ORUCC Children and Youth

Faith Formation Update

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Dear Families, We look forward to seeing you this Sunday! We have many Christmas events and preparations coming up, in addition to our regular 9:00 a.m. Faith Formation programming. Please read on for more details.

Nursery Care opens at 8:30 am. Abby and Najma are ready to play with your little one!

Children and Youth Faith Formation is at 9 am. 

PreK-2 (William Johnson Room): Children are invited to sing with Julie in the William Johnson room from 9:00-9:15. We’ll rehearse the songs “The Friendly Beasts,” “From the Manger,” and “Go, Tell It On The Mountain” for our Christmas Eve service. After the music, Karen and Claire will guide the children in Advent stories about the Prophets, Mary and Joseph, and the Shepherds.

3-6 grade (Ruby Bridges Room): This class will also explore the Prophets, Mary and Joseph, and the Shepherds. Exploration stations will include writing Christmas cards to church elders, designing Hearts for our Christmas Eve service, collage, sand play, and puzzles. Josie and Megan will guide the children in their learning. 

Your child will wait for you in the classroom before moving to the sanctuary for worship at 10 am. ALL CHILDREN who are participating in the Christmas Eve service will move immediately to rehearse in the upstairs Music Room with TruFunction at 10 am (they will not begin in worship) before heading downstairs to continue their preparations.

Youth (7th-High School) will meet in the Dorothy Day room at 9:00 a.m. for Part II of the story of Abraham. This is a foundational story for three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Music Opportunities for Children and Youth

Music Connections: Children participating in the Christmas Eve service will rehearse downstairs from 10-11:15 am.  Your patience and flexibility as we move through this season is appreciated!  Please note that children will not attend worship. Anyone not participating in Christmas Eve is still invited to be downstairs. There will be opportunities for the children to design Hearts, write Christmas cards for our church elders, and draw Christmas scenes for our program. George will be our Music Connections volunteer. 

Following Worship, Children who wish to share special music on December 22 will rehearse in the Sanctuary with Julie.

TRU Function (youth band) will continue their preparations for the Christmas Eve service at with practice from 10:00-Noon on Sunday.

Upcoming Events

• Youth Service Trip 2025 (youth entering 8th-H.S. grad eligible) will be June 15-21 in Kansas City, MO! If you have not turned in your initial deposit of $300, please do so ASAP!
• Updated registration date: Moon Beach Family Camp: registration will begin January 13 (not in December: apologies for the confusion)! Friends from ORUCC usually attend the week hosted by the Boyd’s, June 29-July 5, 2025. Registration filled up very quickly last year.
• Children and Youth Faith Formation Thank You! On Sunday December 22, there will be a light drop-in breakfast set up for all of our children and youth faith formation guides who have been part of making our programming a success this fall.
• Children and Youth Music Showcase, December 22 after worship: If your child would like to perform a piece, please talk to Julie Mazer.
• Christmas Eve Services are December 24: Our beloved Children and Youth-led service will be at 3:00 p.m., with the traditional service in collaboration with Madison Mennonite Church at 5:30 p.m.