Religious Education has always been important at Emerson. We have a complete Religious Education program that includes age-appropriate Church School classes for toddlers through high school, junior and senior high youth fellowship groups, a choir for children and youth, and an intergenerational orchestra for all ages. We are proud of our "green" building that provides plenty of modern classrooms to suit our needs. We have numerous family events like our UNICEF Carnival at Halloween, Christmas Pageant, Christmas Vespers, Youth Follies, and special worship services like Religious Education Sunday, Affirmation Sunday, and Youth Sunday.

Within the RE program, class designations generally follow school grades, with the high school youth consolidated into Liberal Religious Youth (LRY). Other terminology in use defines Youth R.E. and activities as those serving grades six through high school, while Children's programs serve the fifth grade and younger.

Emerson has a professional staff of childcare providers who nurture our nursery and toddler-age children. Spirit Play is a Montessori-based religious classroom for ages 4, 5, and 6 year olds. The 1st through 5th grades are on a three-year rotation schedule with classes divided to learn Bible stories, Unitarian Universalist history, world religions, and how this history and heritage relates to their own lives.

Religious Education for youth includes a 6th and 7th grade combined class, and 8th grade Coming of Age class which culminates with a special Affirmation Worship service in which we hear about their spiritual discoveries, and a High School class that includes 9th—12th grades. All begin the year by going on a camping retreat weekend with their advisors and parent volunteers, and fill out the year with many opportunities for fun, fellowship, and service to the greater community.

Emerson’s Cooperative Church School provides a nurturing, multi-age Sunday program at no additional cost to the families that we serve. This is possible because of our flexible Cooperative Program Requirement that establishes certain parent responsibilities. Each parent commits a minimum of 20 volunteer hours over the course of the fall, spring, or summer semesters. There are many roles to fill: Teachers, Advisors, Mentors, Guardian Angels, Room Parents, Photographers, Special Activities Coordinators, RE Committee members, RE Office Volunteer, and more.

Because our Church School is a vital part of our community, we also encourage adults not currently parenting to join us as volunteers. The loving involvement of adults helps maintain the integrity of our church school environment, gives our children an entire community of care, and enables us to offer a wide variety of programming and activities throughout the year.

We live in a fast-paced society, so we strive to create a Sunday environment that inspires and motivates us to approach the coming week with renewed strength and a refreshed outlook. Being with people who are working together to make a better world is instrumental in this spiritual re–grouping process.

We hope that you will decide to visit us and learn more about how we can nurture your whole family. If I can be of any help to you or answer any questions, please contact me at the RE Office or by email.—Jo Ann Reeves, Director of Religious Education, (713) 782-8250, ext. 112