Parents and caregivers come to the UUCR community to help raise their children to be kind, respectful, fair-minded, caring, and strong enough to side with love and fight for justice. The following are some of the celebrations at UUCR that mark important milestones in the life of a child.

Child Dedications

Unitarian Universalists welcome and celebrate the life of an infant or child with a Child Dedication ceremony, created for each child by the parent(s) and the Minister. The ceremony might include an affirmation of the child’s unique life, the parent or parents’ hopes for the child, and the congregation’s commitment to nurture and support the child. If your child will be raised in our church community and you’d like to arrange a dedication during one of our worship services, or if you prefer a ceremony held privately in our sanctuary, please speak with our Minister.

Coming-of-Age Ceremony

The Coming-of-Age year is a special one filled with fun workshops, retreats, and justice projects. With mentors and guides, participants explore what they believe, what they find meaningful, and the skills that will help them as they face the joys, sorrows, wonders, and challenges of being human. At the end of their year of learning, discussing, and reflecting on what it means to be Unitarian Universalist, UUCR’s high-school Coming-of-Age youth each create a personal statement of faith. They are then offered the opportunity to present their evolving statement–whether in words, in pictures, or in song–at the traditional Coming-of-Age worship service. If your youth is not currently enrolled in faith development at UUCR and you would like to learn more, please contact our Religious Education Coordinator.

Bridging Ceremony

Raising their arms and touching hands across the sanctuary aisle, the UUCR congregation forms a loving bridge for each graduating senior to walk through, symbolizing and celebrating their transition from their high school years to young adulthood. This end-of-year ceremony honors the young people’s dawning independence and affirms that UUCR will always be open as their spiritual home. Contact our Religious Education Coordinator to learn more about faith development at UUCR.