We acknowledge that parenting is hard and holy work. There are many things to do in a day and parents are the number-one educator in the lives of their children and youth. Here are some valuable links for talking with your kids and youth about a variety of topics that relate to growing up.

Cyberwise for adults (information regarding cyber bullying)

"Our Whole Lives: Sexuality Education and Sexuality and Our Faith" (OWL) is an engaging, inclusive and developmentally appropriate sexuality curriculum that incorporates UCC beliefs and priorities. SAPUCC offers it to 8th and 9th graders every other school year.

OWL is a unique program that is aligned with the National Sex Education Standards, but goes even further with program values. Unlike other sexuality curricula, Our Whole Lives: Sexuality Education is not focused solely on preventing or reducing problems such as high rates of sexually transmitted infections and unintended teen pregnancies. The program equips youth with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to avoid these consequences.

OWL has the more proactive goal of helping youth to become sexually healthy people who feel good about themselves and their bodies, remain healthy and build positive, equitable loving relationships. The broad topic areas that will be covered with OWL Values are: self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice and inclusivity.

OWL at SAPUCC is valued and supported by the congregation as a whole.

The next OWL cohort for 8th and 9th graders will be during the 2021-22 school year.

Additional Resources

Amaze.org (for parents and kids)
SexETC.org (for teens, by teens)
SexPositiveFamilies.com (great reading resource for all ages)

SAPUCC offers Confirmation Class for 9th and 10th graders every other school year. The cohort meets 2 to 3 times per month from September thru May, takes a break over the summer, and culminates with Confirmation Sunday in mid-October. Pastor Victoria teaches, guides and leads the students through a variety of topics including:

Family Faith Heritage
Sacraments of Baptism and Communion
Worship, Liturgical Calendar, Christian Symbols
History of the United Church of Christ
Bible Fundamentals
Old Testament Prophets
Spiritual Practices
Dying, Death and Bereavement
The Pre-Easter Jesus: What Do We Really Know About Him?
Jesus Tells Parables
Money & Stewardship
Easter & the Resurrection
3 Questions to Ask God, Jesus, Church

The Confirmation schedule may also include field trips to a Jewish Temple and an African-American Church in north Minneapolis, and guest speakers from the Muslim American Society of Minnesota.

In addition, for students who are on the autism spectrum and would find the class difficult to manage, Pastor Victoria has created alternative, personalized confirmation experiences with parents’ input and guidance.

Confirmation is a marvelous year of concentrated listening, learning, wondering and growing!

“Let the little children come to me.” ~ Matthew 19:14

For parents or caregivers:

+Model being in worship: your attendance, participation and attitude speak volumes

+ Remind children that worship is a gift we offer to God

+ Allow time to make bathroom visits and get settled before worship

+ Sit toward the front. Children who can see what’s going on are more likely to be engaged

+ Greet friends and visitors and emphasize how good it is to be together as a community

+ Guide your child through the bulletin and hymnal

+ Activity bags are hanging near the table at the side entrance to the sanctuary. We understand kids might get restless. It’s fine to let them read or draw, especially during the sermon

+ The Quiet Corner is a space for anyone to stretch out during worship. It is located under the Rose Window on the north edge of the Sanctuary.

+Talk with your child about their joys and concerns before worship, and encourage them to pray silently or aloud during the Prayers of the Church

+ Help them appreciate the sanctuary: the stained glass windows, flowers, paraments, candles, organ pipes and so on

+Encourage them to say “thank you” after the service to people who led worship that day

+Have a conversation about the service on your way home – “What did you enjoy?” “What part was hard to understand?” “How did you feel when …?”

For the congregation:

+ Remember our congregation’s commitment to children and youth and the promises we made at their baptisms

+Extend the Peace of Christ to children as well as adults; call children by name

+Please refrain from entering or exiting the sanctuary during the scripture reading, sermon or prayers

+Appreciate that parenting is hard and holy work

+Remember that you were once a child, too

Godly Play is a Montessori based approach to teaching young children the Christian tradition. Developed by an Episcopal priest, it is now used by a variety of Christian denominations, including many congregations in the United Church of Christ.

Teachers use figurines and other objects to tell Bible stories, parables, and liturgical concepts. Children are invited to wonder and discover meaning in the stories through open-ended questions and then to respond to the stories through art, conversation and retelling the stories using the materials.

Some of the stories we share are: Creation, Abraham and Sarah, Exodus, Ark and Temple, Circle of the Church Year, Baptism, parables of the Good Shepherd and the Good Samaritan, the Twelve Disciples.

Our teachers are certified or have attended training to teach Godly Play. We invite you to talk to them or visit a classroom to learn more.

9:15 AM Gathering time for ages 3 through 8th grade, and teachers
9:30-10:15 AM Classroom time


Godly Play (Age 3 through 2nd Grade)
Godly Play is a Montessori based approach to teaching young children the Christian tradition. Developed by an Episcopal priest, it is now used by a variety of Christian denominations, including many congregations in the United Church of Christ.

