Parkminster’s ministry team works closely with our Christian Education Committee to nurture faith and community through programming and events for children, youth, and young families, emphasizing healthy relationships and the development of compassion.
Parents and caregivers are asked to fill out a registration form for their child(ren) for our children and youth ministry programs. This can be filled out through the link here or printed out and returned as soon as possible on a Sunday. Please ensure you complete the caregiver information on page 4. You can skip pages 2 and 3 if you are not registering additional children. We appreciate you taking the time to fill these out!
If you have any questions about Family and Youth Ministry, please reach out to our Congregational Designated Minister for Spiritual Development and Care, Lisa Leffler, at lisa@parkuc.ca.
Click the headings below to learn more about Family and Youth Ministry at Parkminster.
Family Parties
Throughout the year, we host family parties so you can enjoy time together and foster community as a family. Family parties always include a meal as well as fun activities for all ages. Along with many other inter-generational activities, such as Rally Sunday, our Christmas Pageant, and the Sunday School Picnic, there are many ways to get your family involved in church — together!
To keep up to date on family ministry activities, please check out our monthly calendar here.
Young Family Worship Space
For families attending worship with infants and toddlers, the Young Family Worship Space is available at the back of the sanctuary. This is a welcoming space for families with children who are not yet ready for Sunday school, providing an opportunity for parents to get to know one another during Sunday worship in a space where they can see and listen to the service.
The Family Worship Space is coordinated by the Membership Committee.
Sunday School
Our ministry with children and youth is a vibrant extension of the Parkminster community and we love to welcome new families! Every Sunday, children and youth participate in our Sunday School activities to explore the stories of the Christian faith and what it means to have a genuine, loving relationship with God, with each other, and with the city and world we live in.
Sunday School is offered from September through June during the worship service, where children and youth will start their Sunday in the sanctuary with their families before heading downstairs for Sunday School. Children are introduced to the lesson of the week and then move on to an engaging activity, such as baking, group games, or crafts. When the worship service is complete, Sunday School is also finished, at which time parents and caregivers are asked to meet their children downstairs.
Sunday School is a time for children to cultivate relationships with each other and the leaders, learning what it means to live a life full of God’s love. We offer weekly Sunday School programming for children in kindergarten through grade 4, with additional programming throughout the year.
Junior Youth
We are very excited to announce that we are running a new Junior Youth program during worship on the Second and Fourth Sunday of each month. This program, for children in grades 5 to 8, will be using the new anti-racist curriculum from the United Church of Canada, I Am a Changemaker. Like Sunday School, Junior Youth begin the service in the sanctuary with the rest of the congregation before being invited downstairs for youth ministry, running concurrently with Sunday School. This group works together in age- appropriate activities like group discussions and journaling to explore their faith and its role in anti-racism.
Youth Group
We welcome youth in grades 7 to 12 from the four Waterloo United Churches and beyond to meet for Youth Group every other Wednesday night from 7 to 8:30 PM, rotating between churches. Youth ages 12 and up meet for activities, discussions, and more relating to our faith and the world around us. We discuss a variety of topics that connect our day-to-day lives with God, and we also explore topics relating to world events, social justice, and issues that are relevant to today’s youth. Friends are always welcome!
Come as you are! We strive to create a brave space for all of you by being an explicitly 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive- and neurodiverse-accepting group! We also recognize that youth group can be intimidating for Indigenous and racialized youth, and we are committed to building a welcoming and inclusive group.
YOU ARE LOVED. YOU MATTER TO US. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a time when youth can choose to make their own profession of faith. Confirmation is not about church membership. It is a process of interactive classes and activities for youth that allows them to ask questions, explore their faith, learn about other faith communities, and affirm the commitment made for them at baptism. For more information about dates of upcoming confirmation classes, contact the church office at (519) 885-0935 or admin@parkuc.ca.