Christian Education: Children & Youth

Thank you for your interest in children’s programs at Fox Island UCC! Every single child who walks through our doors is a treasured member of our church family and will be warmly welcomed wherever they are most comfortable, whether that may be in the nursery, in the Godly Play classroom, or in the sanctuary for worship.

 

  • Offered weekly on Sundays, 9:55 am - 11:15 am

    The church nursery is a fun and inviting space for the youngest members of our congregation to freely move, play, create, and make joyful noise during the church service. Our nursery attendant is church member Leeann Siegrist, a warm and welcoming mother with three young children of her own, with a background in school counseling.

    During the summer months, the nursery will periodically be unstaffed, but still open and available for families to utilize during the service as needed.

  • Offered weekly September to mid-June, 9:55 am - 11:15 am

    When children become able to follow simple directions and sit attentively to listen to a short story (sometime around ages 2-5, depending upon the child), they are ready to join the multiage Godly Play classroom. Children are welcome to continue attending Godly Play, either as class members or helpers, until they feel ready to attend the worship service in the sanctuary.

    Godly Play is taught by church member Twila Slind, a former early childhood and Montessori educator. Twila is patient, loving, gentle, and passionate about the Godly Play program; she considers teaching the class to be “a dream come true.” 

    Twila feels parents are essential to the success of this program. Parental support and feedback is appreciated and encouraged. There are typically two evening orientation meetings for parents late in August to give them an overview of the year, answer questions, and hear what they want for their children to experience in the program.

    The mission of the Godly Play program is for children and adults to make meaning through stories, wonder, and play. The program seeks to nurture lifelong spirituality by honoring the centrality, competency, and capacity of children. You can learn more about the program here. 

    A typical Godly Play class includes a relaxed circle time, an interactive Bible story, “work time” to make sense of the story through self-selected art and play, time for service work, and a “feast,” where everyone enjoys the gift of fellowship alongside a simple snack.

  • Open to students in grades 6 through 12.

    The Joint Youth Group of Gig Harbor, is a multi-church/multi-denominational organization combining the efforts and resources of four local churches to provide a program for middle and high school youth in the Gig Harbor community. Fox Island UCC is a part of this great program, along with Agnus Dei Lutheran, Gig Harbor United Methodist, and St. John’s Episcopal.

    The goals of this program are:

    • Faith Formation

    • Fostering a healthy Christian community, inclusive of LGBTQ members

    • Social and environmental justice

    • Stability and dependability

    • Fun

    JYG meets every Sunday evening except the fourth Sunday of the month at Gig Harbor United Methodist Church. Middle school youth meet 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm. High school youth meet at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.

    The program runs September-mid June. Summer activities continue with a week-long mission trip and other activities.