Youth Church is a "family" experience designed to encourage, support and uplift our children.

• To teach Science of Mind principles.
• To nurture in our children an awareness of the presence of God within them, around them, and within others.
• To teach spiritual practices through treatment, affirmation, meditation and service.
• To be aware of how our inner thoughts create our outer lives through our beliefs and values.
• To encourage expansive thoughts of God each day through songs, arts, stories, plays.
• To apply SOM principles at home and at school with family and friends.
• To share demonstrations and to treat others with honor and respect.
• To offer a support system.
• To seek inner guidance and use prayer to create happier lives.
• To celebrate the joy of living.

Families, thank you for sharing your children with us. Together we create a safe and bright future.

Rev. Carol Chase
Youth Church Director

Families are invited to sign in children for Youth Church ten minutes prior to the start of each service. We request that they be picked up promptly at the end of the service. We appreciate your adherence to and cooperation with these requests.

Sign in
Each time a child between the ages of Nursery through 6th grade attends a Youth Church class, an adult is expected to sign him or her in. It is important for safety reasons that we have an adult to contact during the service.

Teachers
Volunteer teachers and assistants staff the Youth Church. All have a basic understanding of Science of Mind principles and terminology. Families can assist our volunteer teachers and helpers by expressing gratitude for their service and by observing and respecting our time schedule.

Class Format
The class begins with a Community Circle, based on Tribes Learning. We have a basic agreement to show mutual respect. Our centering time includes an attribute "candle lighting" ceremony, an affirmation reading, a treatment and an offering. The children are then introduced to the lesson for the day, which is taught through instruction, discussion and hands-on activities. Singing is led by our music director. At the end of the session the children are brought back together to form a circle for reflections and benediction (closing prayer).

All children and teens under 18 years of age must be in a Youth Church class or with their parents during service. Children are to be supervised while on Church property.

Age/class Divisions: placement in Youth Church classes is determined by age.
Any parent wishing to make an exception to this policy should speak with the Youth Church director prior to Sunday Service.

Age Grouping
Nursery: infant through 3 years of age
4 & 5 Years
6 & 7 years
8 & 9 years
10 & 11 years
Juniors: 12 years of age
Teen: 13 to 18 years of age.

If a child has special needs, the parent/guardian must speak with the Youth Church director or the classroom teacher before enrolling the child in class.

Nursery through 6th grade class members must be signed out and leave with their parents. Teens and juniors will be dismissed at the conclusion of adult service. Please pick your children up as soon after service as possible.

Our teacher-to-child ratio in the Nursery is 1 to 4. If the Nursery is at maximum level when you arrive, you may remain with your child in the nursery or go to the Infant room on the southwest side of the sanctuary. This policy is enforced for the safety and protection of all.

Bringing toys or food to the classroom is discouraged and not in alignment with our room policies. These items will be collected at the door and returned when the children leave.

Older children wanting to assist in the Nursery must go through the Youth Church director to make arrangements.

Classroom challenges are handled in the following way:

• The child is reminded of class agreements
• The child is given the choice to stay and participate or
  1. iIs invited to work with a practitioner or teacher outside of class; or
  2. is escorted to parents by Youth Church staff. The problem will be explained to the parents, as the situation permits, and options explored if desired.

Parents are welcome to observe and participate in the classes. Such an intention should be communicated to teachers prior to class whenever possible.

Prayer and treatment are regular practices in Youth Church. The intent of the Youth Church is to familiarize your child with all aspects of Science of Mind. Prayer and treatment are especially utilized if your child becomes distressed or upset. Children are encouraged to make use of practitioner services.

Science of Mind teaches a few basic and empowering concepts. These are taught in Youth Church just as they are in adult church and classes. Following are the basic concepts and a short statement about each of them.

Oneness - There is one all-encompassing whole that embraces all there is, including us. We live and are created out of this Divine Energy. One word for this oneness is God. God is all there is.

Power - There is a force for good in the universe and we can use it to direct and enhance our experience of life.

