Children & Youth
Our young people are a central part of the vitality of our community. At Peace Church, there are many opportunities for kids of all ages to connect with community. We are an open and affirming church, meaning we are a safe space for LGBTQ+ young people, who are fully included in the life of Peace and affirmed for being themselves. We are committed to practicing anti-racism and making our Children and Youth ministries accessible to people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals. As we practice walking in the ways of Jesus together, our young people find belonging, explore spirituality and grow in their faith journeys.
Weekly Rhythms - Sunday Mornings & Wednesday Evenings
Parents, please check-in children who will be attending Nursery or Children’s Church at the Welcome Table in the Narthex on Sunday Mornings. On Wednesday evenings, check-in children who will be attending Nursery or Kids’ Club at the Welcome Table in the Fellowship Hall.
Sunday Mornings
Nursery (through age 5)
The Sun Room Nursery space is open during our 10:30am service. The nursery is staffed with two trained, background-checked attendants, in line with our Safe Child Policy. Parents check their children out of the Sun Room Nursery at the end of the service.
Pray-grounds and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Table
Children are always welcome in services – we celebrate their joyful noises! For some families, sitting in the pews works well. Two pray-grounds (located inside and just outside of the sanctuary) are available with toys and resources to help children and their families engage with worship. These spaces are not staffed, providing children with the freedom to move and use their imaginations while families participate in worship together.
Be sure to check out the SEL table located in the Narthex, near the front office. You will find resources for encouraging your kiddos, talking to them about complex concepts, helping them to learn spiritual practices and arts and crafts activities to take home.
First Sunday Family Communion Service
We offer this intergenerational service on the first Sunday of each month. Families and children participate in helping to lead the service and experience worship together, with an opportunity to take communion at the end of the service. Peace Church practices an open communion table, and all people of all ages are welcome to take communion! There is no Children’s Church on the First Sunday of each month.
Story for All Ages
During the 10:30am Service, kids (and kids at heart) are invited to gather on the steps in front of the communion table to explore and wonder about the stories and values that shape our faith and life as a community. These stories are short, accessible and concrete, but also have growing edges, offering a deeper understanding of God to all.
Children’s Church
For Elementary age kids, the second through last Sunday of each month! During the 10:30am worship service, after the Story for All Ages, elementary age children journey to the Wild Woods Room to continue exploring and wondering about the Bible, God, Jesus, spirituality, our community values and so much more! This is a fun and creative time for building friendships and belonging. Throughout the year we create art, tell stories, sing, dance, learn spiritual practices, interact with nature and play games. We also have a monthly Children’s Church Service project in which kids can practice being good neighbors to their wider community. The last Sunday of each month is LEGO Children’s Church (other creative outlets are also available)! Older preschoolers who are ready for more enrichment may want to try Children’s Church. Middle and high school youth that want to join as helpers are welcome too! Parents check their children out of Children’s Church from the Wild Wood’s Room at the end of the service.
Wednesday Evenings
Take the night off from cooking and join us for Soup Supper on Wednesday Nights, 5-6pm!
Children
Nursery (through age 5)
The Sun Room Nursery space is open from 5:30-7pm on Wednesday nights. The nursery is staffed with two trained and background-checked attendants, in line with our Safe Child Policy. Parents, please check your children out of the Sun Room Nursery by 7pm, thank you!
Kids’ Club
For Elementary age kids (and older pre-K who feel ready), 5:45-6:30pm in the Wildwoods Room! Kids Club is a mid-week pause where children can reset, engage in social emotional learning and somatic practices, express creativity and explore themes around our community values. In Kids’ Club we tell stories from many traditions, make lots of different types of art, play games and build friendships! Kids’ Club also helps create two unique children’s plays each year: our yearly Christmas Pageant and our Spring Puppet Play.
Youth
Youth programs are a great place to make friends and companions on a spiritual journey. During the school year, Middle School and High School Youth groups meet concurrently from 6:30-7:30pm. Once or twice a month the groups meet together to do a service project, play games and use the gaga-ball pit!
Middle School Youth Group, 6th-8th grade
6:30-7:30pm in the Youth Room
In Middle School we ask big questions of our faith and lived experiences through short lessons, followed by group conversation in a comfy setting with big, overstuffed couches. We also work to fill in gaps in our young people’s Biblical literacy to prepare them for Confirmation Classes in their high school years. We have fun, eat snacks, and actively build peer groups/ friendships through weekly group check-ins. Once a year we have a Middle School lock-in/retreat, as well as summer activities such as movie nights to build a community where all our youth feel loved, safe, and welcome.
High School Youth Group, 9th-12th grade
6:30-7:30pm in the Wild Woods Room
In High School, in addition to the busyness of academic work, sports, and extracurriculars, many youth will be taking OWL and Confirmation Classes. High School Youth Group is free time for youth to relax, build friendships, have fun and check-in each week with peers. Often this looks like playing board games, UNO or just chatting about what’s going on in life.
OWL (Our Whole Lives) for 9th grade
Sunday nights from 5-6:30pm
We want all our youth to have a solid foundation for healthy, mutually loving relationships in their lives. OWL is a unique comprehensive sexuality curriculum that the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalists created and have been using successfully for decades. Based on values of justice, inclusivity, and self-worth, we currently offer OWL for 9th grade - a weekly program that runs from September to May.
Confirmation, for 10th & 11th grade
Confirmation 1 Class for 10th grade, Wednesday nights from 7:30-8:30pm
Confirmation 2 Class for 11th grade, Wednesday nights from 7:15-8:30pm
While holding the importance of community as central, confirmation is a two-year opportunity for youth to be together to question and explore that which helps us find meaning in life! Confirmands learn about how the stories of Jesus and the Hebrew (Old) Testament relate to their lives today. They consider what their spiritual and religious beliefs are at this point in their faith journey. They reflect about who God might be, what following Jesus means to them, their own spiritual gifts, the history of the Church and of the UCC. Confirmands learn about worship and the sacraments an dwhy we do what we do in worship services. Confirmands also have space and time to explore and adopt sustaining spiritual practices. Confirmands are encouraged to ask good questions and to explore how they live out love and justice in their daily life.
The PK (Prioritizing Kids) Fund
The PK (Prioritizing Kids) Fund was created in 2020 as part of a celebration of the ministry of Rev. Kathryn Nelson in honor of her nearly 30 years of dedicated service to Peace Church. Recognizing that children and youth were and are a major focus of Peace Church life, the PK Fund will be available to support activities, collaborations, or innovations that will provide opportunities and experiences for children and youth to enhance their understanding of our church’s mission and vision of the world.
PK Fund priorities:
- Peace Church Kids Day Camp (Vacation Bible School or Peace Village)
- Peace Church Youth Service Learning Trips
- Rev. Arthur Foy Scholarship
- Youth Leadership Development (Graduation Gifts, Confirmation, Internships, Conferences, Learning Opportunities, etc.)
Peace Church folks interested in funds related to any of these priorities are asked to work with the Children, Youth, & Small Group Coordinator for access to an online request for funds.