Children (K-5th)

We are having a Kids’ Connection activity every 1st Sunday at 10:30 starting upstairs in the Fahs room.  We also are promoting an All Ages Service once a month which is designed for youth participation.  A monthly drum circle for all ages is also being held.  See the church calendar (link) for dates.  Our classes explore the monthly themes through song, art, discussion, theater, and story.  Our teaching teams engage the children in examining their personal beliefs through our UU principles.  Our children are also introduced to the importance of spiritual practices, community building and service and social justice.

Please contact the Family Ministry Team at FamilyMinistry@uugrassvalley.org with any questions.

Three Sisters Pumpkin Patch

In 2021 Family Ministry experienced the traditional indigenous planting of corn, beans, and squash (pumpkin) together. There were also hard shell squash seeds to plant for winter seasonal gifts and volunteer watermelons!  After an awesome annual Pumpkin Altar event, the remaining pumpkins were turned into pies, sold to our fabulous members, and the proceeds donated to Child Advocates of Nevada County (CASA).

Hogwarts on Church Street!

Family Ministry Update for July 2019
By Lindsay Dunckel, Family Ministry Co-Chair

During the months of July and August, our young people will be exploring the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism – but with a twist: they will be transformed into students at the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry described in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

A very special guest, Albus Dumbledore, joined us on July 7 at the beginning of the Sunday service to tell us what he sees as the connections between UUism and the world of Harry Potter. The congregation introduced him to the Seven Principles of the UUA. (Check out the Seven Principles below!)

Our young people will discover which of the four houses at Hogwarts they belong to.

According to J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone:

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart.’

‘You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil.’

‘Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you’ve a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind.’

‘Or perhaps in Slytherin
You’ll make your real friends
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.’

Curious about which house you belong to?
You can take a quiz HERE.

The Harry Potter books are full of examples of people taking action to make the world a better place; the young people in the stories demonstrate leadership, courage, kindness, loyalty, persistence, true friendship, and many other admirable qualities. As Dumbledore famously says, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

Our teen group will be on hiatus during the summer months and brunch bunch will not be taking place.

Look for announcements about upcoming family activities!

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions regarding UUCM’s Family Ministry, please email us at: education@uugrassvalley.org.

The UU (Unitarian Universalist) 7 Principles:

The way our Tapestry of Faith children’s programs describe them:

1st Principle:   We believe that each and every person is important.

2nd Principle: We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.

3rd Principle: We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.

4th Principle: We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

5th Principle: We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.

6th Principle: We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.

7th Principle: We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.

7 UU Principles

Supporting families as they explore the BIG questions!