Family Stories for Peace UCC | Refuge

 

As we continue to tell the stories of Jesus' life, this week we will focus on the Epiphany and the magi arriving with gifts for baby Jesus. Our story this week tells the story of our holy family through the eyes of the donkey that we imagine carried and accompanied them on their journey to find a place for Jesus' birth and a place of safety for Jesus to grow up.  

At this point in history there are so many people who are displaced, in danger, and seeking a place to live in peace and comfort. Perhaps it is important to remember that Mary and Joseph likewise journeyed to places that were strange to them to find safety for themselves and their son. May this story be a call to compassion and love as we each follow the light toward goodness, peace, and love.

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for Epiphany Sunday. This week we're reading "Refuge" by Anne Booth and Sam Usher. This book will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Refuge

Music by PulseBox on Pixabay. This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids

Prayercast | Christmas

 

Today's worship service features music by Igniter Media, The Many (licensed by Convergence Music Project), and Borrtex with additional content licensed through Igniter Media. Some music by Pulsebox on Pixabay. This service was created using iMovie and Canva. All materials are original, creative commons, permission given for use, or purchased through Igniter Media or Convergence Music Project.

Family Stories for Peace UCC | Christmas Eve Stories

 

Christmas is such a special time of year when we imagine the holy family celebrating the birth of the Christ child as we celebrate and enjoy our own families. We hope the spirit of Christmas finds you and yours well, happy, healthy, and safe. May you find blessings of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy that can sustain you through the end of the year and into the next.  

This week, we share a story video with two different imaginings of the night of Jesus' birth: one as told by the lyrics of the classic carol "Silent Night" (illustrated by Lara Hawthorne) and one from Igniter Media that explains how the Christmas story might be different than we traditionally imagine it. However we tell the story, we know that Love is born into the world with baby Jesus and that his life and light continue to lead us 2000 years later to live our own lives of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. Be blessed and Happy Christmas!

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for Christmas Eve. This week we're reading "Silent Night" by Lara Hawthorne. This book will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Silent Night

Includes a video purchased and licensed from Igniter Media. Some music by PulseBox on Pixabay. This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids

Word Made Plain at Peace UCC | Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

This was the Word Made Plain at Peace UCC on December 21, 2025. Offered by Joliene Wade Gatlin, MDIV.. It's the Fourth Sunday of Advent. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories

Prayercast | LOVE

 

Today's worship service features music by Christopher Grundy, Ben Grace, and The Many (licensed by Convergence Music Project) and additional content licensed through Igniter Media. This service was created using iMovie and Canva. All materials are original, creative commons, permission given for use, or purchased through Igniter Media or Convergence Music Project.

Family Stories for Peace UCC | I Am Love: A Book of Compassion

 

This Sunday we light the candle of LOVE.  At this time of year, many of us are overflowing with love and many of us feel like we need some extra love.  Susan Verde's "I Am Love: A Book of Compassion" (part of her "I Am" series) can help us imagine how to embody love in the world... and it starts with compassion!  When we listen to others and to our hearts, we can find a loving path.

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This week we're reading "I Am Love: A Book of Compassion" by Susan Verde. This book will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: I Am Love

Music by PulseBox on Pixabay. This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids

Prayercast | JOY

 

Today's worship service features music by Scott Holmes Music; Borrtex (from Free Music Archive); The Many, Kate Hurley, Flamy Grant, and The Calendar Years (licensed by Convergence Music Project), PulseBox (via Pixabay) and additional content licensed through Igniter Media. This service was created using iMovie and Canva. All materials are original, creative commons, or purchased through Igniter Media or Convergence Music Project.

Family Stories for Peace UCC | Happy: A Children's Book of Mindfulness

 

This Sunday we will light the candle of JOY.  There is a lot happening at this time of year.  So many fun things!  It can also feel very busy and stressful, though.  Being joyful can be about remembering what makes us happy and how much we have to be thankful for.  

This week we're reading "Happy: A Children's Book of Mindfulness" by Nicola Edwards and Katie Hickey.  This book helps us to notice all of the things that can make us happy when we pay attention: food, nature, sounds, people... when we take time to be mindful, we find time to be joyful!

