Education Hour at 9 a.m. on Sundays  

Age-appropriate Biblical and spiritual learning opportunities for ages 3 through 7th grade using a variety of resources designed to engage the learners in stories of faith.

• Child care for children under 3 in the Nursery.
• Pre-School Class for 3 - 5 year olds is in Room 12. Children learn and experience Bible stories as they tell stories, play, create art, and learn together.
• The Kindergarten Class - 3rd Grade continues with Bible Trek this fall. Children will be involved with story-telling, cooking, drama and art around the theme of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
  
• Grades 4 - 7th  Snapping Turtles is an active group involved in various learning experiences.

Children attending Sunday school have a supervised snack and free time in Fellowship Hall between Sunday school and worship.

Moses and the Freedom Fanatics

In January Sunday School and Children's Worship (K - 7th) start the musical "Moses and the Freedom Fanatics." Learning songs and Biblical stories, building sets and props, doing staging and choreography, and practicing lines will all be part of the program. Tryouts for major parts will take place in December. Sara is currently looking for adults willing to: design sets, build sets, create costumes, work with choreography and staging, etc. If you are interested, please call Sara. The musical will be presented on March 7.

Children's Time

Children are invited to join Pastor Rick for a special children's message during worship service on Sunday mornings at 10:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Children's Worship

During the worship service every Sunday children (4 years old - K and 1st - 3rd graders) gather for age appropriate worship experiences including singing and extended Bible learning. We use Seasons of the Spirit resources so that the children are working with the same biblical passage as is being used in worship. The children process behind the green flag from children's time in worship to their respective worship rooms and return to the Sanctuary for the closing of worship.

On Nov. 8 Sara Weatherman will lead a study of worship for grades 4-6. Worship is like a drama - with actors, lines, staging, costumes. All are part of the drama. So - why is the drama ordered the way it is? Why do we sing certain songs, follow certain rituals, have certain colors and paraments, use certain furniture and accessories? How did it get to be this way (including Bible background)? This group will explore the subject of worship; it will also produce some worship components for the congregation's use.

Child Care

Child care with a paid provider is available throughout Sunday mornings, during the worship service and Sunday School. Also, a quiet room is available at the back of the Sanctuary for infants and parents during worship.

Parent Handbook Fall 2009

The Parent Handbook is available: http://www.ucclongmont.org/content/documents/ParentHandbook_091001.pdf

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education

The OWL class for Kindergarten and 1st Graders with leaders Haven Howell and Louis Krupnick completed their course in November. The class focused on our bodies - keeping them healthy and safe, gender characteristics, feelings, and the nature of families. A major goal of the class was to promote and enhance conversations about human sexuality at home. Many thanks for the support of parents in this process! The next O.W.L. class for 4-6th graders will take place in the fall of 2010. Call Sara Weatherman (303-776-4940) for information on this series.

Crop Hunger Walk 2009

The Snapping Turtles Sunday School class (4-7th graders) participated in the CROP Hunger Walk on Oct. 18. There were 16 walkers from First Congregational Longmont UCC, and together we raised $946!

The CROP Hunger Walk helps children and families worldwide -- and right here in the Boulder County Community Food Share -- to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some 2 million CROP Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their caring into action, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world -- and in their own communities. Together we can be part of the solution!

Thanks to everyone who donated to our team!

Vacation Bible School 2009 - Camp E.D.G.E.

Thanks to all the volunteers who made this year's VBS a success. Forty-four children participated on August 3-7.

Camp E.D.G.E.: EXPERIENCE AND DISCOVER GOD EVERYWHERE is a program designed to bring children closer to God as they discover God is with them at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances, ready to help them and guide them. We will learn the E.D.G.E. Pledge:
• God is with me. I will stay close to God.
• God guides me. I will follow.
• God teaches me. I will learn.
• God loves me. I will love God and others.
• God sends me. I will go.

Using a camping theme, each evening we made a trek away from base camp (opening assembly), including: Trek to the Promised Land, Trek to Bethlehem, Trek to the Pharisee's House, Trek to the Upper Room, and Trek to Galilee. Stops along the way included music, art, recreation, and science.

This is an annual summer event in the evenings which includes music, crafts, games, and snacks with a Bible theme each year.

Other Events

Periodic picnics in the park and other special occasions include families with children. All-church events throughout the year are designed for people of all ages. These include inter-generational worship services where the children stay with their families instead of going to Children's Worship.