To join a Unitarian Universalist congregation is at once a simple and a profound act. We pride ourselves on being a liberal religious tradition with no common assent to creed. There is no doctrinal test for membership. We do not ask our children or our adult members to memorize certain statements of faith. To become a member, an individual signs our Membership book when he or she feels that this has become a religious home. With membership in a Unitarian Universalist congregation, comes rights and responsibilities. We have congregational polity which means we are committed to the use of the democratic process as our form of government. For example, it is the members of this church who have called me to serve as your minister and on January 20th, we will celebrate an Installation Ceremony to formalize our new partnership.

This morning's responsive reading was written by John Buehrens, a Unitarian Universalist minister and currently the President of our Association. The words parallel the Sermon on the Mount while lifting up the values of a healthy congregation. "Blessed are those who take seriously the bonds of community". The bonds of this religious community are not to be confused with a hierarchical structure or rigid tenets of belief. Instead "the bonds of community" are the ties formed between and among the members of this congregation through regular attendance at worship, fellowship, religious education and by participating in shared ministry.

Membership is not a destination but a doorway. Signing the Membership book marks passing through a doorway to new learning opportunities, spiritual growth experiences, challenges to be engaged in doing ministry, and a commitment to the shared vision of this church. As a religious community, our lives are enriched by the presence and contribution of each person. Just as membership is not a destination but a doorway, I believe that life is a constant process of growth and discovery. As Unitarian Universalists, religious education is not something to graduate from but is a way of being.

William Ellery Channing, for whom this church is dedicated, was a great advocate of religious education. He was known for his compassionate and stimulating instruction of children in the church he served in Boston. The passage that Barbara read for us this morning beautifully describes the purpose of religious education. "The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own . . . Not to form an outward regularity, but to touch inward springs." In other words, children are not told certain answers but are given the tools to awaken their own moral discernment. In a Unitarian Universalist church, children are inspired to engage in life by acting with kindness and seeking justice.

Another important figure in the development of our philosophy of religious education was a woman named Sophia Lyon Fahs. She began as a Sunday School Director at the Riverside Church in New York where her outstanding leadership led to her appointment as curricular editor of the American Unitarian Association in the 1930's. She launched the Beacon Series in Religious Education that contributed to a general renaissance of Unitarianism. If you look through some of the documents in the Minister's Study of this church, you will find printed cards with "Sunday School Lessons". These Biblical passages and prayers were taken home to be memorized and later recited. Fahs's approach was in contrast to this traditional method. Instead of rote memorization, she designed curricula with child-centered learning. Her ideas were the fruition of Channing's ethos of "self-culture" which I spoke of in September. Channing asserted that the seed of divinity is to be found within each individual. The function of religion is to encourage the unfolding of that seed. Worth is not to be found in outward distinctions of appearance, status or wealth, but within the character of the individual. Liberal religion should encourage the unfolding of each individual's benevolent powers and capacities.

In Sophia Lyon Fahs's article "Growth Both Wide and Deep", she wrote of the opportunity in early childhood "to sensitize the children to the opportunities their present experiences afford them for their own nurture." She herself was a model of learning as a lifelong process of growth and discovery. In 1951 Fahs received the Unitarians' Award for Meritorious Service. She became an ordained Unitarian minister at the age of eighty-two. Sophia Lyon Fahs, we are grateful for your contribution to our movement, your life and works continue to nurture and inspire us today!

I would like to share an excerpt from Fahs's book "Today's Children and Yesterday's Heritage". She addresses the question:

WHAT SHALL CHILDREN STUDY?
All that quickens sympathetic imagining,
All that awakens sensitivity to other's feelings,
All that enriches and enlarges understanding of the world;
All that strengthens courage,
That adds to the love of living;
All that leads to the developing skills
Needed for democratic participations -
All these put together are the curriculum
Through which children learn.

