Faith Formation Family Programs
Beyond Sundays–Making Connections
What does Beyond Sunday Mean?
We are looking to create meaningful connections between generations. This can happen on a Sunday morning during our After Hour with offerings like Games for Generation, Maker Space Sunday, and Family Sunday for the Arts. We also like to connect on other days of the week.
Family Programs
Community Traditions
We begin every church year in September with our Water Ceremony. At this ceremony, there is also a Blessing of Faith Formation Volunteers and a Backpack Blessing. After Thanksgiving, we hold our annual Stone Soup service and Afterhour. Our community brings crocks of soup and bread to share. On Christmas Eve morning, we gather for a 10 am service of songs and community. The children’s ensemble always delights with a song or two. Next comes our Wheel of Life Service in January, we celebrate moments in time like births, graduations, and marriages. Our High School youth create and lead a service in March. Spring brings our Flower Communion and annual Spring Egg Hunt. The church year closes with our Lifespan Service, in which Coming of Age youth share their credos and High School Seniors participate in a Bridging ceremony.
Monthly Family Meet-Ups
Each month we plan opportunities for our families to spend time together beyond Sunday mornings. We plan meet-ups for hikes and kayaking, movie and game nights. These are announced in our Faith Formation weekly newsletter and updated on our Google calendar.
High School Night Youth Group
Our high school youth spend social time together once a month with our High School Youth Advisors supervising. Themes for these meetings include: Paint Night, Game Night, Bonfire & Drum Circle, etc. The youth group also participates in fun social outings, these vary based on interest.
Service Projects
On the third Sunday of the month, our families are invited to volunteer at the Eastport Food Pantry. The High School Youth have the opportunity to volunteer during service with our Little Ones and Elementary Aged Children. This fall we will be holding a coat drive to support local people in need.
Camp Beagle
This is our evolution, science-based summer camp that is volunteer-facilitated every summer. We all come together to sing, learn about science and survival, and wonder.
Earth-Based Family Gatherings
Our UUCA Full Circle group facilitates seasonal events for all families to join in. In autumn there is a Saturday Samhain festival, in December there is a Friday night Solstice Spiral and in the spring we celebrate Beltane together.