First Unitarian Society
Senior High Youth Groups

Senior High Mission Statement

The Mission of the Youth Programs of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis is to create a safe, trusting, and open-minded setting where youth feel a sense of ownership and freedom to express themselves. These programs will foster community among youth and between youth and the Society as a whole.

Youth Programs will provide opportunities to learn and apply Unitarian Universalist values, explore life issues, prepare youth to be responsible members of the Society, develop self-esteem and self-respect, learn about other religions, demonstrate social responsibility, explore one's own spirituality, and have fun.

 

Youth in Action

"I am only one
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything.
But I can still do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the
Something that I can do."

            Edward E. Hale

 



The senior high youth group is a dynamic group of 10th-12th graders. They meet on Sunday mornings at 10:30am and then on one Sunday evening a month. They build strong relationships as they do social service projects, learn about various curricula, plan for youth conferences and trips and just have fun together.

Some of the social service projects that they have done are: serving food at the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery and at Simpson Housing. They have painted, planted flowers and maintained the playground at a 24 hour nursery on Minneapolis's north side. They have participated in Night on the Street where they sleep outside in boxes rising money for the homeless, and they have collected food and clothing for the needy. The decorated Ralph statues and sold them to support the Hammer Institute which helps mentally challenged adults lead full lives. They have build on Habitat housing... well, the list could just go on and on.

Some of the curriculums that they have done recently are: the Gospel According to the Simpsons, a history of Unitarian Universalism, and Listening Between the Lines. They do a senior high version of the Our Whole Lives sexuality program every three years.

Some of the leadership opportunities for them are to be in the Youth/Adult group which selects activities and curricula for the youth, planning a youth conference for all of the youth in the Prairie Star District, and to attend workshops on spirituality and anti-racism that are offered nationally. The youth sponsor luncheons during the year and help with special events that happen in the life of the church.

The youth are stretched spiritually on the Sunday evenings as they share Candles of Joy and Concern and express what is happening in their lives and events around the world. They develop a special service for the whole congregation every other year.

For fun, the youth go bowling, have overnights and movie nights, carve pumpkins, bake pies and participate in the holiday term arts activities. They have a great time just hanging out with one another and talking... the usual teenage stuff!!

The youth in this congregation are fabulously supported by the adults in the church and we are blessed to have a real sharing of support and caring among the youth and the adults. It is a great program run by two volunteer advisors under the direction of the Director of Religious Education.

We try to have our youth interested in helping the world. Like the quotation above, the youth are made to feel that they should not carry the burden of the world on their shoulders, but they can do something! To this end, students in grades ten through twelve engage in cooking for the homeless, for the crisis nursery, and for bake sales that support youth-selected causes. The youth gather food, baby items, and food to be given away to the needy. They participate in the Urban Immersion program where they learn about the systemic causes of poverty and do a social service project. They are welcome to help at Habitat for Humanity sites. The youth are the ones to select what they want to work on and they do it with enthusiasm and gain an insight into how they can make a difference in this world.

The youth group has two advisors who are with them for the whole year. They are a vibrant and dedicated group that makes us confident of the future!