Welcome to the West Seattle Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
We are so glad you're here!

I am honored to serve this congregation as the Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth. This is a very special place with very special people and especially dear kids. I warmly invite you to join us on a Sunday morning to see if our community would be a good fit for you and your family.

West Seattle UU Fellowship’s youngest members and friends will find an active, educational and fun experience every time they join with friends, young and old here at church. Our kids are divided by ages, 0-2 in the Nursery (quiet babies in arms are welcome in the service), pre-school and Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade and 3rd through 5th grade. The divisions are flexible for homeschoolers, kids with different learning styles or special needs.

The Youth of our congregation are involved in a deeper exploration of their values and beliefs. This is a great time to learn about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, when values and beliefs are becoming solid. Middle School youth meet each Sunday during the service, and sometimes with the High School Youth for social activities. High School youth meet during the service for religious exploration and three Wednesdays a month for a Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) youth group.

As the children and youth of our congregation grow, we honor some significant milestones with a number of rites of passage ceremonies including Infant/Child Blessing, Chalice Lighters/Age of Reason at 7, Coming of Age at about 14 and Bridging to Adulthood at about 18.

We welcome visiting kids to join us in whatever way feels comfortable to them. Most Sundays follow a regular pattern. The kids and youth join the older members of the congregation for the first 15 minutes or so of the service. During this time there is usually some music, an inspirational reading welcoming us together, and a Story for All Ages. After the Story for All Ages, the kids head to classes.  On the first Sunday of the month we have a Kid’s Church time with some sharing about what is happening in their lives, and a short kid friendly worship, then the kids go to their age group classes. At the end of the adult service, kids go with their adult(s) to enjoy coffee hour together as a family. Parents and guardians are welcome to join their kids in classes at any time.

If you have further interest, please take some time to explore our website and also these other resources about UU families and kids.

http://www.uua.org/families/,
http://www.uua.org/YRUU,
http://www.uua.org/newcomers/index.html.

Check out the calendar here on the website for family events, pick a Sunday that sounds interesting and come join us. You’ll find a wonderful spiritual home for your kids, and your family.

Blessings,

Kari Kopnick
Director of Religious Education
dre@wsuu.org