Children's Program
September 2024-May 2025
Program Begins Sunday September 8, 2024


In Person Programing at 9:30 and 11:15 during the Adult Worship 
The Children's Ministry Programs at both Sunday Services are the same.
Nursery and Toddler Childcare (0-2) years old)
Sunshine Circle
Chalices Circles  and Chalice Chapel (3-11 year olds)
Rainbow Circle (3-5 year olds)
Water Circle (6-8 year olds)
Fire Circle (9-11 year olds)


​ministry for families

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​Soul Matters is a theme based UU spiritual deepening program for whole communities across the ages.  Soul Matters is used in many congregations in our movement.
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​For Kids
Each Sunday we explore the theme of the month in our the  Rainbow, Water, and  Fire Circles. The theme is the same for ages but the stories and activities are geared to each age group. The format of will be same format we have been using.  We start with gathering activities, then worship together, followed by playground time. 

For Parents
Parents will be able to easily share during the month with their children what is going on Sunday morning.  All the children in the family from Pre-K to 5th grade will be exploring the same theme during the month.

 This way the whole family is experiencing church together ... Parents, kids -- everyone is thinking about it! 

Soul Matters Circles


​What is a Sunday Morning Like? 

Our Children’s Ministry Program it is a small group ministry model in which children meet weekly in a goup of 8 to 12 children close in age.   In Soul Matters Circles, each week children have an opportunity to worship, to build community, to participate in meaningful service and learn about Unitarian Universalism.  About once a month the children join the adults in sanctuary for Multigenerational Worship time, which gives children a chance to worship with their parents and be connected to the whole community. 

Our program is worship centered which means that children participate in worship every week.  We are moving away from calling the groups “classes” and calling our program an “education” program.  Our children absolutely do learn about Unitarian Universalism while participating in the ministry program; however our emphasis is teaching through worship, singing, community and service.  So our program is .experiential and worshipful.

​Contact:
Marion Hirsch, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
dre @ c3huu.org ​
 .

This year's Themes
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We will explore the practice of .....

September:  Invitation
October:  Deep Listening
November:  Repair
December:  Presence
January:  Story
February: Inclusion
March:  Trust
April: Joy
May:  Imagination
June:  Freedom
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Typical Weekly Schedule
(except for Multigenerational Sundays)

Gathering Time (15 minutes ): Children gather in their Chalice Circle small ministry groups.

Chalice Chapel  and Small Group Sharing (30 minutes): Includes chalice lighting, singing, meditation, offering and a story.  This is when the lesson and story for the week is shared. In small groups, children will share joys and concerns and answer a question that extends the story and theme of the week, 

Outside Play (15 minutes): Children look forward to fun on our beautiful playgrounds, weather permitting.