Ever been backstage at the end of a play you helped to put on, and you jumped and shouted and hugged and cried because it was so great?

Ever sung your heart out with a whole auditorium full of people who were singing too?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you know what it feels like to belong, to be part of something much bigger than yourself. You know what it feels like to be connected to others when you share feelings and experiences with them. Things are just more fun when you belong. You get to do stuff you couldn’t do on your own, and people are mostly nice to each other.

Cheering at the ball game is more fun because everyone around you cares as much as you do about your home team. That’s called having shared values. In a play, you belong no matter what your job is—acting, stage crew, selling tickets. It feels good because everyone in the group is working hard and you help each other to make it a success. And joining a couple of hundred other voices singing a song you know and love—well, that’s just awesome, one of those rare moments that lift you right out of this everyday world.

So, what’s all that got to do with you going to Sunday School? Well, one reason you go to Sunday School is that your congregation is a place your family belongs. And why do they belong there? Your family has chosen to belong to a Unitarian Universalist congregation because they share the beliefs and values of other Unitarian Universalist people. And they have chosen to make religion an important part of your family life because they know it matters.

Religion can be hard sometimes. After all, religious people try to answer the big questions in life like, “Why are we here?” and “Why do bad things happen?” When stuff is hard, it’s good to have a safe place to talk and to feel the loving kindness of people who know you and share your beliefs and values. Sunday School is one of those places. Unitarian Universalists work hard together to care for the earth and all living things and they try to make life better for others. And there are times when Sunday School helps us pay attention to beauty, mystery, and wonder in ways that lift us right out of the everyday world.

Most of the time being a Unitarian Universalist kid just makes life more fun! Check out page four to learn how other UU kids and congregations have fun belonging.