Eliot Unitarian Chapel - Kirkwood, MO: Our Whole Lives


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Click here or on the picture below to download the current Religious Education brochure.		Our Whole Lives Program Update As of July 2020, the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program at Eliot Chapel is currently on hold due to the ongoing COVID-19 health situation. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the United Church of Christ (UCC) strongly recommend that all OWL programs be suspended until it’s safe for all OWL participants to gather in person. More information from the UUA about the impact of COVID-19 on the Our Whole Lives program can be found here. Resources for When OWL Programs Are on Hold The Unitarian Universalist Association and United Church of Christ have assembled a collection of print and online resources for Our Whole Lives participants of all ages (children, youth, and adults) which reflect the values of the OWL program, including resources designed to support parents in their roles as primary sexuality educators for their children and youth. The current list of Our Whole Lives resources can be found here. “I think the Our Whole Lives program is wonderful. It gives teens a chance to learn and discuss sexuality in a safe, accepting, comfortable environment. As a result of this program, I have grown more confident in my relationships and feel more comfortable talking to my parents about anything.” ~Anne Fried, Our Whole Lives Participant (2009) Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a lifespan, comprehensive sexuality education program, created jointly by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the United Church of Christ. Our Whole Lives helps individuals make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior and equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: Human development Relationships Personal skills Sexual behavior Sexual health Society and culture Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, *Our Whole Lives* not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. The Our Whole Lives values are: Self Worth Sexual Health Responsibility Justice and Inclusivity Eliot Unitarian Chapel currently offers the Our Whole Lives program to children & youth in different grade levels on a rotating basis. Below are the current Our Whole Lives programs being offered, and when we next anticipate each program taking place (this is subject to change): Kindergarten-1st (anticipated in winter/spring of 2020) 4th-5th Grade (This program is on hold at the current time.) 7th-9th Grade (anticipated winter/spring 2020-21) Please note that due to the nature and content of the Our Whole Lives program, participation is limited to children and youth who are officially registered and actively participating in the Religious Education program, or children and youth whose parents are pledging church members. For more information about the Our Whole Lives program, please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org. Our Whole Lives: Background, Resources, and Additional Information NEW Our Whole Lives Newsletter: The Our Whole Lives (OWL) program creates a quarterly newsletter with OWL news and links to helpful information and resources. This resource is hosted by the United Church of Christ and will also have a link to our training calendars so you can see the latest additions to the training schedule. In addition, there will be a scripture reflection for those who are interested. Any individual interested in receiving the quarterly newsletter can sign up here. The Our Whole Lives curricula for 7^th–9^th grade was updated in 2014-15. Click here to explore the blog from UUA Call & Response titled The OWL Has Landed, by Melanie J. Davis, which explores the new edition, highlights the updated material in the curriculum, and includes links to additional OWL information from the UUA and other organizations. Click here to learn more about the Our Whole Lives lifespan sexuality education program from the Unitarian Universalist Association. What’s religious about sexuality education? Check out the Unitarian Universalist Association's Sexuality is Honored Here brochure, found here. You can explore Forty Years of UU Sexuality Education, which examines the long history of sexuality education in the Unitarian Universalist Association, in this 2011 UU World article by Sarah Gibb Millspaugh, found here. What insights and lessons can children and youth take away from participating in Our Whole Lives? Check out Talkin' About Birds and Bees, by Conor Friedersdorf, a 16-year-old youth who participated in the UUA's K-1 and 7-9 Our Whole Lives program. For Families & Children: Check out the Spring 2014 UU World Family Page which includes stories and activities about our bodies for parents and children to explore together, as well as a Parent Reflection and a personal story from Melanie Davis, the UUA Program Associate for Our Whole Lives.