Children's Program
Fall program Begins September 12, 2021

9:30 and 11:15 AM
The Children's Ministry Programs at both Sunday Services are the same.
Nursery and Toddler Childcare (0-2) years old)
Sunshine Circle
Soul Matters Circles (3-13 year olds)
Rainbow Circle (3-5 year olds)
Water Circle (6-8 year olds)
Fire Circle (9-11 year olds)


​ministry for families

​
​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.
​
​For Kids
Each Sunday we explore the theme of the month in our usual Earth, Water, 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 worship together, followed by activities and playground time. So it will be a familiar format except that the theme will integrated across the ages. 

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 High School will be exploring the same theme during the month.

The best news is parents get a Soul Matters packet on the theme at the beginning of the month so they can think about the theme while the children are exploring the same theme. 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.
 .

This year's Themes
​


What Does It Mean to be a People of .....


September:  Embracing Possibility
October:  Cultivating Relationship
November:  Holding History
December:  Opening to Joy
January:  Living with Intention
February:  Widening the Circlle
March:  Renewing Faith 
April: Awakening
May:  Nurturing Beauty
June:  Celebrating Blessings  

Typical Weekly Schedule
(except for Multigenerational Sundays)

Gathering Time (15 minutes before the service): Children gather in their Chalice Circle small ministry groups.
  • Worship  and Circle Time (20 minutes): Includes chalice lighting, meditation, offering and a story.  This is when the lesson and story for the week is shared. Children will share joys and concerns and participate in activities that extend the story and theme of the week, 
  • Activities (20 minutes):  Worship is followed by activities related to the story and theme of the week.
  • Outside Play (10 minutes): Children look forward to fun on our beautiful playgrounds, weather permitting.