Religious Exploration at the Unitarian Church of Montreal

Connect | Explore | Create | Discover | Celebrate | Play

What is Religious Exploration (RE)?

• A place for families to grow together

• An accepting place for all children: from all kinds of families, from all cultures, genders, and backgrounds

• A place to learn about ourselves and our world

• A safe place for youth to explore their identities and share their lives

• A place full of music, stories, songs, and laughter

• A place to make friends

• A place to be introduced to new ideas and to share excitement!

• A place to borrow books

• A place where children of all abilities are welcome

• A place to practice reconciliation

• A place to play

• A place to get involved. 

On Sunday mornings from September through June, our Religious Explorations program for children & youth provides engaging, active, kid-centred enrichment to our worship life together. Families begin the worship service together - kids (and grown ups!) are welcome in the PrayGround in the Sanctuary, where books, fidget toys and sensory tools, comfy and kid-height seating, and a group project connected to the worship service are happening.

Most Sundays, after the Time for All Ages story and our community candle lighting ritual, kids age 4 and up come downstairs to our children's chapel to share a run around game, a ritual check in, and an activity that explores the themes, ideas, and messages of this week's worship. Little kids, and anyone who'd rather stay with their grown ups upstairs are welcome to remain in the PrayGround.

On 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, at the same time as the Religious Explorations chapel time, the Story Guild, our youth group for grades 6 to 9, meets multiplatform in person and on zoom to connect and share about our monthly theme, and use the power of stories and storytelling - through creative projects and table top gaming! - to tackle the big questions in life.

Sign up to our weekly RE newsletter (insert a link to that please?) to keep up to date about all our RE activities including monthly social activities, special Sunday programs like Dungeons & Dragons for upper elementary kids, and monthly multigenerational worship, when our whole community remains in the Sanctuary together to practice the sacred moments in our UU liturgical year, including Earth Day, Flower Communion, Water Communion, Halloween, and many more.