The Nursery & Young Children's Program at Eliot Chapel
From May 3-September 6, 2026, the nursery is open each Sunday from 9:45-11:15 for the 10:00 am worship service for children aged five and younger who need freedom of movement. The nursery is staffed by Tim Bubb and rotating Eliot volunteer leaders. Worship services are at 10:00 am from May 3-September 6, 2026.
For questions about summer nursery staffing and volunteer information, please contact Anna Beck at anna@eliotchapel.org.
Religious Education (RE) classes for young children resume in September 2026. Please contact Scott Stewart at
scott@eliotchapel.org for up-to-date information about programs and classes for young children next fall and beyond.
We are all flames.
When we gather hand in hand in our church,
our community, and our home.
We inspire, we celebrate, we come together
Sharing our light of hope for our shared future.
—By UU children Josh, Prudence, and Percival Roburn
Young Children's Activities
*Note: During the summer months (May 24-September 6, 2026), Eliot holds one worship service at 10:00 am each Sunday with nursery care offered for children five and younger. Beginning September 13, 2026, two worship services are offered at 9:45 & 11:15. The nursery is open during both services while all other Religious Education activities take place at 9:45.
Nursery: For children aged three and younger, the nursery is full of books, toys, music, and fun during the 9:45 service beginning September 13, 2026. Supervision and care are provided by Eliot staff members and volunteer leaders beginning at 9:30 on Sunday morning.
The nursery is also open during the 11:15 worship service beginning September 13, 2026 for childcare for children aged five and younger.
Most worship services are livestreamed on the large television in Adams Hall. Parents & caregivers who wish to view the service and remain with their children in an area with freedom of movement are welcome to use Adams Hall.
Chalice Children, Eliot’s young children’s class, meets most Sundays September-May and is designed to provide an introduction to Unitarian Universalism for young children. Chalice Children will begin on September 20, 2026 for children who are aged 4, 5, and 6 on August 1, 2026 (preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade). The Chalice Children class is open to children slightly younger and slightly older at their family's discretion.
Chalice Children gatherings are led by staff and volunteer leaders and include free play, stories, and activities from Unitarian Universalist curricula for young children, including
Chalice Children,
Soul Matters,
Rainbow Connection, and UU activities exploring the
shared values in Unitarian Universalism. These curricula provide age-appropriate introductions to UU values, identity, heritage, and spirituality. When weather and staffing permit, a portion of the time may be spent on the Eliot Chapel Nursery School Playground or doing outdoor activities, especially during the early fall and spring months.
Our Whole Lives for K-1: During the fall of 2026, we are hoping to offer the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education program for children who are in grades K-1. Please contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org for more information about this program. Please note that this program requires specific enrollment and parent/guardian permission in order to participate.
Note: Classes and age groups may be combined or rearranged at any time based on enrollment, attendance, and availability of volunteers and staff. All classes, regardless of the ages, are required to have two adults present at all times in accordance with Eliot’s Safe Congregation Policy.
Getting Involved
For more information about the young children’s program, or to learn more about how to get involved, contact Scott Stewart at scott@eliotchapel.org.
