We currently use the words “Learning Community” to signify our programs for our children and youth. However, we are really a lifelong learning community. We don’t just learn about spiritual practices, world religions, ethics, and life’s big questions up through high school and then graduate from these topics. Rather, religious exploration is a learning journey of a lifetime.
When I returned to New York City after college, I immediately showed up ready to volunteer as a Sunday school teacher. I did this to give back, and, in part, because I couldn’t imagine participating in Unitarian Universalism without the excitement of learning.
When we teach, we always learn from the curriculum, the students, and our co-teachers. Somehow, I had received the message that the children’s and youth program was where learning happened. That may be because at the time so many UU congregations had religious education or faith formation programs that ended after youth group.
It certainly was a place of learning, but not the only one. Luckily, around the same time, my home congregation, had hired an Adult RE staff member. It was a blessing to be able to teach and to be a student at the many adult classes and small groups that were emerging.
Over the last couple of decades, UU congregations have transformed their religious education programming from a focus on children and youth to a lifespan focus. When children and youth join our Learning Community programs, they come with adults who also have spiritual growth needs. And, of course, we have many adults who don’t have children at home.
New UUs whether they are ten years old or fifty years old are both curious to learn about our history and the breadth of our theologies. Whether we are eighteen or eighty-eight, we all have questions and aspirations around what will bring our life greater meaning, integrity, and joy.
Our congregation has built up a strong adult faith formation program alongside of our children’s program, and I hope that many of you have had opportunities to participate. We are in a time of re-building and re-imagining as we re-emerge post the pandemic, and this includes what our children’s, youth, and adult learning opportunities look like now and can look like in the future.
In just a couple of weeks, we have a fantastic learning opportunity with the Rev. John Buehrens, a former UU president and a sought-after scholar, historian, and theologian. He also happens to have been one of my ministers growing up! You are invited to our Seminary for a Day with him on Saturday, January 28th – doors open at 8:45am, the keynote begins at 9:30am, and the day goes until 2:30pm. The theme is “Transcendentalism Comes West.” Here is the link to read more about it and to register now: https://www.firstunitarianportland.org/events/sfad23
May 2023 be a year of spiritual growth and deepening for our community of learners of all ages.
In faith,
Alison
Rev. Alison Miller (she/her/hers)
Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of Portland
1034 SW 13th Ave., Portland, OR, 97205
503-228-6389
amiller@firstunitarianportland.org
www.firstunitarianportland.org
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