Children & Youth

At Old South, we don’t just think our kids are the future—we think they are the heart of our present! Inside and outside of Sunday School, we help our kids cultivate their growing spirits and teach them the values of our life together as a church. Together, our kids explore the meaning of different Bible stories, learn about important Christian rituals, get a feel for the rhythms of worship, sing, and learn what it means to be a part of what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called, "The Beloved Community." Our kids LOVE Sunday School and don't want to leave church when it's over!
Want to stay up-to-date on news and event for children & youth? See what's happening this month on our Children & Youth Calendar and sign up for Old South Kids This Week, our weekly family email.
You can contact our Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Jodie Gunther, at jodie@farmingtonucc.org.
Want to stay up-to-date on news and event for children & youth? See what's happening this month on our Children & Youth Calendar and sign up for Old South Kids This Week, our weekly family email.
You can contact our Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Jodie Gunther, at jodie@farmingtonucc.org.
Sunday School classes
![]() Nursery Care
Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are welcome to join Teresa in our nursery or stay with their parents in the sanctuary. Pre-K through 5th grade Our children use Shine, an engaging, inclusive curriculum that helps children learn our Biblical stories, understand that they are known and loved by God, and learn what it means to follow Jesus. Teen Bible Breakfast Club (BBC)
At Old South, our priority is exploration, not indoctrination. In the BBC class we help our 6th to 9th graders learn how to wrestle with their faith by using hilarious animated short films from re:form to address age-appropriate theological questions and to introduce them to a different way of understanding our ancestors in faith. On communion Sundays, our teens participate fully in worship. Confirmation Old South offers Confirmation for high school students every other year. This program guides young people in exploring their faith, learning what it means to be part of a spiritual community, and deciding whether following the path of Jesus is right for them. Our next class will be offered during the 2016-2017 school year. ![]() Post-Confirmation
The first Sunday of the month, high schoolers who have completed confirmation are invited to attend a roundtable discussion on the intersection of faith and current events. During remaining weeks, they are encouraged to attend worship and participate in the full life of the church. Have you filled out your Sunday school registration form?
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See what's happening this month on our Kids & Youth Calendar!
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Continuing faith formation and exploration
![]() God's Kitchen Crew
Our 2nd through 5th graders are welcome to join our monthly after school program, (usually) the first Tuesday of the month from 3-4:45, during which we bake dessert for the community lunch and then share in silly games together. Please check the most recent church calendar for the next date. Soup Group Our 4th through 8th graders are welcome to join our monthly after school program, (usually) the second Monday of the month from 3-4:45. Please check the most recent church calendar for the next date. Old South Movie Studio Once a month our pre-K through 6th graders are invited to learn the stories of our faith by acting out and filming their favorite Old Testament stories. ![]() Middler Youth Group (6th–9th grade) & Senior Youth Group (10th–12th grade)
Youth group is a fun and creative space for our middle schoolers to engage in service and community-building. We meet monthly from Mid September-May. Faith & Cinema Periodically our young people meet for a movie and dessert to discuss the theological themes of the movies we love to watch. These events are for young adults from 6th grade on up. Acolytes Each Sunday, a young person begins our service by bringing the Christ light into the sanctuary. Children in 3rd through 5th grade are welcome to help play this very special role! CityReach Mission Trip Our mission trip to Boston's CityReach gives our youth the opportunity to learn about homelessness from people who have experienced it. During the 20-hour session, participants join CityReach staff in street ministry and offer hospitality, food, and clothing to people living in the streets and shelters of Boston. This is followed by times of sharing and reflection. Pilgrim Lodge Pilgrim Lodge, the Maine UCC Conference summer camp and retreat center, offers Christians of all ages opportunities to find spiritual meaning in a rustic setting on Cobbesseecontee Lake. |
Check out our Sunday School 2022 Easter video, "The Easter Story: A Maine Retelling."