ORUCC Children and Youth

Faith Formation Update

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Dear Families,

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Read on below for details about this week. At the bottom of the email, you will find some important dates for some fun events and photos of recent events.

~Pastor Kate and Julie M.

Nursery Care is available 8:30-11:30. Abby and Najma are ready to play with your little one.

Children and Youth Faith Formation is at 9 am. 

PreK-6 grade (Ruby Bridges Room): This week, all children will gather together to explore the Easter story, “Jesus is Light.” Through conversation, reflection, and multi-sensory stations, the children will discover how Jesus’ light continues to shine in each of us after his resurrection. We’ll close in a quiet meditation. Joanna and Gretchen will guide the children through the experience. 

Your child will wait for you in the classroom before moving to the sanctuary for worship at 10 am. 

Youth (7th-High School) will meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Dorothy Day room for “Breakfast Club” with Pastor Kate and Kristin Muckian.



Youth attending service trip: Look for another email TOMORROW 4/24 with some additional information and action items!

Music Opportunities for Children and Youth

Music Connections: Following the children’s moment, children in grades 2-6 are invited to the downstairs Bonhoeffer room. This week, we’ll further develop the Creation story with the help of some of our caregivers. Save the date: On May 4, the children and caregivers will share this music during worship.

TRU Function: TRU Function leads worship this Sunday! Gather at 8:30 a.m. for practice in the sanctuary.

Upcoming Events

• May 4, 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. This will be the soft-launch of a group that will likely meet regularly in the fall.
• May 23-25 Brat Fest Fundraiser for Youth Service Trip: All youth attending the Service Trip are expected to sign up to participate in the Brat Fest fundraiser. Anyone else from the congregation who would like to volunteer under our group’s name (Orchard Ridge UCC) will also have their hours counted toward our fundraiser! Please sign up here if you would like to participate.

At Orchard Ridge, we are Spiritually Alive!

Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter at ORUCC

On Palm Sunday, April 13, over 50 children and adults gathered in Friendship Hall to journey through Holy Week together. Through words and tangram shape-making, we heard and experienced the stories of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. At times challenging, at times easy, new and old friends of all ages experienced Holy Week in a new way.

Children and youth participated in the week’s activities including Maundy Thursday home meals, Good Friday Tenebrae service, Easter Sunday sunrise service and 10:00 worship, followed by an Easter egg hunt! It was a beautiful week as we lived out rhythms of faith and the stories we learned together in the tangram shape-making.