religious Exploration:
A Lifelong Journey of Faith Development

The First Parish in Wayland welcomes you and your family to join us to explore what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.  To get a better understanding of Unitarian Universalism, please read the following brief excerpts from the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations website.

Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism is a caring, open-minded religion that encourages you to seek your own spiritual path. Our faith draws on many religious sources, welcoming people with different beliefs. We are united by shared values, not by creed or dogma. Our congregations are places where people gather to nurture their spirits and put their faith into action by helping to make our communities—and the world—a better place.

Our Seven Principles
There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

1. 1.The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
   

2. 2.Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
   

3. 3.Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
   

4. 4.A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
   

5. 5.The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
   

6. 6.The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
   

7. 7.Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
   

The Sources of Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:

1. 1.Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
   

2. 2.Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
   

3. 3.Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
   

4. 4.Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
   

5. 5.Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
   

6. 6.Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
   

Religious Exploration

Exploring religious truth, meaning and experience is central to Unitarian Universalist (UU) faith, and faith development is central to our liberal religious education. In communities and as individuals we seek lives of meaning anchored by values and a commitment to promote principles of justice, love, trust, safety, tolerance and encouragement. We want to deepen in spirit and nurture our souls; we strive to contribute to and shape the wider world for the greater good. We recognize that we are part of an interdependent web of life.

Religious Exploration at The First Parish in Wayland

Our Mission Statement

1. ‣Begin their search for meaning and truth in their lives
   

2. ‣Explore their own sense of what is sacred
   

3. ‣Freely express their feelings and evolving beliefs in a safe, nurturing environment
   

4. ‣Ask questions in a community that is built on trust and respect
   

5. ‣Develop a Unitarian Universalist identity
   

6. ‣Experience a sense of belonging to their faith community
   

7. ‣Participate in social action and service to others
   

The Goals of Our Program of Religious Exploration

Our program of religious exploration has the following goals: ethical development, spiritual development, Unitarian Universalist identity, and faith development.

Ethical Development: The children learn the values of Unitarian Universalism described in our seven principles and strive to develop their own individual beliefs, passions, and morals through effective role modeling, experiential learning opportunities, traditional classroom-based education, and hands-on social action.

Spiritual Development:  To help children connect with their spirituality, we offer a range of opportunities for children to explore different spiritual practices, experience the sacred through intergenerational worship, embrace their sense of wonder, and cultivate their own personal spiritual awareness and centeredness.

Unitarian Universalist Identity:  To help children develop a Unitarian Universalist identity, they learn about our seven principles and the sources of our religion, the history of our movement, and our vision for the future of our faith.  Establishing personal connections with other members of the The First Parish in Wayland community in meaningful ways is an important component of this goal.

Faith Development: Our program offers a nurturing environment for our children to explore what it means for them as individuals to experience Unitarian Universalism as a lifelong journey of faith development.  Faith development is the integration of their ethical development, spiritual development, and Unitarian Universalist identity that results in how each of them determines how they want to live their lives as a Unitarian Universalists.

Family Partnership

We believe that parents are their children’s primary religious educators, and we strive to support them by providing a variety of learning experiences for children and youth.  Our religious exploration program begins in mid-September and ends in mid-June.  We offer a cooperative Sunday school that is comprised of a variety of opportunities for children with diverse learning styles to learn about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and to belong to a a faith community. 

Registering Your Children for Sunday School

To register your children for Sunday School, please complete a registration form for your family.  If you are new to First Parish, we invite you to “get to know us” for one year before participating in our cooperative Sunday school program.  You can also view our Sunday School Calendar at a glance.

For More Information About Our Program
Please contact via Carol Yerby, Director of Religious Exploration via email or phone at 508-358-6133, extension 26.  Thank you!