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2011 Family and Youth Events |
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Circulation Day
Saturday, July 23, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Circulation Day is an opportunity to donate the good quality things in your life that are no longer serving you, and send
them on (circulate them) to others. The items are given for free and everyone is invited to give a donation, which will benefit
our Youth Education program.
Bring your goods on Friday, July 22 from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm,
and on Saturday morning. Read more about our Circulation Day and how this generates greater prosperity for our Youth Ed Department by practicing and demonstrating Unity principles...
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Youth Education Teacher Training
May 7, 2011, 11:30 - 4:30 PM
Facilitated by Rev. Diane Venzera, CSR, LUT
This training will explore how we learn with multiple learning styles. Based on that understanding, we will discover
ways to create activities that empower all participants. READ MORE... |
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April 23, 2011
Earth Day weekend An inspiring crew of our youth led the way restoring Strenzel Meadow
in Martinez, a watershed area for Alhambra Creek. Mulching, weeding, planting trees, socializing and fun! Their work will ensure cleaner water, less flooding, increased
water table, more native plants, improved wildlife habitat, and a healthier happier earth. Our earth thanks you and
we thank you!!
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Sunday, January 30, 2011 - Y.O.U. Sunday
A Special Sunday—Our 9:30 and 11:30 services will be conducted by our Y.O.U.ers! Experience the dynamic
spirituality of our Unity teens!
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2010 Family and Youth Events
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Dec. 12, 1-4 PM, Children's Gift-Making Party Holiday Gift-Making Party for the children. It’s our version of Santa’s Workshop! This is a chance
for children to make that special gift for a parent. Afterwards our joyful Y.O.U. elves will beautifully gift-wrap their creations
April 17, Family Picnic and Kid’s Camp With Spring bursting forth,
we are excited to invite you to our Family Picnic and Kid’s Camp at the Lafayette Reservoir on Saturday, April 17 at
noon. After sharing scrumptious food and fellowship, the children are invited to stay and participate in a fun and activity-filled
day camp that the Y.O.U.’ers will be hosting.
April 4, Easter, Children's Choir Make
sure to see the Children’s Choir performance at our Easter Celebration at Heather Farm! We look forward to seeing you!
For more information or any questions, please contact Lani and Jeremy at 925-705-2924.
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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 through 5th Grade (9:30 & 11:30)
6, 7, 8th Grade (Uniteens-Middle School)
(9:30 & 11:30)
Y.O.U. (High School) (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 Mission 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.
Youth Ed Recycling Program |
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NEWS!!
Help us protect the earth and raise money for our youth program.
Bring your aluminum cans and glass or plastic
bottles to Sunday Service!
Later on, we'll expand to more items.
Stay tuned!
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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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