A Place to Belong: How UU Communities Support Children & Youth | Tiny Pulpit Talks: 037

How do we nurture young people in the Unitarian Universalist faith while balancing the many demands of life? In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Reverend T.J. Fitzgerald (Minister of Community Care Engagement) sits down with Reverend Beth Dana (Minister of Faith Development) to explore what it means to raise children in Unitarian Universalism. Rev. Beth shares her personal experience as both someone raised in the faith and a parent raising her own children within Unitarian Universalism. Together, they discuss the many ways our church community supports young people—from early childhood experiences in the nursery to engaging curricula for all ages, including beloved programs like OWL (Our Whole Lives), Odyssey, and YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists). More than just education, they talk about how Unitarian Universalist communities uplift young voices, encourage leadership, and walk alongside children and youth on their spiritual journeys. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or simply curious about what our church offers families with children, this episode if for you! If you enjoyed this discussion, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others! We'll see you next time on Tiny Pulpit Talks—and until then, we'll see you on Sunday! 🌱 Enjoy the podcast? Consider a one-time gift to support the staff & resources required to keep it going. 💲 Give through PayPal, Venmo, & Apple Pay here: https://tinyurl.com/firstchurchpaypal 00:00 - Welcome to Tiny Pulpit Talks 01:32 - Why raise children in Unitarian Universalism? 02:32 - How UU communities support young people 03:27 - Preschool and early childhood learning 04:19 - Faith development starts in the nursery 04:59 - Growing with stories, questions, and values 05:29 - The role of teachers and mentors in UU education 07:11 - OWL (Our Whole Lives) – Comprehensive s3xuality education 08:52 - Odyssey – The 9th-grade coming-of-age program 09:26 - YRUU – Youth leadership and community engagement 10:24 - Supporting youth participation without overwhelming them 12:32 - Final thoughts and how to get involved 12:53 - Subscribe and see you on Sunday! First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do. We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at https://dallasuu.org/ New sermon every week. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/1stchurchyoutubesubscribe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stuchurch/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stUChurch Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: https://dallasuu.org/live/ Give - your support allows us to transform lives and make UU values real in our community and beyond: https://dallasuu.org/give-now