Family Stories for Peace UCC | Hope

 

This week we will be celebrating All Saints Day and remembering those in our community and outside of it who have helped create our world and who we are in it.  

Our story video is reading "Hope" by Matthew Cordell.  This story, written in the voice of a grandparent, expresses the hope that we have for our future generations and tells the story of how our children walk the paths of their ancestors and do new, beautiful things with what they have been given and shown.  It's a lovely story that celebrates the generational wisdom we carry forward and the hope that lives in the future of our children.

This Sunday we'll have children's programming during the service (story and song celebrating gratitude) and celebrate communion, another way that we pass down the wisdom and stories of our ancestors.

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 26). This week we're reading "Hope" by Matthew Cordell. This book will be available during worship on Family Worship Sunday and at Kids' Night Out! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Hope

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 | "Halloween"

 

This is a discussion guide for season 2, episode 6 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Halloween." 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

Family Stories for Peace UCC | How to Apologize

 

This month we have been talking about forgiveness.  At Kids' Night Out we read two books, so we're sharing one of them online again!  It's a somewhat silly book called "How to Apologize" and the title tells you most of what you need to know!  We all need to say we're sorry sometimes and this book helps us think about how to do that: sincerely and without making excuses.  There are different ways to apologize and different people to whom we may need to say sorry.  This book can help us think about how!

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25). This week we're reading "How to Apologize" by David LaRochelle. This book will be available during worship on Family Worship Sunday and at Kids' Night Out! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: How to Apologize

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 | "Reptile Boy"

 

This is a discussion guide for season 2, episode 5 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Reptile Boy." 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

Word Made Plain at Peace UCC | Blessing of the Animals

 

This was the Word Made Plain at Peace UCC on October 19, 2025. Offered by Joliene Wade Gatlin, MDIV.. It's the Blessing of the Animals! #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories

Family Stories for Peace UCC | Each Kindness

 

This month our theme is forgiveness.  This week, we're looking first at Luke 18, in which a woman tries to get help from a mean judge.  Then we're reading "Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson.  This award-winning book looks at how students treat a new student at school.  The new student, Maya, has dingy clothes and toys and the students at her new school don't treat her well.  How can we learn to be kind to others?  How can we forgive ourselves when we don't make the right choices?

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24). This week we're reading "Each Kindness" by Jaqueline Woodson. This book will be available during worship on Family Worship Sunday and at Kids' Night Out! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Growing In God's Love Each Kindness

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 | "Inca Mummy Girl"

 

This is a discussion guide for season 2, episode 4 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Inca Mummy Girl." 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

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

 

This week, we're looking at a Bible passage from Luke in which Jesus heals some people with Leprosy-- even a Samaritan!  Back in Jesus' time, the Samaritans and Jews didn't get along very well, but Jesus knew that our humanity is the most important thing-- not what tribe we come from, not whether we are sick or well, but that we are beloved children of God.

We're also reading "I Am Human: A Book of Empathy" by Susan Verde.  Part of her "I Am" series of books, this book explores in simple, beautiful ways, how we are all human.  We all have wonderful qualities, but also the capacity to make mistakes and be hurtful.  It also means that we have the ability to grow, change, and make better decisions!   

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23). This week we're reading "I Am Human" by Susan Verde. This book will be available during worship on Family Worship Sunday and at Kids' Night Out! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Growing In God's Love I Am Human 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 | World Communion Sunday

 

This was the Word Made Plain at Peace UCC on October 5, 2025. Offered by Joliene Wade Gatlin, MDIV.. It's World Communion Sunday! #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories

Buffy Guide | "School Hard"

 

This is a discussion guide for season 2, episode 3 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "School Hard." 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

The Week | Divergent Spirit Ministries | World Communion Sunday

 

This long form service is the week in summary. Full videos can be found below: Children's Story Video Prayercast Communion Service

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

Virtual Communion Ritual | World Communion Sunday

 

Today's service features music by Trace Howe 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. #onlineworship #virtualchurch #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #prayer #christianprayer #spirituality #eucharist

Family Stories for Peace UCC | "Gathered at the Table"

 

We're happy to be expanding our Sunday School offerings to twice a month starting this Sunday!  We'll be celebrating World Communion Sunday with a special lesson for kids about communion (with song and story... and maybe a craft, if we have time!).  We hope you'll join us and note Family Worship on first Sundays going forward.

Our theme for October is FORGIVENESS.  Sometimes it can be hard to forgive ourselves or others, but we know that part of following the path of Jesus is learning to forgive.  That doesn't mean we let people keep hurting us (God doesn't want us to hurt!), but it means that we learn how to let go of yucky feelings toward ourselves and others.

This week is World Communion Sunday!  Communion can be a regular reminder of God's forgiveness.  Just like loving parents will make sure their child has dinner at night, even if they got in trouble at school, God wants us to be nourished and do better.  God forgives and we are always welcome at Jesus' table, just as we are!

Our story book for this week is "Gathered at the Table" by Glenys Nellist.  The story explores the story of the eucharist and how we participate in communion to remember the life of Jesus.  There are many different ways that people around the world participate in communion.  This Sunday especially, we remember our place in God's beautiful web of Christian community.

This is a story for Children and Families at Peace UCC. This lesson is for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22). We are talking about communion. This week we're reading "Gathered at the Table" by Glenys Nellist (some language changed for theology). This book will be available during worship on Family Worship Sunday and at Kids' Night Out! Please consider purchasing the books from today's video by using the link below: Gathered at the Table We Gather at This Table

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

World Made Plain at Peace UCC | Blessing of the Animals

 

This was the Word Made Plain at Peace UCC on October 5, 2025. Offered by Joliene Wade Gatlin, MDIV.. It's World Communion Sunday! #childrenstorieswithamoral #kidstorytime #christian #progressivechristian #progressivechristianity #progressivechurch #kidschurchonline #onlinechurch #kidschurch #sundayschoolstory #christianstories

Prayercast: Prayers and Songs of the Season | World Communion Sunday

 

Today's service features music by Brian Schroeder and Tracy Howe (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