HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP

High School Youth Group meets on Wednesday or Sunday nights starting at 6:30 depending on the time of the year. Currently we are meeting on Wednesdays at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. We start at 6:30 with some fun games, snacks, and fellowship time. At 7:00 we start our lesson with a video from Right Now Media on a current topic or book of the Bible. This is followed by group discussion time and prayer. We are usually done by 8:00 each night.
We have a committed and dedicated group of individuals that head up our high school youth group time as well as our Sunday School. This year Judy Burger, Tammy & Justin Kilmer, Lanny & Ellen Ash, Doug & Beth Dampf, Kent & Courtney Hees, Alisha & Jeremy Burger, and Betty Cobb are helping lead and teach our 2020-2021 high school youth group.
We also try each month or two to have a fun activity at the church or someone’s home. Last year we had a Super Bowl Party, Pitch Tournament, and a movie night. The Youth also participate in Youth Sunday each year in the fall where they lead the whole worship service for that Sunday including the sermon. The youth also help at the Food Bank as well as provide a Wednesday night meal and the meal for the Congregational Meeting in January. The youth also participate in the Night Light Kickball Tournament in High Point that takes place over Labor Day Weekend.
Our leaders are committed to teaching the truths of the Bible to make disciples for Jesus of our youth. We want to make sure our youth leave high school with a living and active faith that will make a difference in their lives as well as the communities they will serve in.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” I Timothy 4:12

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

Youth ministry is offered to tweens and teens who are in the 6-12th grade. The youth of California UCC meet regularly to experience faith, fun, and Christian fellowship. Monthly gatherings feature a blend of age appropriate, service oriented and social activities. Parents are actively involved in planning and supervising events.

CONFIRMATION

At the UCC of California we offer Confirmation for those in the eighth-grade culminating in the reception of full church membership. Confirmation classes start in the fall and last approximately six months during the school year. Students are expected to attend confirmation classes each Wednesday night from 6:30-8:00 and attend Sunday School and worship services each Sunday. They complete a weekly worksheet about the worship service and something they learned from their daily devotional times.
We focus on the students developing a habit of daily Bible reading, praying daily, and developing a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We’ll study the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, the Lord’s Supper, and baptism along with the books of the Bible, both the Old Testament and New Testament. Students will study from the “My Confirmation” book, the “Next Steps” booklet, “The Evangelical Catechism” book and of course daily devotions from their own Bibles. Students will write their own statement of Faith based on a special section of scripture that they will present during the Lent Season. The Confirmation Service itself will take place on Palm Sunday.

God’s Singers

I’m Connie Bestgen. I have been a member of the United Church of Christ my entire life. My husband, Jay and I have two grown children, Morgan and Wyatt. We live on a farm east of California and we raise beef cattle besides both being fulltime employees of the State of Missouri.

I have been directing God’s Singers for two years and I really enjoy it. I actually directed the youth choir for a couple of years when I was in high school. So now I have children in the choir whose parents were in the choir I directed years ago. God’s Singers is for kids from first through seventh grade. We meet on Wednesday nights during the school year and sing one Sunday a month. The kids are very enthusiastic and they are a joy to work with.

The children’s Choir is known as God’s Singers.  It is open to children in 1st-7th grade under the direction of Beth Dampf. They meet on Wednesday evenings through the school year.

The choir performs one Sunday a month, September through May. During the 2016-2017 school year, God’s Singers became part of the Wednesday evening R.O.K. (Reaching Our Kids) program from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  This program included Bible stories and crafts, as well as singing.

Sunday Morning Bible Study

Middle Grades 4-7 taught by Courtney and Johnny Cassil meet on the upper level on the left down the main hall.

Grades 8-12 taught by Judy Burger meet on the upper level, on the left down the main hall.

I joined the United Church of Christ of California in 1990 when I married my husband Steven. I am originally from Iowa and was living in Columbia when I met Steven on a blind date! Over the years, I have spent my time as a stay at home mom raising our two sons (Grant and Luke), along with 1st volunteering and then working part-time at the Elementary School along with volunteering for and also leading many different church programs at the church.

Now that our sons are grown and our family has grown to include our daughter-in-law Bailey (married to Grant), I am a housewife and volunteer my time at church. My favorite things to do are spend time with family and good friends, travel, fish, read and jigsaw puzzles. I love the outdoors and working in my yard. Along with leading these two groups, I also teach Sunday School and sing in the Senior Choir.

Beginning on the Wednesday following Labor Day, this group meets on Wednesday evenings during the school year from 6:20 to 7:30. Our last Wednesday night meeting for the school year is the Wednesday before Ash Wednesday. God’s Singers does continue to meet until May. The group is for all children and youth in grades 1st through 7th. Their friends are also welcome to join the group. We begin with a time of Bible Exploration, followed by God’s Singers practice, and we end with our crafts/ activities time and a prayer. We always welcome adult volunteers to help us or be willing to substitute when our current adult leaders are unable to attend. Working with the children has been a very rewarding experience.

Christmas Eve Children’s Program

Each Christmas Eve, our youth of all ages, put on a Christmas program with drama and singing. We also present a gift to all of our Cradle Roll children (ages 3 and under). At the end of the program, we have a traditional candle lighting ceremony while singing Silent Night. It is one of the highlights of the Christmas season.

 

4-Year-Old Playschool

The children learned about fire safety and explored the fire truck.

California UCC hosts a 4-year-old playschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the school year. It is open to anyone in the community. They meet in the Fellowship Room and are taught by Amanda Barbour and Karey Freiner. For more information or to enroll your child, please call 796-2832.

The United Church of Christ Playschool is currently enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year. One of our goals is to provide an introduction into the school years through a positive playschool experience. Any potty-trained child who is four years old before August 1, or five years old and not enrolled in kindergarten is eligible for enrollment into Four-year-old Play School. This program serves everyone in our community. If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling their child into our Playschool program, please call Playschool at 796-2832. We appreciate all referrals! And of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to call. Thanks! Ms. Karey & Ms. Amand