About Unity Youth & Family Ministry
When
Every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Where
601 Tompkins Drive
Madison, WI 53716 (Google Map link)
Who
We currently have a group of about ten children, ranging from ages three to fifteen, who learn together in a multi-age setting.
What to Expect at Unity Youth & Family Ministry
What is Class Like?
As Emilie Cady (the most influential early author in the Unity movement, whose writings established the Unity Church's core theological framework) explains in "Lessons in Truth" (Lesson 2: Statement of Being), “God… is not a big personage or man residing somewhere in a beautiful region in the sky… God is Spirit, or the creative energy that is the cause of all visible things.” Because of this, we often replace “God” with the word “Spirit” when reading children’s stories from the Bible. The lessons are a discussion, so we encourage kids to ask questions or challenge stories and ideas that get brought up.
Stories are shared, questions are asked, and conversations about spiritual lessons are encouraged. This approach aligns with the idea that spiritual education is about nurturing and supporting each child’s unique journey, rather than simply imparting information.
Unity of Madison also teams up with Next Generation of Unity (NGU), a group of Unity members between the ages of 18 and 38, to address issues that younger generations face. NGU offers support, classes for educators, and lesson plan topics to help kids deal with things that older generations never did.
View our Frequently Asked Questions.
Teachers
Each class is taught with a teacher and at least one volunteer. Each member of our diverse, caring staff and volunteers brings their own special gifts and talents, which they freely share with the children. All staff and volunteers at the Unity Youth & Family Ministry must have current background checks. Read our teacher bios here or on the bulletin board outside of the YFM room at Unity.
Lesson Topics
- We discuss things happening in kids’ worlds: a new school year, climate change, bullying, the changing seasons, or any issues they (or parents) are concerned about. Next Generation of Unity (NGU) provides support to handle these sensitive and timely topics.
- We often incorporate the 12 Unity Powers: Faith, Strength, Wisdom, Love, Power, Imagination, Understanding, Will, Order, Zeal, Release, and Life.
- We focus a lot on topics of love, including how we show love for others, the environment, animals, and ourselves. Under the umbrella of love, we share practices for cultivating high self-esteem and ways to be in our power.
- If there is a holiday, we’ll discuss the spiritual symbol we can learn from that.
Some examples of our class spiritual lesson and activity
We learned about how we can use our wisdom to solve problems. At the start of the lesson, the kids were able to lift the teacher on a board by changing the location of the fulcrum that sat under it. Then we read "David and Goliath" (replacing "God" with "Spirit" in the story) and discussed how David's wisdom and faith in Spirit help him conquer Goliath. For the activity, one of our students taught the kids how to make origami with secret messages written inside, showing us that it's what's inside that can conquer our fears, not outside. We gave the origami out to adults after service.- At the start of the school year, we have a few "Spiritual Prep" classes to help kids prepare for the new school year with the help of Next Generation Unity (NGU). Kids share stories or fears, and are able to look at their struggles in a new light. Having older kids' advice helps encourage them, and younger kids offer a more unbiased look at the world. But ultimately, sharing their worries at Unity with other kids helps shine a light on a new schoolyear, helping them feel grounded and loved.
- In October, we had a discussion about our fears. We watched the “Platform 9 ¾” scene from Harry Potter, showing how sometimes we need to face our fears head-on, just like Harry did when he had to run into a brick wall. Afterward, we traced our bodies and drew ourselves as we envision in our minds.
- To get our weekly newsletter that includes the topic for that Sunday in YFM, click here.
Extra Activities
Unity of Madison hosts many activities that support the Youth & Family Ministry group! Some of our activities are:
- Quarterly Unity Kids Gazette (magazine by Unity kids for Unity kids)
- Sustainable Fashion Show (the sanctuary becomes a runway for adults and kids to show off their homemade or second-hand clothes)
- YFM Open House & Potluck
- Lemonade Stand that Kids Host
- Talent Show
- Unity Kids Group Fall Camping
- Unity Kids Spooky Movie Night
- Trunk-or-Treat (fun activities and treats)
- Day-of-the-Dead Celebration
- Soap Making Fundraiser
When you arrive
- Families are welcomed in the entrance hallway by the YFM Coordinator, and parents can fill out the sign-in form.
- Kids sit with parents in the sanctuary and attend the beginning segment of service together (about five minutes) where kids are blessed and often join in with a song.
- Around 10:10 AM, the YFM group will go upstairs where the kids have five minutes of free play.
- We share a book or short video, and teachers ask kids questions to deepen their understanding of the lesson.
- The children engage in a craft or activity that help them “see” the spiritual lesson in their lives. This could be a craft, a fundraiser to support a cause they care about, or a game. During the activity, teachers continue to ask questions, but also share stories and help kids continue to connect with themselves.
- When service is over, parents either come upstairs to sign their children out, or we bring out a snack if service goes longer than usual.
- When kids are signed out, they can join their parents and enjoy snacks in the basement at Unity in the Namaste Cafe!
Unity’s 5 Basic Principles
- Spirit is all good and active in everything, everyone, everywhere.
- I am naturally good because Spirit is in me.
- I create my experiences by what I choose to think, feel, and believe.
- Through affirmative prayer and meditation, I connect with Spirit more easily.
- I do and give my best by being my true self, and my true self makes a difference.
Want to Join Us?
If you would like to bring your kids to Unity of Madison, feel free to come any Sunday. If you have questions or are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Kate by email at youthed@unityofmadison.org.