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 is done in an intergenerational family style where we all grow and support each other. Each class begins with a time of ritual and prayer, followed by lessons, crafts and play time. At Skyline we believe we are ALL best served when we can learn from our toddlers and our high schools around the same table. Each year we review our curriculum choices and train our teachers for the coming year. Our curriculum is spirit filled and tied to the adult lesson in church so that the whole family can have something to talk about after Sunday services. We have hired a team of Sunday School teachers, to provide consistent, dedicated and talented leadership who know that learning is a two way street and are as willing to learn from our children as they are to teach them. Our teachers are committed above-all to providing, , an experience of “God Loves You” for our students. If you have any questions about our Sunday School Program, teaching style, or theology, come and experience our program for yourself!

Beth Rogers

Beth Rogers has been working with children for over ten years. Originally from the Northwest, she was transplanted here when she came to the Bay Area to pursue her Master’s in Divinity Degree at Pacific School of Religion. Now a third year student, she brings her passion for children and youth to her interest in spirituality to coordinating Skyline’s Children and youth programs.

Beth spent years working in afterschool programs, summer camps and preschools before coming to seminary and is seeking to follow her passion and her call to ministry to be an ordained minister in the UCC after graduation. Growing up in UCC churches all her life, her theology is best met with the UCC slogan of God is Still Speaking. Bringing popular culture and the everyday world into the Sunday School room, Beth seeks to connect the lessons of Sunday morning to the weekday world we live in. Beth brings her interests in the environment, and social justice to her programming and works to show Skyline’s children that they are safe, loved and capable of greatness.

Beth lives with her partner of 7 years and their beloved dog in Berkeley and loves to spend any available moment at dog parks and sitting under shady trees.

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.

Skyline is committed to engaging our children in worship as well as Sunday School. Several times a year, our worship service is meant to be fully intergenerational with our Youth and Children remaining in the service. These services are always a lot of fun a good chance for the adults to feel that child-like passion and vitality once again. This Summer our Family Worship service will be July 18th: Old Turtle and the Broken Truth. Upcoming Family Worship services include Preschool Sunday, Earth Day, and others.

UCC Camping Programs – Many young people experience God’s spirit profoundly in nature, and through shared camping experiences. A wide variety of 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.”

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 Communion Bread Baking, when our children and youth bake bread for the year’s Communion service and get to know our elder members personally. Throughout the year there are lots of chances to hike, play  and create wonderful craftwork. From Co-op Play Dates to the Blessing of the Animals, Skyline programs welcome all families to experience the joy of creation and the wonder of childhood!

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