Worship Sundays at 11:00 am
382 Walnut Street, Brookline, MA 02445-7563 -- 617-566-1933

Our Director of Religious Exploration, Anne L. Principe, is a Credentialed Religious Educator who brings years of experience working with children, families, groups, and in the community. Prior to becoming a DRE three years ago, she ran a Lynn community-based business, ARTblock, leading creative activities and programs for children, families, and events such as papermaking, New Games, folk dancing, festival activities, and RoCCs – Rounds of Creativity and Conversation for Women.

Anne's strength is building RE Programs that foster important relationships and spiritual connections in the context of a faith-based community. Her passion is integrating social action into programming and into life. As well as leading home-building mission trips with youth, she has presented workshops at the district and continental levels on spiritual creativity and spiritual and faith development through mission trips. She is currently serving as Convener for the North Atlantic LREDA Chapter.

Anne can be reached by calling the church at 617-566-1933 -- Extension 15, by appointment, or by e-mail at dre@firstparishinbrookline.org.

Religious Exploration for Children, Youth, and Families

Religious Exploration at First Parish in Brookline is embraced by the community as a place of connection and growth at every age. The goals of the Religious Exploration program are to help each person develop a respect for her or his own self worth, concern for others, an enjoyment and appreciation of worship, reverence for the sacred and all life, rich and meaningful spiritual life, and an enduring connection with Unitarian Universalism.

We offer a liberal religious exploration experience drawn from our Unitarian Universalist traditions, which affirms the great spiritual truths of all religions. We seek to assist each child in nurturing a spiritual life, ethical awareness, Unitarian Universalist identity, and faith development. The Religious Exploration Committee and the Director of Religious Exploration, in consultation with our Ministers, carefully choose our curricula that best fit these objectives in age-appropriate groupings.

Worship for Children

On most Sundays, children and youth begin the morning in the Sanctuary with the adults at 11:00 a.m. After worshipping together, a Time for All Ages (a lively story, song or discussion) is given by the Director of Religious Exploration, the Minister, or a special guest. Then adults lovingly “sing out” the children and youth as they go to their classes.

On the first Sunday of the most months, all ages will enjoy a theme-based Children’s Worship at 11:00 a.m., followed by a multi-age participatory project with a focus on service work. A teacher from each classroom will accompany their group. These Sundays are designed to incorporate our practices and commitment to social justice work as a faith community in a way that is engaging and meaningful to children at every age.

Returning Child and Youth Registration

For those children and youth who are returning to our program, a Participation and Permission Form needs to be filled out to have on file. The information on this form is what is required to ensure we have important information and are complying with safety guidelines.

Our Intergenerational Community

Volunteers are expected to submit to a background check, sign a Code of Ethics Statement, and support the practice of always having a second adult during activities with minor children and youth.

See the Church Newsletter for announcements, or e-mail our RE department at dre@firstparishinbrookline.org for more information.