J.L. (Jen) Shatttuck is a writer and Unitarian Universalist religious educator specializing in early childhood. She has 25 years of experience working with young children and is passionate about crafting innovative resources that help UU communities joyfully welcome their very youngest congregants.
She is the author of The Tending Years (Skinner House, 2023), a book for caregivers of young children, and the creator of several religious education resources including Ellery Churchmouse, a video series which introduces young Unitarian Universalists to spiritual vocabulary and UU identity in a fun and engaging way. Her newest curriculum, EPIC, helps kids ages 6-11 become loving co-creators of Unitarian Universalist congregational life.
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Jen's approach to life and family ministry is enthusiastic and highly collaborative. As a lifelong UU, she feels called to serve the faith that loved her into being by offering the majority of the resources she creates to UU communities for free. She takes delight in working with colleagues and in taking a playful, experimental approach to religious education.
Jen lives with her wife and daughter in Massachusetts, where she's on staff at both The Unitarian Church of Barnstable and Sanctuary Boston. Her next book, a project on developmental milestones, is forthcoming from Skinner House.
Jen is available for pulpit supply, book club meetings, and workshops for parents and lay leaders about how to bring the ideas in The Tending Years to church. To arrange an event or to offer a possibility for collaboration, contact her here.
To see what she's been up to recently, find her on Facebook here.
About Jen
Praise for Jen's Work
REV. MONICA
JACOBSON-TENNESSEN
Jen is deeply insightful about the inner lives of young children. Through her years of experience, she is able to translate interactions to help access the underlying truths and questions in a way that supports all who care for the youngest members of our communities: parents and caregivers, volunteers, religious professionals, youth and teens ... anyone who might come into contact with a kiddo and wonder "What is this interaction really about and how can I be most loving?"
As a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Jen brings her skills and thoughtful analysis of congregational life, spiritual maturation, and child development together to craft programs suited to meeting this moment in our communities. I'm always excited to learn about each project Jen creates, and to recommend her work enthusiastically to our colleagues.
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REV. SIERRA-MARIE GERFAO
As a minister and religious educator, I can count on all the material Jen produces to be creative, gentle, easy-to-access, complete, engaging, and inviting. Her work is informed, thoughtful, and motivated by an ethic of accessibility and inclusivity.