Rights, Respect, Responsibility®

Rights, Respect, Responsibility® is a social change movement to improve the health of Oregon youth. Its mission is to create a climate in which young people can develop healthy sexual attitudes and behaviors, supported by proven public health strategies that reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies, births, abortions and sexually transmitted infections
(see www.wecandobetter.org).

Research indicates that youth active in their religious communities want accurate information about sexuality and open, honest dialogue with adults in their churches. Youth at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Eugene, are no exception.

Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith

“Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith” is the comprehensive sexuality education curriculum we provide for our youth. Leaders integrate worship, prayer, and discussion of United Church of Christ faith values and principles into the programs (see www.ucc.org/...our-whole-lives ). Participating in a human sexuality program in the church will help participants understand that sexuality is an important part of the way God created us; that their church cares about their sexual development; and that caring Christian adults are willing and able to talk with them about their questions and concerns. This sexuality education program offers a twenty-seven week course for 8th graders as well as programs for high school youth, young adults, and adults.

Our Whole Lives for 8th Grade Youth

Parents who have 8th grade youth in the fall are invited to a parent orientation in September for the Our Whole Lives Program.  This is an opportunity to learn about the program, which meets for 27 weeks on Wednesday evenings beginning October 5.  The parent orientations are required for youth to be part of the program and will take place September 21 and 28 from 6-8 p.m.  Please call the church office to let us know if you plan to attend (541-345-8741).

Our Whole Lives for 10th - 12th Grade Youth begins in January 2012

For the past few months, youth leaders from First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, the Unitarian Universalist Church, and our own First Congregational UCC church family have been dreaming and planning for a joint “Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith” group for high school youth in grades 10-12.   We are delighted to bring our youth and leaders together.  Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith (OWL) is a positive, comprehensive, and age-appropriate educational program that promotes sexual health.  The curriculum is based on four primary goals:  to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information;  to increase self-esteem and understand relationships with and responsibilities toward others;  to develop interpersonal skills including communication, decision-making and problem-solving;  and to teach responsibility for personal health and safety.  Our desire is to include as many youth from our congregations—and beyond—as would like to participate in this great joint endeavor.  What a wonderful opportunity to share the gift of Our Whole Lives with the teens of our community!  Please contact Pastor Melanie (melanieo@fcceugene.org or 345-8741) if you have questions.

Interested parents/guardians are invited to a required parent orientation. You will meet some of the OWL teaching team, learn about OWL values, assumptions, topics covered, and preview OWL materials.  The complete curriculum is available in the FCC church library if you would like to preview it at any time.  Parents/guardians need only come to one session.  We have two opportunities for the orientation: 

• Thursday evening, January 5, from 6-8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, or
• Sunday evening, January 8, from 6-8 p.m. here at First Congregational UCC. 

The group will meet seven times on Tuesday from 5:30-8:00 p.m. beginning January 10 and concluding March 13, including a retreat on March 2 and 3.  All the meetings (with the exception of the retreat), will be here at First Congregational UCC.  Dinner will be served.  Please share this with families who you think would be interested. 

• January 10, 17, 31
• February 7, 21
• March 2-3 (retreat), 13

Our Whole Lives is an extraordinary opportunity for youth to develop as sexually healthy and whole people. We draw from sources in our faith tradition teaching that human sexuality is God's gift, which develops an ethic of sexual behavior that is mutual, respecting of persons, loving, and just. We invite all young people and their families to participate in this remarkable program. Contact Pastor Melanie for more information at 541-345-8741.

Rights, Respect, Responsibility® and “Our Whole Lives: Sexuality and Our Faith” has become part of our mission and the ministry of our church. What better place than the church to affirm our youth by providing them our prayerful support, our experience, and our assurance of a loving God who has given the gift of human sexuality.