What do I need to know for children and youth on Sunday mornings?
Nursery aged children can check into the Rainbow Room starting at 9:50. All other children should start in the sanctuary with their families and leave together after the Time for All Ages. OMG! youth will sometimes run long, and do not need to be picked up by a parent. They will fiind you. All other ages must be picked up from their RE spaces at 11:15 OR, if the service runs longer than that, immediately after the service.
Rainbow Room is in Room 4 (downstairs, down the hall on your left, past the bathrooms)
Spirit Play is in Room 6C (downstairs, to the right of the stairs)
Seeker Space meets in Room 9 (upstairs and to the right)
OMG! meets in Room 10 (upstairs and across the mezzanine)
Where can I change diapers or breastfeed in peace?
We have 2 changing tables in the Fellowship. One is in the bathroom right beside the Rainbow Room in Room 4, through the classroom wing doors, down the hall, and on the left. The other is in the main section of the building. If you’re in the foyer, looking at the large, circular piece of art on the main wall, the bathroom with the changing table is through the glass door to the right of the art, and then immediately on your left, before you get to the kitchen.
Parents who are breastfeeding are welcome to attend to their child’s needs in the service, but if you’d prefer a quiet place for breastfeeding, we’ve got two great options for you. You will find a comfortable rocker in the library,which is also to the right of the foyer artwork, but this time you’ll pass the bathroom and go through the door to the right of the kitchen. You are also welcome to use the couches in Room 7, which isn’t generally in use during the service, and can be found through the double doors to the classroom wing, and then a sharp right, past the Business Manager’s office. You may be able to hear the sermon if you leave the library door open. In room 7, all you’ll be able to hear is the sound of the Spirit Play children adventuring.
How do I help my child who will inevitably miss a Sunday when the programming builds week after week?
We know that families have full lives, and no child needs perfect attendance to belong here. BUT our programming for most age groups does build, week to week so that we can go deeper than surface level together.
When your child misses a Sunday, stop by the Wayfarer’s Cache outside the RE office to pick up a Home Quest. You can explore it together at home, over dinner, or whenever it fits your family. Not as homework to catch up on, but as a way to stay connected to the stories, questions, and adventures their group is sharing. Whether your child is here every week or returns after time away, there is always a place for them in the journey. If your whole family is missing on a Sunday, email Skyla (dre@uucorvallis.org) and she’ll send you a digital copy!
What if I want to know what my children are learning or which adults will be with them on any given Sunday?
Maybe your child comes home and tells you what they learned and you’re left scratching your head. What the heck does a blindfolded maze have to do with RE? Or maybe you’ve got an anxious child at home who will feel better attending if they know exactly which adults will be there and what they’ll be learning about. No problem! Parents who attended the Great REspawn event can find the link to the “Scheduling Codex” in their parent welcome packet. Parents who missed or are joining us later in the year can request that link from Skyla (dre@uucorvallis.org). We don’t publish it online because making curriculum that we had to purchase publicly available on the website is out of covenant with the curriculum creators, but we’re happy for our parents to have access to that information. All you have to do is ask! We’re an open book!
Free Childcare for Fellowship Events
Thanks to a generous gift from the Bob Ozretitch Endowment fund, we can offer free childcare for Fellowship sponsored events that happen on UUFC property. Please fill out this form preferably two weeks ahead of the event, to help us have time to arrange a care team. You will be notified by email when a team has been found.
Parents Whatsapp group
Fellowship parents have formed a Whatsapp group for sharing, organizing informal hangouts, and anything else that would be better when shared with other UU families. This informal group can be found HERE. Please note, this group is not sponsored or moderated by UUFC in any official capacity.
Family Breakfast
Once a month, our families enjoy a potluck-style breakfast together. with pancakes, coffee, and usually some bacon provided. REgistration HERE is appreciated, but not required, and we hope you’ll attend even if you don’t bring a contribution. Casual, as you are able, attendance is absolutley fine. We just love being together!
Monthly RE Newsletter
About once a month, usually near the first, Skyla sends a family newsletter with important dates, useful information for families, and usually some fun pictures of what your kids have been up to in their groups. Please open and read these newsletters! They include parent information that does not appear in our regular weekly announcements. For safety and privacy, we don’t publicly share dates and locations for activities where children or youth will be gathering without their parents, such as youth overnights and field trips, so the family newsletter is where you’ll find those details.
All families registered for Sunday morning RE are automatically added to the mailing list. There’s nothing extra you need to do. Just keep an eye out and open it when it arrives!