October 26 Children and Youth Faith Formation

Orchard Ridge UCC on October 24, 2025

ORUCC Children and Youth 

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Dear Families,

We look forward to seeing you this week!

TONIGHT! Our annual bonfire and corn maze gathering at Treinen Farm is this Friday, 10/24. We have the bonfire pit beginning at 6:00 p.m. See below for more details.

On Sunday, all children and youth will have the opportunity to walk a labyrinth and participate in other mindfulness activities during the 9 am Faith Formation hour.

Music Connections is in need of a Safe Sanctuary volunteer this week. Can you help? Sign up here.

In worship we celebrate our 2025 Youth Service trip to Kansas City! Following worship, any youth and their guardians who are interested in Service Trip 2026 are invited to meet with Pastor Kate for an info session after worship.

See below for more information and fun events coming up.

-Pastor Kate & Julie M.

Sunday Morning Faith Formation Classes

Nursery Care (Up to Age 5) 8:30-11:30 AM

Nursery Care with Avery and Jade is available for children 6 months to 5 years old in the Frances Room.

ALL Children and Youth (PreK-HS) are invited to take part in a Labyrinth walk and contemplative spiritual practice stations. We’ll first gather together in the Ruby Bridges Room. After a brief opening conversation and reflection on Mark 12:28-34, small groups of children and youth will have the opportunity to travel through our small labyrinth in the Anne Frank Room. Those waiting to walk the labyrinth will be invited to freely explore artistic, tactile, and mindfulness stations. 

Pastor Kate will meet with youth involved in the worship service during the 9:00 hour.

Music Opportunities

Music Connections: Children in grades 2-6 are invited to the downstairs Music Room (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Room) for Music Connections after Children’s Time in worship. This Sunday, we’ll join together for movement and drumming. Older youth may participate in Music Connections as a helper. If your child wishes to be a helper, please connect with Julie to chat about expectations. We are in need of a Safe Sanctuary volunteer this week. Can you help? Sign up here.

TRU Function: TRU Function plays in worship this Sunday! Please arrive ready to play at 8:30 a.m.

Save the Date: Upcoming Events

October 24 Evening, Treinen Farm Bonfire: All ages welcome at this family-friendly event held at Treinen Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Lodi. Our bonfire time is set for 6:00 p.m., but families are encouraged to come earlier to enjoy the many other opportunities for farm fun at Treinen. ORUCC will rent a bonfire circle and provide S’more supplies, but each family is responsible for purchasing their own tickets for all ages 3+. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time for a discount, or at the door.

October 26, Service Trip Celebration in Worship and Info Session: We will have the opportunity to share about our experience in Kansas City this Sunday! This will also include TRU Function’s first full-band performance in worship, followed by a 2026 Service Trip Info Session at 11:15 following worship.

November 2, 9:00 a.m. “Parents Together” Support Group: Raising kids is hard work, full of joy and challenge. Need some community support? Parents are invited to come together for a peer-led parents’ support group in the Oscar Romero room, facilitated by Claire Purkis and Joanna Beilman-Dulin.

November 7, 6:00-8:00 pm, Family Game Night: Bring a game, a friend, and/or a dish to share with your fellow church families. Kids from elementary age through high school are invited to attend with their adults. We’ll play games and socialize over a very informal potluck in Friendship Hall.

November 9, Christmas Eve Parent Information Meeting, 9:15 am: Soon, you’ll receive information about this year’s Christmas Eve service. If your child wishes to participate in the service, please plan to attend a brief parent meeting in the downstairs Bonhoeffer Room at 9:15 to review the schedule and expectations.

November 21-22, Middle School Retreat at Daycholah Center: The Wisconsin Conference UCC is offering a middle school faith retreat for students in 6th-8th grade at Daycholah Center. Pastor Kate will be attending with some youth from ORUCC. Any 6th-8th graders are welcomed to register here. Scholarships are available upon request. Please let Pastor Kate know if your youth is interested so that we make sure we have enough adult chaperones for our group. 

At Orchard Ridge, We are Spiritually Alive!

Crafty Sunday

Eight children and youth gathered in the Ruby Bridges on Sunday morning, October 12 at 8:15 am, to craft together. Some brought a project, others began a new project. Collage, drawing, watercolor painting, crocheting, knitting, beading, and creative writing were done in tandem. The mood was light and peaceful with many commenting how happy they felt in the space. We’ll gather again for more crafting on November 9.

Pen Pal Meet-up

Over the summer, thirty-two adults and children/youth participated in our inaugural pen pal program. Pen Pals were encouraged to send handwritten messages to each other throughout the summer. Messages ranged from drawings, to postcards, to lengthy letters. Those who participated shared that experience was positive and joyful. Some have continued the connection into the fall and are still writing to each other!

On Sunday, October 19, Pen Pals had the opportunity to meet face-to-face in Friendship Hall for lemonade and conversation.

Home Prayer for the Week: 

You are invited to use this prayer with your family to help deepen your faith together. Times you might consider sharing this prayer include before bedtime, at mealtime, or any other regular connecting moment you share with your child(ren). Does your family have a prayer practice or a favorite prayer? If you are comfortable sharing, please EMAIL JULIE, and your family’s prayer will be featured here.

Creator of the loving heart, may mine be loving too,

Creator of the gentle hands, may mine be gentle too.

Creator of the willing feet, may mine be willing too,

So that I may grow more like you

In all I say and do.

From “The Way of the Child,” by Wynn McGregor

Orchard Ridge UCC | Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice 1501 Gilbert Road | Madison, WI 53711 US