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Thanks to the loving support and dedication of our volunteer teaching staff, a great joyful journey is underway in Children’s
Church. With the presence of our new and wonderfully gifted teachers, we are able to share the ‘Quest’ curriculum
with the children at both the 9:30 am and 11:30 am services. One of the greatest lessons we are all learning is that change
and growth are inevitable aspects of this journey. As co-travelers with the children on this path of spiritual growth, we
look forward to several exciting upcoming events over the following months.
9:30 & 11:30 Children's Church:
Infants: Nursery
Preschool: Y.E. Room
K – 1st Grade:
Y.E. Room
2nd – 3rd: Room 4 - downstairs
4th – 5th: Room 4 - downstairs
6, 7, & 8th (Uniteens-Middle School): Rm 5 downstairs (9:30 only)
Y.O.U. (High School) (9:30 & 11:30)
Please remember to sign your children in and out of class each day. Please do not leave
your children unattended
in the classrooms before the teachers arrive. We would also
like to enjoy fellowship each Sunday in the courtyard after
service. Picking your children
up promptly after service (before joining the reception line) allows us to join in.
Wanted! Volunteers who want to be teachers for our children! We have a joyful,
well-organized program with excellent leadership and lots of the sweetest children! Join us as teachers at the 9:30 or 11:30
services. For more information, call Lani or Jeremy at 937-2191 X16.
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A Family of Volunteers
A church functions on the strength of its volunteers. However it flourishes as a family. Our Children’s Church
of Walnut Creek is blessed with a wonderful family of volunteers. This group of gifted and giving souls not only hold the
light for our children but also support themselves and the Youth Ed Department. We would like to share our appreciation for
these individuals and what they do.
To those who care for the little ones…. To Mary Carpenter and Katrina for helping those too little to help
themselves. To Deanna Early for the calm and loving tenderness you wrap them in. To Bija Wattanabe, Donna Allen, Micki Walls,
John Brown, and John Hill whose hands help guide smaller ones with cutting out their stars and angels to make their dreams.
To David Petersen for making the eagles of storybooks soar. To Susan Petersen who fills an empty modern Halloween with ritual
and ancient meaning. To Linda Faulkenberry for her creativity and endless well of ideas. To James Mullins for his reassuring
presence and patience. To Hugh Bodrug for always providing healthy snacks and making sure no child’s Dixie cup is ever
without apple juice….. Thank You
To those who nurture our Uniteens through the journey
of adolescence… To Richard Gage, Mike McGuire and Erin Hill for all the enthusiasm, compassion and understanding you
give to them and for creating an incredible retreat experience they will hold in their hearts all their lives…. Thank
You
To those who bring our Y.O.U to adulthood… To
Mike McGarvey for the fatherly devotion you lavish on them. To Laurel Roaldson for your grounding maternal presence and way.
To Garret Riegg for the wisdom you share…. Thank You.
The Youth Education Department would like to express special thanks to all those parents and teachers who make this
such a spirit-filled and wonderful place to be on Sunday mornings!
Your help with snacks and as helping hands in our classrooms has made a real
difference. We would like to recognize you especially as a team. Many Sundays you contribute in other areas of
Children’s Church on an “as needed” basis. You are genuine angels for doing this!
Children’s Church: A Gathering of Light
Every Sunday Children’s Church commences with the children circling around the Christ candle. Then two children
are chosen to help light the candle. The lighted candle serves as a reminder that, like Christ, each child in that circle
has a special light to share with the world. We ask the children to take a few moments to picture a flame inside their hearts
that radiates their light out into the world through their unique gifts and expressions of love. Before the candle is extinguished,
we let the children know that no matter how dark it could get around them, or if they ever choose to cover up that light that
it is always shining, sourced through God’s love and is a connection to God that they can always turn to. Throughout
the rest of the day we get to witness that light spill out of the children through their crafts, or participation in the lesson
or simply by singing a song.
We want to welcome any new families here at the Center and invite them to share their special lights with
us and experience this gathering of light first-hand.
—Lani and Jeremy, YE Directors
Our Youth Ministry Misson and Program
The mission of Unity's Youth Ministry is to "create a safe, joyful, spiritual environment where the young can realize God
in all that they do."
Unity's youth program includes Unity beliefs and principles; the teachings of Jesus; curriculum awakening the awareness
of our God-given powers and the inner Christ nature; and, techniques for boosting individual self-image. (See "20
Ways to Love a Child" below).
Unity Center of Walnut uses curriculum developed or recommended by the Association of Unity Churches. Our new curriculum,
“The Quest,” is a transformational series of lessons which emphasizes bringing out a child’s unique
spirituality through innovative group projects and creative play. In each lesson the children are challenged to come to their
own understanding and meaning of the material.
UCWC has a nursery, pre-k through 5th grade classes, Uniteens
for 6th, 7th and 8th graders and YOU for high school students.
If your prayer is to be of service to the young, if you are loving, nurturing and committed, and would like to join our
teachers, let us know.
Contact Youth Education, (925)937-2191, extension 17.
20 Ways to Love a Child
1. Play with them. 2. Listen to them. 3. Look in their eyes when you talk to them. 4. Ask them about themselves. 5.
Read aloud together. 6. Seek them out. 7. Acknowledge them. 8. Smile a lot. 9. Hug them. 10. Say yes a lot. 11.
Tell them their feelings are okay. 12. Set boundaries that keep them safe. 13. Be honest. 14. Be yourself. 15.
Present options when they seek your counsel. 16. Follow them when they lead. 17. Use your ears more than your mouth. 18.
Catch them doing something right. 19. Be silly together. 20. Love them, no matter what
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