Our WCUC families enjoyed a gorgeous Sunday afternoon climbing trees, picking apples, and sampling cider donuts from Carver Hill Orchard. The picking was more sparse than in years past because of a May frost that destroyed about 80% of the crop, but the kids declared this year “the best ever” because they got to scramble up trees and use the giant pickers to grab apples at the tops of the branches. Nothing like a challenge for motivation! You can see from the pictures that we managed to pick PLENTY of apples. 🙂

On Friday night, September 8th, the youth gathered in North Hall for their annual Welcome Back Game Night, complete with pizza, ice cream, and of course a few suspenseful rounds of Sardines. (the game, not the fish) We then returned to church on Sunday for our first class of the year to learn about how the early Christians learned to form community and to brainstorm ideas about what makes for a fun, safe, and meaningful community in Youth Group. Kindness, mutual respect, inclusivity, trust, and non-judgement all ranked high among these young people. It is such a gift to be walking with them in faith and in life. Today, I give thanks to God for joyous play, contagious laughter, and friendships, old and new!

We had a wonderful day of celebrations last Sunday: honoring our ONA commitment, blessing newly graduated senior Jillian Arthur, welcoming SIX new Youth Group members from Children’s Ministries, and sharing some very festive (and bubbly!) fellowship outside!

We had such a wonderful service celebrating our Children’s Ministries program!

A huge thanks to the WCUC Youth for offering leadership and inspiration for Sunday’s service. The sermon was based on several class conversations where we discussed what it means and feels like to be “beloved” – by God and by others – and how that can influence our sense of belonging. A question was posed this way to the congregation: “Think of a time in your life when you felt really comfortable being yourself, known and accepted for who you truly are…a situation where you experienced a deep sense of belonging. Where were you? Who were you with? What did it feel like?

We’d love to hear your responses in the comments section below!

Interactive prayer stations were set up throughout the sanctuary, designed to take people through the story of Holy Week. People moved through at their own pace, grinding wheat, washing feet, receiving communion, praying, making pretzels, creating garden critters for an Easter mural, and experiencing prayerful reflection in our labyrinth. It was a beautiful interactive journey.

Worship was filled with palms, Sunday School was busy making communion bread and remembering Jesus’ last supper, and the whole congregation gathered outside for a neighborhood palm parade – with ponies! Our festive day ended with pony rides for all who wanted them, including some staff. 🙂

Last Sunday, our Sunday School children learned the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds and then had a very hands-on experience threshing, winnowing, and grinding real wheat into flour. They learned just how messy and difficult a job it is! Check out our pictures that tell the story, and don’t forget to click on the YouTube link for a great video of the process!

Nan Gibbons, Director of Young People’s Music @ WCUC, shared her gifts in musical leadership with the people of all ages on Sunday after worship by offering an introduction to drumming. From age 8 to 90’s+, we made music in community, learned a few new skills, and most importantly had fun connecting with one another through this ancient spiritual practice. As Nan puts it: “Drumming is easily accessible and engaging, opens hearts, and connects us in prayer. In a guided drum circle, many small simple parts join to create complex beautiful patterns.” This was certainly so on Sunday.

The youth class welcomed 5th and 6th graders to join us on Sunday for a special Valentine’s Day card making project – continuing our relationship with Many Helping Hands 365. After a mini lesson on the different types of love found in the Bible, the kids decided that this project could be considered a mix of Philia (friendship) and Agape (unconditional) love. What a treat to have a jam packed youth room with kids ranging from ages 10-15, from five different towns: Maynard, Concord, Westford, Acton, and Wayland! The cards will be delivered to Helping Hands this week and will be distributed to elders in Cambridge and Boston on Valentine’s Day.