Community Church of Sebastopol

United Church of Christ

Putting our Faith into Action

1000 Gravenstein Hwy North       707.823.2484

Children’s Ministries

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“One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these." After laying hands on them, he left. Matthew 19:13-15 The Message


For the latest on what is happening in Children's Ministry, check out the latest Church Newsletter here!


Godly Play at 9:00

Faith Formation Hour 9-10:15 am

Godly Play continues during the Faith Formation Hour, 9:00am-10:15am, in Room 5. Godly Play is a Montessori-based storytelling method, and our program is for children Preschool-5th Grade. Every week, children hear a story, wonder about it, respond to it in art & play, and share a feast. Come join the circle! All children from Preschool-5th Grade are welcome to join Godly Play. If you’re interested in joining our Godly Play ministry, please contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator.

In Godly Play, Storytellers memorize a story and present it with the children, using wooden pieces. Door Helpers offer support as a ministry of presence, assisting children with art and “the feast.” We are looking for more Storytellers and Door Helpers who are available to help lead the program. If you’re interested in joining our Godly Play ministry, please contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator.

Children In Worship

Children are invited to worship with their families. Following the Children's Message, children in Kindergarten and younger may continue worshiping in the sanctuary or go to the Nursery. Worship Tools for children are available in the Narthex

Vacation Bible School - June 17-21

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Coming this June: Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Mark your calendars now for Who Is My Neighbor? Learning to Love Like Jesus Vacation Bible School! Children ages 4 years old through 5th grade are invited to attend this fun time of learning about the Bible while also learning about neighbors near and far. Registration for church members and their families will begin April 28. Open registration will begin May 19.

Youth and adult volunteers needed. Interested in volunteering? For more information, contact Julie Reimer, Children's Ministry Coordinator.

Calling All Nursery Substitutes

We are aiming to deepen our church’s base of substitute Nursery Attendants. Substitutes are placed on a list, and are contacted on an as-needed basis when our regular Nursery Attendants are unavailable to cover a shift (8:45am-12noon on Sundays.) We are able to offer an hourly wage for Nursery substitutes. Qualified candidates have a love for babies & toddlers, work well with a partner, are over 18 and obtain a background check with the church.

If you are interested in being a sub in our Nursery, please contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator.

Join an Awesome Team of Volunteers

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If you are an adult interested in joining the teams who work with our Godly Play and Children’s Worship programs, the Children’s Faith Formation Team (ChilFFAT) welcomes your participation! We’re looking for both long-term and short-term volunteers to help sustain our programs.

The Children’s Faith Formation Team (ChilFFAT) offers training and information for volunteers. All volunteers who work with children are required to complete a background check. For more information about joining our children’s program as a volunteer contact our Children's Ministry Coordinator.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Curriculum

What is OWL?

Our Whole Lives/Sexuality & Our Faith (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality program created by our denomination, the UCC, alongside the Unitarians. Our religious heritages compel us to create safe settings where people can come to understand and respond to their experiences as sexual beings. OWL is a series of sexuality education curricula for six age groups: grades K-1, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, young adult, and adult. The program provides an opportunity for children, youth, and adults to learn about sexuality in the affirming and supportive setting of our church. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, it provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but also supports participants in clarifying values, integrating sexual and spiritual understandings, building interpersonal skills, and understanding the spiritual, emotional, social, and political aspects of sexuality.

Our Safe Church Policy

The Safe Church Policy was adopted by the Church Council on April 5, 2017 and is available below.

Safe Church Policy (PDF)