We lovingly offers a supportive environment for children to experience, explore, and express themselves as spiritual beings.
Youth classes meet weekly during Sunday church service from 10:30am - 11:45am. We also hold occassional special events throughout the year.
Feel free to reach out to our Director of Youth & Family Ministry, Robin Shirley: YFM@unitycharlottesville.org OR (434) 978-1062 ext. 106.
Click HERE for upcoming events.
Myrtle Fillmore, co-founder of Unity, believed our mission was not to “entertain the children, but instead, to draw them out."
The Living Curriculum is an approach or philosophy which affirms that the curriculum–that which is to be learned or known–lives within the adult, child or teen, themselves. It moves us past the belief that teachers have all the answers and need to impart them to the students. Instead, there is a realization that all of us are uniquely unfolding on our spiritual path, having access to the Spirit within.
The Living Curriculum is a process of spiritual support used to assist children, teens, families, and the church community in co-creating successful living. It honors the inherent wholeness and wisdom within each one of us, and utilizes storytelling and experiential creative expression. The process helps us to explore spiritual principles and to become aware of how the principles operate in our lives.
Five Basic Unity Principles
1. God is all good and active in everything, everywhere.
2. I am naturally good because God’s Divinity is in me and in everyone.
3. I create my experiences by what I choose to think and what I feel and believe.
4. Through affirmative prayer and meditation, I connect with God and bring out the good in my life.
5. I do and give my best by living the Truth that I know. I make a difference!
Books and Texts We Utilize
During the elementary years, we utilize storytelling, games and art to impart basic spirtual lessons. We draw from sacred texts including the Bible, the Vedas and The Tao Te Ching. We also read from classic storybooks as well as lesser known, yet inspiring, storybooks.
As the children grow into teens, we provide a safe space for spiritual discussion based around books such as Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, I Of The Storm, and others. We are currently working through The I of the Storm for Teens: Finding Peace in the Midst of Conflict in our Y.O.U. classes. We are using the Teens on the Quest and Children on the Quest series for our UniTeens and UniKids classes.