2025-26 Little River Children and Youth Classes and Programming

Church School Classes

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Class (Ages 3-5) Nursery

Children in Kindergarten and younger are invited to our K/Pre-K class. We use the Godly Play curriculum, which combines a short lesson with Montessori-style exploration of materials each week. This class is staffed by Yris and Mia, our paid childcare providers. John Mingus provides Godly Play lessons weekly. Contact: ce@lrucc.org

Yris and Mia are available starting at 9 A.M. every Sunday. If you are planning to attend a meeting or rehearsal and need childcare, please check your child in with Yris and Mia in the Social Hall after worship. If you need childcare to attend a Little River event, you are always welcome to contact the church office and request childcare. Contact: office@lrucc.org

Elementary School Class (Grades 1-5) Room 5/6

Children who are in first through fourth grades are welcome to join this class. We use A Joyful Path, a curriculum from ProgressiveChristianity.org. Two teams of two committed teachers each rotate on a two-week basis, so that each team teaches for two weeks and is in the church service for the other two weeks each month. This year the class will be taught by Jane Wallace, Karen Kleiber, Carolyn Yocom, and Heather Shackley. Contact: elementaryclassteachers@lrucc.org

Middle and High School Class (Grades 6+) Room 7

Those youth in sixth through twelfth grades are invited to join this class. Victoria Santiago and Glenn teach from the Bible and leads the class according to the needs and interests of students, designed and developed over her many years of teaching at Little River. Contact: youthclassteachers@lrucc.org

Youth begin in the worship service and then are dismissed to their classes after the Time for Children.

Substitute Teaching

Would you be interested in serving as a substitute church school teacher? Please email ce@lrucc.org. To contact the substitute list for coverage email substitutes@lrucc.org

Youth Programs

Youth Group (Grades 7-12)

The youth group is for seventh through twelfth graders and meets once on the first Sunday after the service from 11: 30 am - 1:00 pm. The youth participate in fun community-building events, which sometimes include service projects. The youth group will be led by Victoria Lott and Jane Hooper Madden, who commit to growing and learning with our young people for the year. Contact: youthleaders@lrucc.org

Check out some photos from our youth group volunteering for Back Bay Mission!

Confirmation

Every other year, we offer confirmation classes for students in 7th through 9th grades. Confirmation classes allow our youth to consider their faith journeys, learn more about Christianity, and decide for themselves whether they want to affirm their baptisms. This year, confirmation class will meet during the small group hour on the second and fourth Sundays at 9:15 a.m. in-person and online. Please let us know if your child wants to attend. Classes will culminate in a confirmation ceremony at the end of the academic year.

Contact: travis@lrucc.org

Children and Youth Music

Opportunities for children and youth to participate in vocal and instrumental music abound. For more information, email Craig at craig@lrucc.org.

Human Sexuality and Faith

We believe that our sexuality is part of God’s gifts in creation. To help our youth grow into adulthood, we offer 7-9th graders the optional program Our Whole Lives (OWL) approximately every other year. OWL is a multi-age curriculum developed in partnership by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ to provide comprehensive sexuality education. Understanding human sexuality in the context of faith is critically important. OWL gives our youth the tools that increase knowledge, communication, safety, and health.

OWL leaders are selected from the congregation because of their maturity and ability to share the sensitive nature of the material. They are specially trained and certified by a national association of OWL trainers.  Learn more here about OWL in the United Church of Christ.

Adult Education Programs

Adult Discussion Group with pastor shelli

2025-2026 — Diving Deeper: The Reformed Christian Faith according to the Greats

Did you know that the United Church of Christ stands in the Reformed Tradition of Christian history? But what does it mean to be Reformed? And why does it matter?

This year, we will read together and reflect on some of the greatest theologians of all time, who are also Reformed theologians. We’ll dive deep into their most famous writings and note how they are relevant to our life in the UCC and more generally as Christians.

Watch videos in this series here

Watch previous courses on-demand here!

Monday Morning Religious Studies Class: Understanding the New Testament

Join the Monday Morning Religious Studies class as it begins 2026, with a new course, Understanding the New Testament (a Great Courses video lecture course), presented by Dr. David Brakke. He describes these 24 lectures in the study guide:

“The New Testament is something of a paradox. On the one hand, it is a single book—or part of a book, the Christian Bible. As such, Christians believe that it communicates a single religious message. On the other hand, it is a collection of 27 different books, written by probably 16 different authors at various times and places. This paradox expresses itself in a variety of ways … This course investigates the diversity of the New Testament by studying the distinct perspectives of its individual writings in their historical contexts.”

All are welcome to join us for some or all of the lectures on Zoom at bit.ly/LR-ReligiousStudy on Mondays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. The new course, Understanding the New Testament, begins January 5.

• January 5: Lecture 1: The Paradox of the New Testament and Lecture 2: The Jewish Origins of Christian Faith

• January 12: Lecture 3: 1 Thessalonians and Paul’s Ministry and Lecture 4: The Salvation of Gentiles in Galatians

 Small Groups

A variety of classes and groups are offered throughout the year to meet the varied needs and interests of members and friends. These include theological and biblical studies, book groups, and classes that cover topics such as social issues, environmental concerns, problems in the U.S. and around the world, preparation for church trips, and other topics that merit our attention. A connection with our faith, though not always explicitly stated, is always implied.

Join us Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. for small groups (coffee is available at 9 a.m.).

Parenting through Faith

Starting on January 11 in Room 7 there will be a new Sunday morning group! Drop the kids off in Kid's Club (Room 1) and join us for our Parenting through Faith small group. We will read devotionals, share highs and lows, get advice from each other, and build a community of parents. Please reach out to LR member Emily Makos or email office@lrucc.org with any questions, topic ideas, or for more information. 

Bible Study Small Group, led by the Rev. Dr. Janet Parsons Mackey

Nobody can tell a good story as well as the author of Luke-Acts (which is one book in two volumes). After taking a December break, the Bible Study group will begin its next session on January 4. We’ll begin at the beginning and move on through the stories, the questions, and the miracles. Every now and then we’ll hear from the Apostle Paul, who challenges and contradicts Luke-Acts’ point of view. Where appropriate, we’ll look at and discuss Christian Anti-Semitism, which found fuel in some of these stories. LR member Janet Mackey will be facilitating the class. Hybrid. Zoom: bit.ly/LR-SundayBibleStudy

Meditation Group-Next meetings Jan 4 & 18

God is still speaking—join us for meditation, a form of listening! The art of Christian meditation is about suspending self and learning to sit with God. The traditional Christian practice of meditation is called Lectio Divina, which is Latin for “Divine Reading.” At its purest form, it is reading, meditating, and praying on sacred scripture. LRUCC meditations sometimes use scripture, but also use poetry, Christian writings, or other materials. Generally, the meditation sessions start with some relaxation exercises, such as a body scan or breathing exercises. Then we move into meditation. Usually, the leader reads the chosen work three times, followed by periods of silence. Afterward, people may share their experiences. During these uncertain times, meditation can be a way to feel the warmth, comfort, and love of God for us and for all of creation. Hybrid. Zoom: bit.ly/LR-Meditation

Hoping & Coping Small Group

Would you like to be part of a small group where you can discuss how you’re coping these days and what you are hoping for? LR member Jane LaRoque leads “Hoping and Coping,” a small group that reads and discusses brief articles by contemporary authors who have insights we might be able to use. Check with the church office for schedule. All are welcome to join in person in the conference room or join via Zoom: bit.ly/LR-HopeCope