Teachers use figurines and other objects to tell Bible stories, parables and liturgical concepts. Children are invited to discover meaning in the stories through open-ended questions and then to respond to the stories through art, conversation and retelling the stories using the materials.

Some of the stories we share are: Creation, Abraham and Sarah, Exodus, Ark and Temple, Circle of the Church Year, Baptism, parables of the Good Shepherd and the Good Samaritan, and the Twelve Disciples. Our teachers are certified or have received training to teach Godly Play.


Sunday School, Grades 3-5
3rd, 4th and 5th graders meet in the Shadrach Room. The “Shine!” curriculum invites our teachers to create a space for children to be open to God’s spirit. “Shine” includes a variety of activities to engage learners of all kinds. Each session includes options for children to explore the Bible story through active movement, creativity and the arts, and engaging student resources.


Middle School, Grades 6-8
As our young people’s independence begins to grow, so do their wonderings. The middle school class strengthens relationships among students as they explore the relevancy of a life of faith. We continue to engage with the Bible and its stories, learn spiritual practices, and utilize tools of the faith passed down through the centuries and those of our current culture. Creativity continues as we create art together. We also gather outside of Sunday mornings for service projects and intergenerational events.

High school students are invited to come together at different times throughout the school year, sharing some of their reality of life in high school as they continue to grow in body, mind and spirit.

We celebrate each other's milestones and accomplishments. We explore the intersection of theology and faith with current events or aspects of our culture. We also dig deeper into scripture and continue a variety of spiritual practices.

Sometimes we gather for food and fun; sometimes we gather for a service project or justice-making experience; sometimes we gather for quiet, reflection, prayer and mindfulness.

No matter what shape it takes, High School faith formation is a dynamic process!

"Children’s participation in the sacrament of communion is based on their faith and trust, rather than extensive theological understanding. Young children can be nurtured in the trust and grace of God, and can come to the table with a sense of belonging and of receiving. Their presence helps the whole congregation to act as a community called into being by Jesus Christ. The Body of Christ includes all ages!"

~ Rev. Carolyn Landers Pettigrew,
from the Worship & Education Team of the national UCC

At St. Anthony Park UCC, we believe that the communion table is open to all people – no exceptions, limitations or qualifications. Christ is the host and Christ welcomes everyone. On the first Sunday of every month, we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, and all children and youth are welcome to participate.

+ Children can understand 3 key theological components of communion:
1. God’s people share a meal together as God’s family
2. We say “thank you” to God
3. We remember Jesus

+ Children can observe, wonder, witness, absorb and participate in the whole liturgy of communion

+ Communion engages all of the senses: see, hear, taste, touch and smell

+ Children may not fully understand the sacrament, but their experience of it will grow and deepen as they mature

+ It is important for children to witness their parent(s) and other adults in the community receiving the bread and cup

+ Children learn to be in worship only by being in worship; it is a learned behavior

+ Children are capable of meeting high expectations

+ Adults ought not underestimate the spiritual capacity of children

+ Finally, if the parent(s) or child prefer that the child not commune, they are welcome to witness the sacrament but not partake of the bread and cup.

Kids sing! The Cherub Choir and the Joyful Noise Choir sing in worship twice during the school/program year -- once in the Fall and once the Spring. When the children's choirs rehearse, it is on Sunday mornings as part of their Sunday School time.

Cherub Choir – ages 3, 4, K, 1st, 2nd grade
led by Godly Play leaders
rehearse in the Esther Room
9:15-9:35 AM


3rd-5th grade Choir
led by John Habermann
rehearse in the Sanctuary
9:15-9:45 AM

There is NO gathering time on the mornings that the children’s choirs rehearse. See calendar for schedule.

The Nursery is located on the lower level of the building and is staffed by paid child care providers every Sunday. Parents are encouraged to visit the Nursery prior to the service to familiarize themselves with the room and the caregivers.
Parents with an infant are also welcome to keep their infant with them throughout the entire worship service.

Looking for some worship songs for children to listen to and/or sing along? The "Shine" curriculum has a bunch of songs with catchy tunes and meaningful words. Contact the church office for more information.

Doing Good Together - Family oriented service projects

Vibrant Faith Ministries - Faith at home ideas and resources

Patheos - Progressive Christian blogs and articles, from world news and events to what's happening in the local church, written by the foremost theologians of today

As a fun and educational tool to help children understand the importance of composting as a way of caring for God's creation, the grade 2-5 classroom has a worm composting bin. The worm bin demonstrates an efficient way in which our food waste can be turned into soil rather than ending up in the trash. Weekly checks and feedings let us with these amazing critters.

We encourage parents to do what is best for their family. We have a Quiet Corner under the Rose Window as a space to use the floor or find items that could be useful during the worship service.

Unless otherwise noted, all contents of this page Copyright © 2023 St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ. All rights reserved. Used By Permission.
St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ • 2129 Commonwealth Avenue • St. Paul, MN 55108 • (651) 646-7173 • Rev. Victoria Wilgocki, Pastor