Principle - There is a cause-effect relationship in the universe; our consciousness is the cause for our experience of life. The cause is the inner experience, while the effect is the outer reflection of held beliefs, conscious and unconscious.

Aspects of Reality - We are spiritual beings in physical bodies in a world that is both spiritual and physical.

Qualities of God - (life, light, joy, love, peace, beauty, power, etc.) We are meant to experience and express these qualities in our moment-to-moment existence.

Growth - We can expect to increase our awareness of God qualities and our ability to use creative principles positively as we apply ourselves to spiritual study. Our study is one of uncovering what is inherent in all beings and available to all alike.

Feelings - We honor all our feelings and express them in ways that empower ourselves and others.

Inspiration - We practice "going within" for guidance.

Immortality - We are deathless, timeless, eternal beings. Our souls have no beginning and no end.

Choice - We are always at choice and the point of our power is in the present moment.

Affirmation - A present-moment statement about oneself or about life as our natural state of being.

Meditation - A quieting and stilling of the body and mind to focus inward for awareness, relaxation, peace, inspiration and anything that fosters mindfulness of being present.

Spiritual Mind Treatment - Our five-step method of affirmative prayer.

Visualization - A mental process using imagination to focus on what you do want to experience.

Gratitude - An awareness and expression of thanksgiving in praise and appreciation of everything.

Generosity - A conscious choice of giving and receiving to benefit yourself and others in the awareness that God is our source.

Values - identification of the qualities and ideas that enhance well-being and are life-affirming service.

Communication - We are at choice to listen or express at all times. Awareness of what is alive in us at each moment and connecting with what is alive in others to determine what we are feeling and needing (universal needs) establishes a quality of connection that enables us to give and receive to make life more wonderful for ourselves and others.

• Get to know your child's teacher and the Youth and Family Ministry staff.
• Talk about weekly Youth Church lessons in the home (the themes are coordinated with big church topics).
• Display your child's art projects in the home.
• Practice the attribute candle lighting ceremony with your child or explore other spiritual practices.
• Help your child be on time for Youth Church by supporting and encouraging decisions based on Science of Mind principles.

• Encourage your child to participate in the principle of giving. Find creative ways at home for your child to earn money for the offering. Money from Youth Church love offering goes to the general fund to help provide Youth Church supplies and support Teen Camp.
• Become a teacher, substitute teacher, assistant or volunteer in some way yourself!
• Do daily spiritual practices as a family (pray, meditate, create family rituals).

Sunday Positions

• Teachers
• Classroom Assistants
• Substitute Teachers
• Childcare positions for events

Sunday Youth Church volunteers receive a free audio copy of the service.

Other Positions

• Prepare mailings/clerical support
• Supply coordinator: prepare supplies for weekly lessons
• Music programs: help us grow our music program for the children
• Bake sale team: bake once a month, make calls or assist at the table
• Newsletter coordinator: write articles to contribute to Centering
• Share your special talents (art, music, theatre) with one class or the entire group
• Help plan fun events for our children
• Assist at the Y&F Ministries table

There is only One, one source, one power, one infinite indwelling presence. This all-pervasive power is God. God is the creative Law and the unconditional Love available to me and all alike.

This same love and power that dwells in me dwells within every adult and child I encounter. It is cause behind every effect and condition.

I claim guidance and inspiration in all my thoughts, words and actions. I commit to be a place where God shines forth joyfully. I serve as an example of the principles of Science of Mind and create a safe environment in which to nurture the joyous spirit in every precious child of God. There is Something within me, which goes before me and draws to me the perfect experience of harmony and wisdom.

With a grateful heart and an enthusiasm for the bounty that is continually revealed and poured out to me, at exactly the right moment that it is needed in perfect ease and grace, I am blessed.

I give thanks for the guidance and upliftment and stability I find within. I am grateful for these seeds of greatness planted in my own consciousness and the abundant harvest therein.

I release this treatment to the law of action in total trust and complete faith. I rejoice and celebrate knowing it is already so.

And so it is.