Thanksgivings & Concerns
Thanksgivings & Concerns voluntarily shared during Sunday worship services, the Passages column in the Little River Currents newsletter (excluded in on-line editions for privacy concerns), and a weekly “Deacons’ Bench” bulletin board posting all provide timely information about significant events in the lives of Little River members and friends.

Alerts
Alerts is an e-mail list that pastors use to inform members and friends about significant, timely occurrences, most notably deaths and memorial services and events cancelled due to inclement weather or other emergency.  Members and friends whose e-mail addresses have been provided to the Little River office will receive Alerts, unless they specifically opt-out.

Child Care
Our infant care room is staffed by a trained child-care provider and church members.  Care is available for infants and children through age 2 during Sunday worship at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. (through age 3 at 11 a.m.).  Parents must complete the sign-in sheet.

Care is provided for young children during weekday evening classes, choir rehearsals upon request, and other church activities. Call the church office in advance to ensure availability.

Play and Craft is offered on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. for children ages 4 to 11 who do not wish to attend worship or whose parents attend meetings at that hour.  Activities include supervised games, books and videos and simple craft activities.

The Communities of Care
The Communities of Care program assists the pastoral staff with functions involving care of Little River members and friends with special needs.  Members of Little River UCC are grouped geographically by zip code into Communities of Care that provide lay support for individuals in times of need.  Each Community of Care is led by one or more Deacons who are responsible for organizing appropriate action in times of need, and all members and friends are encouraged to assist as they are able. Click here for a listing of the Communities of Care and the assigned Deacons.  Actions organized by Communities of Care include:

• Occasional support (food, transport to doctor, child care, etc.) for members with special needs such as a recent surgery, hospitalization, or death in the family.
• Intermittent assistance (e.g., child or elder care) over a long term for families dealing with on-going issues.
• Assistance with receptions following memorial services.
• Welcoming new members and calling on long-absent members.

Called to Care
Called to Care is a lay ministry, closely coordinated with the pastors, in which trained volunteers provide confidential support and prayer over an extended period of time, one to one, to persons or families with special concerns.

Healing services
Healing services are held quarterly on Sunday afternoons include communion and laying on of hands. Check the Calendar for the next scheduled service.

Aging Issues Support Group
The Aging Issues Support Group meets approximately monthly to provide information and support to persons dealing with their own or a loved one’s aging issues.

Agape Group
The Agape Group offers monthly opportunities for women to gather in the Jubilee Room on the third Tuesday of each month from 1:30 to 2:30 for support and inspiration.   No sign-up or preparation is required.

Covenant Groups
Covenant Groups offer women the opportunity to gather in a safe space with trusted friends who agree to keep all discussion confidential.  The current small group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m., September through May. The gathering opens with silence, then quiet music, followed by reflections on a poem or other art form and sharing of updates and reflections.

A new group will be announced this summer.  Those interested will determine the day, time, and format of their gathering.

Safe Church
As a community of Christian faith, Little River UCC is committed to creating and maintaining its community and to providing programs and facilities in which members, friends, staff, and volunteers can worship, learn, and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation.  To support this objective, an ad hoc committee has created a clearly documented policy designed to prevent and address potential issues. An update of the Safe Church Policy has been adopted for interim use by the Church Council, pending formal approval by the Congregation at the next Annual Meeting.