Bound by Friendship, Growing through Giving, Exploring our Faith.
It takes a village to raise a child. We strive to be the loving, nurturing, inclusive village where young lives are shaped and transformed.
Check our calendar below for upcoming Children and Youth events.
Childcare
Our qualified childcare staff is here to take care of your children while you participate in worship, an education class, or even an informal church gathering. Each member of the childcare staff is vaccinated for COVID-19, background-checked, and certified in CPR and First Aid.
All parents will check in their child at the Check-In table outside of the Sunday School Wing entrance. A childcare staff member will take your child’s diaper bag and escort your child into the Nursery. Pick-Up is at the same table following the end of worship/event.
Check if childcare is available for an event by contacting Pastor Megan at 305.448.7421, ext. 119 or MeganS@gablesucc.org.
Sunday School
During 9:00 a.m. Worship in the Chapel
Childcare is available for infants through Pre-K 2 in Room 1 of our Arts and Education Wing each Sunday. Children in Pre-K 3 and older are invited to attend the 9:00 a.m. Chapel Worship Service with their family.
During 11:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary
Childcare is available in our Nursery (Room 1) for infants and toddlers. We offer Sunday Spiritual Formation for all children in Pre-K 3 through Twelfth Grade.
Drop Off: Infants through eighth graders will enter between 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at our Sunday School Check-In table. Children will be welcomed by a church staff member, and parents will sign in and register their children online, if they have not already done so. A church staff member will escort children into the Sunday School Wing and into their classroom.
Pick Up: After worship has ended, parents return to the Check-In table to sign their children out. A church staff member will bring your child to you.
Please contact Pastor Megan at MeganS@gablesucc.org with any questions.
We use progressive lectionary Bible-based curricula for our elementary-aged children and sixth through twelfth grade youth, as well as enhancing the program with mindfulness, yoga, mental health awareness, and hands-on learning. In Sunday School, we lay the foundation for a lifetime journey with Christ, nurture our children’s compassion for others, encourage their spiritual questions, and listen to their experiences as they live out their faith.
Children and Youth who would like to remain in Worship with their families or enjoy the service viewing it live from a TV in our Havighorst Lounge with their parents are always invited to do so.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
Gables UCC is proud to be one of two UCC churches in the state of Florida offering Our Whole Lives; Lifespan Sexuality program. In this day and age, this program is a must for our children.
Our Whole Lives teaches honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. For these reasons and more, we are proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula.
Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. With a holistic approach, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
Our Whole Lives recognizes and respects the diversity of participants with respect to biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and disability status. The activities and language used throughout the program have been carefully chosen to be as inclusive as possible of this human diversity.
Our Whole Lives is led by a trained Our Whole Lives Church Member Team and Pastor Megan.
Kindergarten through Second Grade: As we offered this program in Fall of 2022, it will be offered once again in the Fall of 2024.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: As we offered this program in Fall of 2022, it will be offered once again in the Fall of 2024
Middle School and High School: As we offered these two programs in the Fall of 2021 to our Sixth through Eighth and Ninth through Twelfth Graders, we will offer them again in 2024.
Vacation Bible Camp (VBC)
The theme for the 2023 VBC is Hero Hotline. This camp fills up very quickly. Registration will open in March 2023.
Sunday School
Middle School Youth will follow the same Sunday School drop-off and pick-up protocol as the younger children. High School Youth will gather at their classroom between 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. where they will be welcomed by their teacher.
Youth Group
Every month we gather for dinner, games, fellowship, and faith reflection. All are invited! Friends are welcome too!
Retreats and Outreach
Throughout the year, our high school youth participate in retreats and service projects in order to grow in faith and community and to serve our neighbors.
Summer Mission Trip
Each summer our middle school youth go on a service-learning mission trip to different locations in the United States. These trips are our chance to serve our neighbors as Christ served, in love, solidarity, and witness. Throughout the year we host fundraisers to help pay for the trip costs.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the program by which young people in 8th or 9th grade prepare to “confirm” the baptismal vows that their parents took for them when they were much younger. It is their chance to say “yes” to their baptism and for the church to say “yes” to their growing faith. Read more about our program by clicking here.
Our Whole Lives (OWL)
Gables UCC is proud to be one of two UCC churches in the state of Florida offering Our Whole Lives; Lifespan Sexuality program. In this day and age, this program is a must for our children.
Our Whole Lives teaches honest, accurate information about sexuality changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. For these reasons and more, we are proud to offer Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula.
Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. With a holistic approach, Our Whole Lives provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences on sexuality.
Our Whole Lives recognizes and respects the diversity of participants with respect to biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and disability status. The activities and language used throughout the program have been carefully chosen to be as inclusive as possible of this human diversity.
Our Whole Lives is led by a trained Our Whole Lives Church Member Team and Pastor Megan.
Throughout the year, we have many family-friendly events, but we also have events just for parents! Check out our calendar below for dates on book studies, fellowship time, and more.
Parent and Pastor Connection
Join Pastor Megan and other parents, as we gather to share a prayer, collective wisdom, parental struggles, and a word of inspiration. All parents are welcome to register for this monthly gathering via Zoom. Check our calendar below for meeting times.
Email Pastor Megan at MeganS@gablesucc.org for the Zoom link.
To participate in the exciting programs that we have for children and youth, please fill out a registration form.
As a community of Christian faith, Gables UCC is committed to creating and maintaining programs, facilities, and a community in which members, friends, Clergy, employees, and volunteers can worship, learn, and work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation or intimidation. Please click the button below to read more about our SafeConduct Policy regarding children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
The Kids FUNd for Enrichment and Transformation enables low-resourced, at-risk youth to participate in sports, the arts, and other extracurricular activities that promote physical, emotional, intellectual, or psychological growth; teamwork; and a sense of self-worth and well-being.