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Third Sunday of Advent. This week we're reading "Happy: A Children's book of Mindfulness " by Nicola Edwards and Katie Hickey. We're also using a story of the annunciation from the Children of God Storybook Bible by Desmond Tutu. These books will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Children of God Storybook Bible

Happy

Music by PulseBox on Pixabay. This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids

Buffy Guide | "Lie to Me"

 

This is a discussion guide for season 2, episode 7 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Lie to Me." Stay tuned for future uploads! I'll be going through the whole series and the reboot, once available! #btvs #buffy #buffyverse #buffythevampireslayer #sarahmichellegellar #youthgroup #teenseries

Prayercast | PEACE

 

Music by Maya Solovey, Squire Tuck, (from Free Music Archive), and The Many (licensed by Convergence Music Project) and additional content licensed through Igniter Media. This service was created using iMovie and Canva. All materials are original, creative commons, or purchased through Igniter Media or Convergence Music Project. #onlineworship #virtualchurch #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #prayer #christianprayer #spirituality #spiritualseekers #progressivechurch #onlinechurch #podcast #prayer #prayermusic #christianmusic

Family Stories for Peace UCC | Peace and Me

 

This Sunday, we will light the candle of PEACE.  There is so much conflict in the world, but there are always people doing good and working for Peace-- including many of us at church!  

This week we are sharing a story called "Peace and Me" by Ali Winter.  This book is endorsed by Amnesty International "because it shows how people standing up for other people makes the world a better, more peaceful place."  This book explores some of the ways people work for peace through the lives of ten Nobel Peace Prize laureates.  

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Second Sunday of Advent. This week we're reading "Peace and Me" by Ali Winter. This book will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Peace and Me

Music by PulseBox on Pixabay. This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids

Prayercast | HOPE

 

Today's service features music licensed by Convergence Music Project and additional content licensed through Igniter Media. This service was created using iMovie and Canva. All materials are original, creative commons, permission given for use, or purchased through Igniter Media or Convergence Music Project. #onlineworship #virtualchurch #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #prayer #christianprayer #spirituality #spiritualseekers #progressivechurch #onlinechurch #podcast #prayer #prayermusic #christianmusic

Family Stories for Peace UCC | I Am Human: A Book of Empathy

 

This coming Sunday will be the first Sunday in Advent.  Sundays in Advent each have their own theme, so we'll be sharing stories on each.  

This Sunday we will light the candle of HOPE.  Hope can be a tricky thing to hold onto when things are difficult.  Our story for the week, "Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez" is a beautifully-illustrated story about the life of a forever-hopeful figure from American history.  Cesar Chavez led the National Farm Workers Association to fight for justice.  Holding onto hope is critical in movements for justice, peace, and equality.  

We hope this story can inspire hope that we can all make a difference, and perhaps, as we gather around bountiful tables, remember to be thankful for the workers who make our abundance possible.

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the First Sunday of Advent. This week we're reading "Harvesting Hope" by Kathleen Krull. This book will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Harvesting Hope

This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids

Word Made Plain at Peace UCC | Thanksgiving

 

This was the Word Made Plain at Peace UCC on November 23, 2025. Offered by Joliene Wade Gatlin, MDIV.. It's Thanksgiving Sunday! #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories

Family Stories for Peace UCC | We Are Grateful

 

This week we're reading a book by Cherokee author Traci Sorell called "We Are Grateful."  As Traci tells us in an author's note, "Cherokee culture places a strong emphasis on expressing gratitude to unelanvhi (oo-NEH-la-nuh-hee), literally 'the one who provides all,' or God.  We also show gratitude for one another, animals, birds, plants, fish, the cosmos, water, and land.  Cherokee people believe that recognizing and honoring the ways that the sacred and the duties of daily life are interwoven requires effort, ritual, and awareness, but above all, gratitude."

This week, we share this story about gratitude in all seasons as Sorell teaches us some Cherokee words and ways to be mindful of our blessings all year round.  

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 29). This week we're reading "We Are Grateful" by Traci Sorell. This book will be available at Kids' Night Out and during Family Worship! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: We Are Grateful

Music by PulseBox on Pixabay. This video was made using iMovie, Pixabay, and Canva, using creative commons. #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories #biblestories #biblestoriesforkids