Program Overview As we move into the 2022 – 2023 church year, many of our children and youth still have not had regular contact with First Church people or programming since the pandemic began. Therefore, Family Faith Development (F.F.D.). will be taking all programming back to square one – focusing on building trust and integrating our children/youth back into the community. To this end, we’ll be dividing the children and youth into large age groupings on Sunday morning for as long as it is safe. At this moment, these age groupings are... Infant through Kindergarten; 1st through 5th Grade; 6th through 12th Grade. The F.F.D. team and I know, these are hard times for First Church. We appreciate you being here, with us, and ministering to our children and youth. Please, if ever you have a concern or suggestion, reach out. As always, I welcome your feedback!Now, here's a bit more information on what is in store for F.F.D. programming moving into 2022... Sunday Morning VIP LoungeAs long as the sanctuary remains open, infants, children, and youth are invited to attend the service with their parents / guardians. Our VIP Lounge, for Very Inquisitive People, is an interactive worship space, set up at the front of the sanctuary, that many infants, children, youth, and even adults frequent. Filled with worship work that can help quiet the mind and body, activities range from finger labyrinths, to color stacking rings, to tangrams - in short, there is something for everyone (even the youngest among us)! Feel free to take and activity back to your seat, or stay and relax on one of the many pillows in the VIP Lounge!Infants - KindergartenMs. Amber, our paid Infant - Kindergarten classroom lead, is a ray of sunshine, and her room is just bursting with books, blocks, and boundless love! Throughout this year, she will help guide your infant, toddler, preschooler, and/or kindergartner, as they remain engaged in self-directed play – discovering what it means to be loved in a UU community through experiential learning!1st - 5th GradeMs. Kymm, our paid 1st - 5th grade classroom lead, is an expert at building community through play! And, this year, children in 1st through 5th grade are invited to join her to learn what it means to be part of the "Beloved Community" of Unitarian Universalism with Superhero Academy! From their humble beginnings in comic books of the 1930s and 40s, to modern day blockbuster movies, irreverent cartoons, and thrilling amusement park attractions, superheroes have certainly invaded our cultural zeitgeist. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a child today who hasn’t fantasized about being a superhero or developing a superpower all their own. But, behind the colorful spandex, superhuman abilities, and crime fighting antics, there are real lessons to be learned from superheroes about anti-oppression, personal responsibility, and love. That's where this play-based curriculum comes in - with 3-lesson units covering one superhero / team every month, you can come as much, or as little, as you are able and still learn how to be a "real" superhero! YouthMr. Stephen, our paid youth group leader, is big on youth empowerment! This year, youth in 6th through 12th grade are invited to join him the second Sunday of every month for youth-directed activities that build connection, community, and leadership. Activities already being discussed include: painting a mural on church grounds, coordinating a youth-led worship service, and volunteering at local charities (such as Shiloh Food Pantry). Beyond Sunday Morning Youth Group OutingsBefore the pandemic, both the Junior High and the Senior High youth enjoyed regular monthly outings. Should our youth group continue to grow, we hope these outings will resume. Youth, parents and guardians should see future emails for more information. Beyond Programming As we know that not all of our families have the time or energy to engage in special programming, we offer adjunct events and resources throughout the year. Here is an overview of some of those offerings...All-Ages / Intergenerational ServicesWhile people of all ages are welcome to attend worship at any time, most of our worships are geared towards adults. However, at least once a month the worship team collaborates to bring you a worship designed specifically for people all-ages. We call these all-age or intergenerational services.Rites of Passages Events / CeremoniesAt least once a year, we take some time out of our worship calendar to celebrate the accomplishments of our children and youth. More information can be found in future communications.Other Special CeremoniesTo honor other significant life events, and the commitment of our volunteers, we hold special ceremonies of recognition and celebration throughout the year. One such offering is our child dedications.Other Special EventsThe Family Faith Development staff, in collaboration with other ministries within the congregation, sponsors several special events through-out the year — this year, we are already looking forward to Meals & Wheels (a celebration in honor of Summer's unofficial end). Information about these special events can be found on Family Faith Development's home page throughout the year.F.F.D. LibraryWe are lucky to have both a physical and virtual library. F.F.D.'s physical library can be accessed every Sunday morning. It is located on the second floor landing. The virtual library is powered by Epic!. To gain access this fabulous resources, which includes hundreds of ebooks for children 0 - 13 years of age, including curated reading lists centered on our 7 principles, mental health, and social justice issues, just This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Ms. Meredith. We hope, over the coming months, you will find this to be a helpful resource!
