Sunday Programming

On Sundays, we offer childcare for children ages 0-4 during service (upstairs in the Parish House).  

Grades 8+ will begin their Coming of Age Journey. Once a month students will meet with their youth advisors and peers to explore their inherited views and values while learning to discern which of those views and values they would like to hold on to and which of those they would like to release.

Youth who are in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade will meet once a month to work with Journeys of Deeper Joy. This curriculum is an interactive Role Playing Game.

Elementary will continue to explore the Soul Matter Themes through the “Choose your own Adventure” RE model. All elementary kids will start RE in the arch room for Children’s Chapel. They will light their chalice, revisit covenant, embody the 7 values, and enjoy a story that aligns with the theme of the month. After this connection time they are invited to choose between 2 or 3 activities.

For the rest of the month we will have a one room school house. These Sundays will include holiday celebrations and different activities week to week. During the first 15-20 mins of these all age Sundays, our youth (5th grade +) will learn how to become part of the wider UU Ithaca community by joining hospitality, supporting younger RE groups, participating in church service and more. Our goal is to deepen their connection with all of the kids in RE across many age groups and allow them to take ownership over their RE experience.

Please register your children for 2026-2027 Religious Exploration! This information helps us to plan for the upcoming year AND keep your children safe

We are recruiting volunteers to be in our classrooms for the 2026-2027 church year. Our new RE structure gives all volunteers more flexibility. If you’re new to Unitarian Universalism, volunteering is a great way to deepen your understanding of our UU values! Check out our volunteer sign up sheet to help out with RE this year!

Religious Exploration Events

Music for Little People
Thursday, October 8 and 22
10 am-10:45 am, Arch Room (second floor of the Parish House)
Share in the joy of music in this class which is free and open to the public. Children 0-5 and their caregivers are welcome to meet us in the Arch Room each month. Sing, play, dance, explore instruments, and connect through music.

Baby Swap
Saturday, October 10
12 pm-5 pm in the Parlor
All are welcome at our “Baby” Swap! We are accepting donations of lightly used baby related items. Strollers, clothes, baby wraps, feeding supplies, toys, furniture and more! Items are set up “shop” style for anyone to pop in and find what they need. You do not have to donate anything in order to pick up necessary items.

Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training
In person, October 16 -18
Rochester Unitarian is offering a weekend long OWL training for facilitators interested in teaching Middle School and High School aged youth. OWL is a comprehensive sexual education class that we offer for free to anyone in the Ithaca community. UU Ithaca will pay to train facilitators (and fund their weekend stay). Attending OWL in person supports a local congregation and helps to build meaningful UU connections beyond our congregation. This course is also available online in August. You can find more information here. Email dre@uuithaca.org to begin the registration process.

Halloween Party
Sunday, October 25 during RE in the Annex
All are welcome to join us for this spooky celebration, with crafts, activities, yummy snacks and more! Volunteers are needed
for set up & clean up. Please email Madeline if you and/or your children are interested in helping!

Trick or Treating
Saturday, October 31
Meet your friends in front of UU Ithaca at 5 pm. We will walk down Aurora Street into the Fall Creek neighborhood, reaching E. Lincoln Street and then looping down N. Tioga Street.

Movie Night
Friday, November 6
6 – 8:30 pm
This movie night takes place during the Fall Live Auction to provide a few hours of entertainment for the kids while parents enjoy this marvelous fundraising event. More information about dinner will be provided by the Live Auction team! Register your kids.