ORUCC Children and Youth

Faith Formation Update

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Dear Families,

This has been a heart-wrenching week. We grieve with our neighbors, and we especially hold the immediate community of ALCS in our hearts. Our Advent candle-lighting ritual each Sunday has begun with “In a worn and weary world, how do we begin again? Where do we start?” This week we affirm: we begin with Love. Yes, we begin with Love.

With that love to share in community, 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.

Beloved friends, if you, or your children, are struggling, please know you are not alone. Give yourself permission to grieve in light of this week’s terrifying events. Please reach out: your pastors are here for you! Let us know how you are doing.

Nursery Care is not available this Sunday. We are hoping to have assistance for Supported Childcare in the Crossroads. Please check the whiteboard on Sunday for more information.

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, Barbara and Hal will guide the children in Advent stories about the Prophets, Mary and Joseph, Shepherds, and the Magi.

3-6 grade (Ruby Bridges Room): This class will also explore the Prophets, Mary and Joseph, Shepherds, and the Magi. Exploration stations will include painting, coloring, sand play, and puzzles. Josie and Joanna 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. Youth will have time to process this week’s events if desired; we will also explore Judaism as part of our “Coexist” Faith Formation curriculum.

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 play games and socialize. George will be our Music Connections volunteer. 

At the end of Worship, all of us will shift to the Sanctuary for Special Music led by some of our children.

We will gather again on Monday, December 23 at 5:30 pm AND Tuesday, December 24 at 2:00 pm for Christmas Eve Dress Rehearsals. 

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

Upcoming Events

• December 22: Children and Youth Faith Formation Volunteer Thank You! 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.
• December 22: Children and Youth Music Showcase, immediately following worship.
• Christmas Eve Dress Rehearsals: Mandatory Dress Rehearsal for all participating children and youth on Monday, December 23 at 5:30 pm AND Tuesday, December 24 at 2:00 pm.
• 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.
• December 29: No 9 am programming for winter break. Children are invited to attend the 10 am worship service.
• January 5: Epiphany Sunday Intergenerational Faith Formation and Crafts at 9 am in Friendship Hall
• January 10: Family Game Night has been moved to the second week of January to accommodate holiday traveling plans.
• 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.