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ORUCC Children and Youth
Sunday, September 21, 2025
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Dear Families,
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday!
We are in great need of adults and older teens to be Safe Sanctuary Volunteers for Music Connections. In agreement with our church’s Safe Sanctuary policy, two adults must be present in a room when working with children. Can you help? Sign up to volunteer. No prior music experience is needed.
Faith Formation for all children and youth meets at 9:00 a.m. This year, we have three classrooms: Peace Circle (Pre-K to 5th grade), Echo the Story (Middle School), and Teen Text (High School). Nursery care is available for younger children.
If you have never filled out the Sunday School Participant Google Form for your child, please do so. This is especially important so we know if your child has any dietary restrictions or food allergies. If there are any changes or things we should know about, please edit your submission from last year or fill out the form again.
Please read on for more details about all of these events. We trust that this will be another joy-filled, meaningful year. We can’t wait to see you soon!
-Pastor Kate & Julie M.
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Sunday Morning Faith Formation Classes
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Nursery (Up to Age 5) 8:30-11:30 AM
Nursery Care is available for children 6 months to 5 years old in the Frances Room. Be sure to pop in and introduce yourself to our Nursery Care Workers, Abby and Avery!
Peace Circle (PreK-5th Grade) 9:00-9:50 AM:
Children in PreK-5th Grade will begin in the Ruby Bridges Room at 9 am for Music with Julie. Following the music, the children will hear and reflect upon the story “Job and the Whirlwind” from the Book of Job. Following the story, the children are invited to engage with and go deeper with multi-sensory stations. We’ll close in prayer. Josie G. and Jadyn G. will lead the children in the experience.
New this year: At 9:50, Peace Circle children will travel together to the sanctuary. We’ll sit together as a group on the east side of the building (parking lot side). Your child is, of course, welcome to sit with you in a different area of the sanctuary. We intend to regularly encourage the children to experience the ritual of service – the opening prayers, congregational songs, and anthems. Children will either go to Music Connections or return to sit with their families after the Time for Children.
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Echo the Story (Middle School) will gather in the Anne Frank Room to journey through the main stories and themes of the bible using a curriculum that invites questions and creative engagement.
This week, we’ll look deeper at the text from Genesis 6-9 (“Flood”), ask questions, journal, draw, and reflect. Kristin M. and Hal E. will guide the group in the discussion.
Teen Text (High School) will gather in the Dorothy Day room. This group will be using “Teen Text,” a progressive Christian Bible study resource that guides teens to reflect together in discussion on the lectionary scripture texts associated with each Sunday. This group will be guided by Al and Rayelle this week.
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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 mixed instrument play and soundcape creation. 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.
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TRU Function: Our youth band will practice from 10:00 a.m.-Noon. TRU Function leads worship on the fourth Sunday each month. TRU Function is led by Rob Martens and is open by audition to youth in grades 7th-12th.
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events
October 12, 8:15-9:00 “Crafty Sunday” : Children of all ages are invited to craft in the William Johnson Room. All are welcome to bring a current project or start a new project using the materials we have on hand.
October 19, 11:15 a.m., Pen Pal Meet-Up: If you participated in the summer pen pal program, this is a time to meet your pen pal IN PERSON while enjoying some lemonade together after worship.
October 24, (evening start time TBD), Treinen Farms Bonfire: All ages welcome at this family-friendly event held at Treinen Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Lodi. 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. Scholarships are available through the church, so let Pastor Kate know if that would help your family be able to attend.
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.
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Peace Table Storybook Bible – On Sale
During the Children’s Moment on September 14, Pastor Kate showcased the Peace Table Storybook Bible, which our elementary children regularly reference in Faith Formation. For the month of September, this Bible is 20% off. If you are interested in a copy for your family, you are invited to purchase one HERE.
“This comprehensive storybook includes biblically faithful retellings of 140 Bible stories. Stunning artwork from 30 illustrators makes this a feast for the eyes. Along with each Bible story, there are prayer prompts, questions, and action ideas to guide reflection and conversation. Twelve “Peace Paths” allow children to “choose their own adventure” through the book, exploring how peace themes are woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. A resource section includes ideas for how to experience peace with God, self, others, and creation, as well as maps, Bible background information, interactive ways to pray, and prayers for many occasions. The Peace Table is an excellent resource for families and faith communities who want their children to love Jesus, grow in faith, and become peacemakers who change the world!”
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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.
Evening Prayer
Thank you for the dark of night,
for the stars that shine so bright.
Thank you for the rising moon.
I know that sleep is coming soon.
-From The Peace Table, A Storybook Bible
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