Land of the Sky United Church of Christ is the faith home of many children and youth. As we grow this faith community, we continue to grow the programs and opportunities for the youth in our midst. We encourage parents and partners in our community to consider how they may give to the ministries for children at Land of the Sky United Church of Christ. Our children are the future of the church!

Kids’ Ministry at Land of the Sky

Sunday School classes take place in the Kids Wing on the bottom level of our Education Building from about 10:20 (immediately after Kids’ Time in the worship service) until about 11:15 (when the worship service ends). Classes are taught by adult volunteers from the congregation in conjunction with our childcare staff, all of whom have completed a background check. Lessons are developed by Rev. Vicki Garlock, our Kids Ministry Coordinator, and typically include a Bible story, a craft, and an activity.

2024-2025

Beginning in the fall, we will have 3 classrooms (Preschool/K, Grades 1-3, and Grades 4-5) as we explore the story of Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37-47). Specific topics will include: Joseph’s dreams of greatness, Joseph sent to Egypt, Joseph’s dreams of two prisoners, Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, and Joseph brother’s Come to Egypt. Kids in Grades 4-5 will also learn about the structure and organization of the Bible, reading the day’s story directly from the Deep Blue Kids’ Bible as much as possible. After the Christmas season, we’ll explore various healing stories in the Gospels (e.g. Jesus heals a man with leprosy, Jesus cures a boy with epilepsy, Jesus heals a man who is blind, Jesus heals a man who can’t walk, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand). We’ll also spend a few Sundays learning about Jesus’ death and resurrection during Lent.

2023-2024

Last year, we had 3 Sunday School classrooms (Preschool/Kind./1st Grade, Grades 2-3, Grades 4-5). In the fall, we explored the Moses story… from baby in a basket through the Golden Calf. Younger children read Bible storybook versions, while older kids read the story from the Bible. We also watched The Prince of Egypt, DreamWorks’ 1998 version of this epic tale.

After Christmas, we spent several weeks exploring peace-related Bible stories (e.g., Isaiah imagines a peaceful kingdom, Jesus stops a storm, Jesus teaches people to worry less, the woman who touched Jesus, mission of peace).

During Lent/Easter, we talked about Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus’ reflection on the 2 greatest commandments.

Circle of Security Parenting (COSP)

During the summer of 2024, Becky Robinson, Land of the Sky UCC member and trained COSP facilitator, offered an 8-week course to help caregivers create a supportive family environment in which children can thrive. The COSP method is built on decades of attachment theory research and focuses on the benefits of building deep connections to provide a scaffold for your child’s growth and development. We are hoping to offer this course again in the winter/early spring of 2025. Stay tuned for details!

OUR WHOLE LIVES

Our Whole Lives is a values-based sexuality education curriculum created by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalists. In today’s culture, the question is not “if” our children will learn about their sexuality, but who will teach them. OWL is an age-appropriate curriculum that is offered starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. OWL helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, health, and behavior in the context of their faith. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. It provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills and understand the social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of sexuality. Participating in a human sexuality program in a supportive and affirming environment in the church as our children grow, will help our children understand that sexuality is an important part of the way God created us; that their church cares about their sexual development and health; and that caring Christian adults are willing and able to talk with them about their questions and concerns. We currently teach the Kindergarten -1st Grade and the 4th-6th Grade OWL class every other year.

YOUTH GROUP

Land of the Sky UCC loves its Youth (grades 6-12)! There are a variety of youth events throughout the year, including monthly outings and chats. Youth engage in several service opportunities that include reflection and conversation about how we put faith into action. If you would like to be added to our Youth Group mailing list, please email youth@landoftheskychurch.org.