Lifespan Learning endeavours to create opportunities for all ages to explore and question regardless of the spiritual path chosen. Services, events, classes, workshops, small group ministry, forums, and special events are all part of our development as a Lifespan Learning community. This means we can be very busy on Sundays! See below how we organize ourselves to get this much exploring done:
So, what goes on Sunday mornings?
We’d like to walk you through it.
At 10 mins to 10:00 you have arrived. You have taken off your shoes and are hanging up your coat. Now where do you go?
| 10:00 a.m. | Everyone goes upstairs to Coburn Hall. Families too. Our entire community worships together for 15 mins – usually the Chalice Lighting, First Song and Story for All takes place in this 15 minutes.
Nursery is open. |
| 10:15 a.m. | The Children leave for RE after the time for all ages and proceed downstairs to the Children’s worship area. There will be a brief introduction to the day’s topic.
Jr. & Sr. Youth can head to their respective classroom space. Adults continue the service upstairs. |
| 10:20 a.m. | Children start all ages activities downstairs.
Note: The types of activities provided will allow for children to join at any time. |
| 11:00 a.m. | End of adult service and beginning of coffee in the foyer
End of first half of children’s programming and beginning of children’s snack time. |
| 11:15 a.m. | Children’s worship Circle + RE classes start.
Jr & Sr. Youth group activities start. Adult RE sessions start in Library or Coburn Hall Forum (discussion of service topic) starts in Library or Coburn Hall |
| 12:15 a.m. | End of children and adult programming.
Nursery is closed. All clean-up commences – coffee, RE, Coburn Hall (sanctuary) etc. |
What is a Lifespan Learning Community?
To become a Lifespan Learning Community a congregation follows 12 keys developed by the Canadian Unitarian Council. A complete set can be found in the Director of Lifespan Learning’s office or at the following website link: http://www.cuc.ca/lifespan/Community.htm
The first three keys focus on mission, assessment of current learning opportunities and long-range planning. While these are important and ongoing steps; we’ve picked three other keys and, with some examples, hope to reflect perhaps more directly how this impacts the congregation.
Step 4 – Provide opportunities for people to grow and learn at all ages of their life.
Example: Religious Education classes, small group ministry, workshops.
Step 5 – Provide opportunities for people to grow and learn at all stages of their faith development.
Example: Small group ministry, Spirit in Practice workshops, Building Your Own Theology
Step 6 – Assist members through life-stage transitions with programs and ceremonies of recognition.
Example: Our Whole Lives, Child Dedications, Coming of Age, Celebrations of Life
Each month we hope to highlight more examples of how our community can incorporate the concept of lifespan learning. In fact, we hope it is clear that we can celebrate that we are already doing many things that contribute to the enrichment of our shared community that falls under this lifespan umbrella. Lifespan learning is a paradigm of thinking that encourages us to support each other in our Unitarian Universalist search for truth and meaning. .
If at any time you have any questions about Lifespan Learning, please do not hesitate to contact Mary-Anne (Director of Lifespan Learning) at 653-2402 or ucs.dre@sasktel.net.
