Our theme this year for our Sunday morning Youth Religious Education programming is PEACE. Each class will be focusing on peace in one way or another. On August 29 we will have an intergenerational service tying all that the children and youth have learned together.

**Children and youth are considered to be in the grade they just finished. **

YRE Calendar for Summer Months:

Chalice Children class (Preschool): During the summer preschoolers will spend time with Geneveive, Lori, Hatta, and Gary planting, caring for, and eating our edible garden at MVUUF. Children will also have many opportunities to play game, create art and work together as they learn the value of peace. Preschoolers begin in class at 11:00pm on the first Sunday of the month, and all other Sundays begin in service with families.

June 6- gardening and peace activities
June 13- gardening and peace activities
June 20- gardening and peace activities
June 27- gardening and peace activities

July 4- gardening and peace activities
July 11- gardening and peace activities
July 18- gardening and peace activities
July 25- gardening and peace activities

August 1- gardening and peace activities
August 8- gardening and peace activities
August 15- gardening and peace activities
August 22- gardening and peace activities
August 29- Intergenerational service (no class; all children and youth in service)

Kindergarten through 5th grade class:
Each week children will focus on peace. During worships, children will focus on their inner peace. On the second Sunday of each month, signs of peace, children will have opportunities to create art through Mandalas and such. Every third Sunday of each summer month, during cooperative games, children will learn how to work together while playing games. Finally on the fourth Sunday of each month, children will learn songs all about peace and use their voice to sing for peace.

June 6- Children's worship
June 13- signs of peace through art
June 20- cooperative games
June 27- singing for peace

July 4- Children's worship
July 11- signs of peace through art
July 18- cooperative games
July 25- singing for peace

August 1- Children's worship
August 8- signs of peace through art
August 15- cooperative games
August 22- singing for peace
August 29- Intergenerational service (no class; all children and youth in service)

6th through 8th grade Junior High Youth class:
For their class time, the junior high youth will use Popcorn Theology and watch movies then have discussions about what they saw. They will watch movies with the unit themes: Working for a Peaceful, Fair World and Acceptance of One Another…and Ourselves. See the calendar below for each Sunday's theme and movie. Because of time and for some, ratings, movies will not be watched in their entirety. During youth worship, youth will focus on their inner peace.

June 6- Youth Worship
June 13- Class; The Fear Factor (fear and violence in our society)- movie: Bowling for Columbine
June 20- Class; Hope Against All Odds (how inaction leads to injustice)- movie: Hotel Rwanda
June 27- Class; Where's The Line (ethics and science)- movie: Jurassic Park

July 4- Youth worship
July 11- Class; Moving Beyond Assumptions (being open to "the other")- movie: Dances with Wolves
July 18- Class; No Doubt (overcoming self doubt)- movie: Willow
July 25- Class; Lead Us Not Into Temptation (overcoming temptation)- movie: Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

August 1- Youth worship
August 8- Class; Second Chances (offering forgiveness)-movie: Hoosiers
August 15- Class; Where Dreams Come True (achieving our dreams)- movie: Field of Dreams
August 22- Class; Don't Worry, Be Happy (finding inner peace)- movie: Star Trek Generations
August 29- Intergenerational service (no class; all children and youth in service)

9th through 12th grade Senior High Youth class:
Along with their facilitators Shannon and Laura, the senior high youth will embark on a new journey called, small group ministry. Peter Bowden defines small group ministry as, "a way of 'doing church' which strives to deepen and expand the ministry of a congregation using an intentional system of lay led small groups...At the heart of healthy congregations and life/world changing ministries we find 1) strong relationships, 2) engagement with meaningful issues, 3) leadership/leadership development, and 4) inspired action." Our youth will use this model, and have topics of discussion on peace (how it affects them and our world). Youth worship, youth will focus on inner peace.

June 6- Youth Worship
June 13- small group ministry
June 20- small group ministry
June 27- small group ministry

July 4- Youth worship
July 11- small group ministry
July 18- small group ministry
July 25- small group ministry

August 1- Youth worship
August 8- small group ministry
August 15- small group ministry
August 22- small group ministry
August 29- Intergenerational service (no class; all children and youth in service)