Youth Groups
Junior Youth (grades 7 and 8)
Curriculum:
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Our Whole Lives (OWL): This
year, Jr. High-aged youth participate in OWL, the Unitarian
Universalist sexuality education program. This curriculum is offered on
Friday evenings by four trained volunteers from the congregation.
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Sunday Classes: The
Junior Youth in grades seven and eight experience a Sunday class each
week that explores World Religions, LIe Issues, Unitarian Universalist,
Social Justice and our Judeo-Christian Heritage themes on a rotating
basis. Our Junior Youth also attend intergenerational worship and
holiday services.
Senior Youth (grades 9 – 12)
The Sr. Youth are affectionately called, “da Yootes.”
“da Yootes” meet most weeks following the Sunday worship service,
from 12:30 PM – 2;30 PM, for Youth Group. Fun and hard work are at the core
of this active group.
Through worship services and group meetings, junior high and senior
high school aged youth engage in a balanced YRUU Program (Young
Religious Unitarian Universalists) which promotes:
- Worship
- Youth-Adult Relations
- Community Building
- Social Justice
- Learning
- Leadership
Some previous activities include:
- Fall and Spring "lock ins"
- Alternative Holiday Fair
- Youth-led Worship Services
- Home-building mission trip to Juarez, Mexico
- Parents' Night Out fundraisers
- Jr. and Sr. Youth Retreat
Social Action
As part of the faith development of youth, the Melrose UU Church
helps facilitate a WorkCamp or Mission Trip activity approximately
every other year. This group has participated in two previous trips to
Juarez, Mexico. In these trips, the youth witnessed first hand
what it meant to be born into privilege and what it meant to be born
into poverty. With the experienced assistance of staff from Casas por
Cristos, participants built a house for a family in need in four days.
The youth group participated in this level of social action in 2004 and
2006. Plans are being made for a similar trip in 2007.
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