UPUCC Children’s Ministry provides a loving environment where children are encouraged to develop a relationship with God, with themselves and with their community. Each child is given an opportunity for spiritual growth through Children's Church, worship and activities that encourage exploration of the Children's Covenant. We offer opportunities for our children to participate in Covenant Sunday, baptisms, the children's choir, vacation church school, a fall festival, and special events during holidays.
Our Children’s Ministry involves adult volunteers (cleared through our Safe Church program) working together to plan the individual events. Each Sunday, a nursery is provided for infants through Pre-K. “Children's Church" welcomes Pre-K through 5th graders.
What is Children's Church?
Children's Church is our version of "Sunday school," where children in UPUCC get spiritual enrichment and nurturing based on the life of Jesus. We are volunteer-based and welcome parents and other adults who love children, to get involved with our children's spiritual and moral education! We use the "Seasons of the Spirit" and "A Joyful Path" curricula to celebrate the compassion, inclusion, wisdom, nature and intelligence innate in all of our children at UPUCC.
"A Joyful Path" is a curriculum from The Center for Progressive Christianity for ages 6-10. It represents a truly inclusive, inter-spiritual, joyful, compassionate Christian children's curriculum that is as instructive to adults as it is to children.
"Seasons of the Spirit" is a UCC lectionary-based curriculum created in conjunction with congregations from different denominations from around the world. It engages the spirit of discernment, community, exploration of biblical texts and current scholarship as well as engagement with arts and theology.
In both curricula, we utilize parables, folktales, music, arts and crafts, sacred stories, and sacred liturgy in order to discover God, ourselves, one another, and the world around us. We have a program specifically written for our very youngest members in the Nursery (ages 0-3) and our pre-kindergarten class (ages 3-5) where we stimulate children's senses through sight, sound, movement, and sharing fun! We use more sophisticated curricula for our older children, who have begun to think abstractly, and who enjoy asking questions and exploring faith traditions. Projects and lessons help them connect with issues of justice, fairness, and connectedness with the world. See 2011-12 Registration Form.
We would be honored for your child to join UPUCC children in experiencing the journey of faith together. We do ask that parents complete an information form for each child participating in the Children's Ministry.
UPUCC Safe Church Policy
In accordance with the Safe Church Policy adopted by the UPUCC Congregation, a background check is now required for persons who work with our children and youth. The UPUCC Safe Church Policy Concerning Abuse Prevention document provides detailed information on the policy.
In order to facilitate this new policy, all Covenant Partners who wish to volunteer with UPUCC children and youth need to
- Print and read the UPUCC Safe Church Policy Concerning Abuse Prevention
- Complete background check authorization
- Complete Volunteer Applicatoin and Disclosure Form
- Leave completed documents in the Children's mailbox in the copier room at the church.
Interested volunteers are invited to contact Kate Forer for more information.
According to the policy, all confidential information will be secured. In addition to the background check, all volunteers will be asked to attend a safe church/safe child training.