Youth Program
Youth and Family Ministry (YFM)
YFM LESSON RECAP OF THE WEEK
This past Sunday, we continued our exploration of the Power of Imagination by examining the transformative power of storytelling. A heartfelt THANK YOU to Michael Newton, who shared a story from his blog, "A Gaelic Tale of Emotional Healing?", and facilitated a thoughtful discussion about the lessons woven throughout the narrative.
Together, we explored how stories, parables, and myths can help us better understand our own life experiences. By revisiting both the empowering and challenging stories we tell ourselves, we can gain fresh perspectives and envision new possibilities for our inner and outer worlds. Through the Power of Imagination, we have the ability to create new narratives that affirm our authentic identities and deepen our connection to Spirit. We also reflected on how our collective stories, passed down through generations, help shape and strengthen our shared spiritual journey.
As part of our ongoing site-specific 12 Powers sculpture project, we added another piece to the growing installation: a clay figure climbing. This sculpture symbolizes the work our children and teens have been doing as they continue to rise into a deeper understanding of the 12 Powers within themselves.
Following the service, our youth led the annual "Share Out," offering the congregation an experiential glimpse into the lessons, discussions, and creative projects explored throughout the program year. Adults were invited to engage directly with several of the Powers through hands-on activities.
Participants explored the Power of Power by shaping clay into meaningful artistic creations. They also revisited April's lesson on Shu Ha Ri, the Japanese concept of learning, growth, and mastery, reflecting on their own journeys of practice and development. Many contributed additional links to the ever-growing Love Chain, a beautiful symbol of the expanding Power of Love within the Unity Center of Peace community.
The Power of Life was expressed through a variety of creative activities. Participants colored unicorns as symbols of self-actualization and freedom, crafted paper cats and dogs representing bright futures and meaningful values, drew rainbows celebrating life's satisfactions, and created flowers on which they wrote the names of cherished relationships along with intentions for growth, healing, and transformation.
The final lesson highlighted the Power of Strength, emphasizing the resilience and wisdom found within the body's interconnected physiological systems. While these spiritual Powers can sometimes feel abstract or esoteric, art-making and hands-on exploration help bring them into tangible, lived experience.
ABOUT UCP'S YFM PROGRAM
We invite you to join us at Unity Center of Peace on Sundays at 11:00am with your younger family members. While you enjoy our Celebration Service in the sanctuary, they will benefit from participating in our robust, loving, nurturing curriculum for children and youth. All programs are age-appropriate and are led by our carefully selected, and fully background checked, Spiritual Education staff members.
Our YFM rooms are in the upstairs part of the building and Sunday School resides from 11am-12:10pm. Please be sure to sign your child in using the clipboard on the door. Near the end of service, the children will be brought downstairs by the Youth Ed teacher to give a brief announcement about what they did and what they learned and to receive a special UCP blessing by the minister and congretation. We currently do not have a program for teens (Y.O.U). Teens are encouraged to sit in the Sunday Service with their parents at this time.
OUR YFM VISION STATEMENT
We envision young people growing up with a clear grasp of their spiritual nature and power, living from their ability to make a difference in the world, to express love, to choose kindness, to relate authentically, and to model spiritual values.
