Families

Family Ministry
Skyline’s support of Children, Youth and Families is vital and loving. The family, in all its contemporary shapes and sizes, is the heartbeat of our church. Through a spirit-filled, family-friendly Sunday morning worship, inspired Sunday School for K-12, and a wide variety of events for kids and their adults, we nurture faith in this precious gift.

Sunday School
Our church school is committed to the moral and spiritual development of our children and teens. Through Bible stories, music, worship, crafts, and social justice service projects, we strive to pass on the Christian faith to the next generation. Our church school is based on these principles:

• We can grow in faith without indoctrination or dogma. we trust that an open-minded, non literal approach to scripture and tradition can inspire a love of God.
• By learning about the life of Jesus, children are provided with an example of compassion, justice, faith, and love that will empower them. But this Christ -centered approach never denies that there are other paths to God as well.
• Social justice is central to our faith. When children learn about the state of the world, and act with compassion to those most impoverished, they are following Christ.
• Along with our church school. our entire church seeks to be a safe, fun, child- friendly, nurturing community.

Skyline’s Sunday School has individual classes for various age groups., ranging from toddlers, through Confirmation class. Each year we review our curriculum choices and train our teachers for the coming year. Our curriculum for 2008-2009 is Seasons of the Spirit. You can go to the website: http://www.spiritseasons.com for more information. Also, parents with children and teens can log in to spiritseasons.com on a weekly basis to learn about our upcoming lessons. (The user name is spirit and the password is dance.) We have hired a team of Sunday School teachers, to provide consistent, dedicated and talented leadership. Our teachers are committed to providing, above-all, an experience of “God Loves You” for our students. If you have any questions about our Sunday School Program,teaching style, or theology, please ask Rev. Laurie Manning.

Sally Juarez

Sally Juarez has worked in the Church for nearly all of her adult life. A theatre major specializing in acting and directing, she has her Masters Degree from California State University at Chico. She did additional advanced professional training with ACT in San Francisco.  Sally was a staff member at the Montclair Presbyterian Church for nearly 28 years serving as Program Administrator and Associate of Drama. It was to inform her drama ministry that she went to seminary in 1998 and got her M Div in 2001. She was ordained to specialized ministry in a Caring for Creation ministry as a resource on global warming to congregations in the Bay Area. She most recently served as Designated Pastor at High Street Presbyterian Church.

In her drama ministry, Sally has worked extensively with children and youth.  She has also been an educator, employed with the Academy of Media and Theatre Arts, the Young Conservatory and teaching at Head Royce School in Oakland. Sally has also worked in the non-profit sector as a meeting planner.

Sally’s experience, interests and passions include environmental justice, interfaith dialog and community building, non-violence and peacemaking, multi-cultural theologies and cultural proficiency and, of course, drama and the arts.

Sally is also a grandmother of three, including the newest, “Amira” adopted from Ethiopia.

Sunday School & Child Care

David Fong has been on the staff of Skyline Community Church since Fall of 2008. He is 18 and a senior at Skyline High School and is looking forward to graduating and attending college in 2010. In his free time, David enjoys skateboarding and hanging out with his friends.

Wudnish is a senior at Bishop O’Dowd High School and president of her class. Her father heads the children’s program at a neighboring church, the Medhani Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Childcare is available, upon request, at 8:30AM for choir members, with children, who wish to sing in our choir. (8:30AM-9:45AM). Childcare continues until 11:30am, so that at any time during Worship, adults may bring children who are not attending Sunday School to Childcare.

UCC Camping Programs – Many young people experience God’s spirit profoundly in nature, and through shared camping experiences. A wide variety of camping Camping programs are available for children and youth of all ages.Confirmation – Confirmation classes are offered every few years. Since confirmation is an affirmation of one’s faith, our program involves a variety of experiences in which to explore our faith. These include overnight retreats with the UCC conference, mission projects, field trips to experience a variety of faith traditions, and required readings and meetings. We use the widely acclaimed UCC curriculum “Affirming our Faith.”

Family Events & Programs – Skyline’s array of yearly events for Children, Youth and Families is rich and exciting. The school year begins with the Communion Bread Baking event, when our children and youth bake bread for the year’s Communion service, hike, play with friendly animals (including two goats!) and create wonderful craftwork.

Intergenerational programs We offer a wide variety of special intergenerational events throughout the year, check our upcoming events calendar regularly to stay tuned. These include:

• The Blessing of the Animals (Fall) in honor of the Feast of St Francis, we celebrate all God’s creatures, and welcome the wider community Animals are an important part of our lives and the shared love of animals brings us together as community. Come join us for our blessing of the animals ceremony, in which we celebrate the sacred interconnection we have with all of life. Come and join us for as we meet your beloved animal family members. Join us for music, games, snacks, and most of all, to celebrate your precious beloved animals!
• The Halloween party Come join us for music, games, fellowship, treats (and a few tricks!) and fun, including a costume parade! Wear your costumes. Children and families especially welcome. Jointly hosted by Skyline church and preschool.
• Christmas Party join us as we sing songs, share a delicious potluck meal, and visit with Santa! Crafts and games provided for children.
• Easter Egg hunt Come join in the annual Easter Egg hunt, Easter Sunday morning at 11 am in front of the Gazebo.. Open to the public!
• Earth Day celebration: (Spring) come join us as we celebrate the beauty of our planet, of nature, and of all creation. Potluck dinner, stories, crafts, and songs. Children and families especially welcome. Jointly hosted by Skyline church and preschool.
• Spring Fling: a grand celebration, including booth games, silent auctions, a live band, cookout with barbecue and grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken, salads and ice cream, face painting
• Movie Nights for Families: potluck dinners and short, family friendly movies (rated G) , games and fellowship for families with children of preschool age and higher.
• BAPTISMS: contact our minister, Reverend Laurie Manning at 510 531 8212