One of things that drew me to Channing Memorial Church as a ministerial candidate is that children and youth are integrated into the life of the congregation. My understanding is that the decision to have the kids participate in the first part of every service was an expression of the importance of a strong intergenerational community. I have enjoyed working with Deb Kostisin, our Co-Director of Religious Education, on services where all ages participate in the entire worship experience. Many people have spoken to me in glowing terms about the RE program and how it helped the church pull through difficult times.

So, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the exciting things that are happening after we sing the kids off to their classes in the other buildings. Our youngest children are provided safe and nurturing child care through out the entire worship service. Children ages three and four are following a curriculum called "Chalice Children" where they learn about the basic principles of Unitarian Universalism through stories and craft projects. The five and six year olds are using "Around the Church, Around the Church Year" which gives a behind the scenes look at the rituals, people and events of Channing Church. The seven and eight year old class has "Timeless Themes" which uses Bible stories as a basis of discussion about issues like promises or sibling rivalry. Ages nine and ten are using "A Stepping Stone Year" and ages eleven and twelve, "A Growing Up Year". These are broad-based curricula that explore topics like Peace and Justice. Then we have our Coming of Age Group who are working on their personal credos and have a mentor from the congregation. The Youth Group meets periodically for fellowship and sharing.

It is a well-known maxim that "Teaching is the best way to learn". Our Co-Directors of Religious Education, Deb and Lynne are available to offer teacher training. The curriculum outlines ideas and resources for each class. Children and youth offer a perspective that is refreshing. There are still some openings for teachers this year. I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity to get to know our younger members and to enlarge your own religious understanding at the same time.

The Religious Education Committee is currently exploring a new curriculum called "Our Whole Lives" that was developed by the UUA and the United Church of Christ. "Our Whole Lives" (or OWL as it's known by its acronym) is a sexuality education program. Yes, you heard me correctly a sex education program designed for a congregation. This is a revision of "About Your Sexuality" that was taught in our churches during the sixties and seventies. "Comprehensive sexuality education programs offered by congregations can give people of all ages profound opportunities to deepen their faith. By helping congregation members explore how their religious values affect their decision making, by promoting sexual and emotional health in our communities, and by fostering a meaningful dialogue between peers, partners, families and friends, such programs may prove invaluable." (OWL Advocacy Manual p. 35) This program may be offered next year to our seventh graders, a time when there is curiosity and much misinformation about sex. Here at Channing Memorial Church, we strive to create a safe environment where human beings can seek meaning in life. We believe that the mind, body, and spirit are not separate entities but together contribute to our health as human beings. If you have any questions about OWL, do not hesitate to speak with me or any member of the Religious Education Committee.

Religious education is a way of being and so we offer adult enrichment courses as well. The World Religions class that I taught in the fall has decided to meet monthly with a rotating leadership. The Meditation Group practices together on certain Saturday mornings. If you are a beginner or a long-time practitioner, you are welcome to join them here in the Sanctuary for spiritual centering. I will be offering a class called "Building Your Own Theology" on Thursday evenings starting in February. The course is designed to provide some tools for building a theology based on your life experience. We will explore the following topics: your religious odyssey, human nature, ultimate reality, ethics, and varieties of religious experience. To register, simply call the church office or contact me with any questions.

Unitarian Universalists are such lovers of knowledge and exploration that there are many adult enrichment courses available. Here is a sampling: Our Unitarian Universalist Story, Evensong, Rise Up and Call Her Name!, Conversations with the Bible, Thoreau as Spiritual Guide, Being a UU Parent. At the moment, we do not have an Adult Education Committee. If you would like to work with me on developing our program or would like to teach a class or would love to see a certain class or program offered here, I welcome your ideas.

I will close by echoing the words of John Buehrens:

"Blessed are those that know that the work of the church is the transformation of society; who have a vision of Beloved Community transcending the present, Blessed are those who yearn for deepening more than escape; who are not afraid to grow in spirit. Blessed are they indeed."