Faith Formation
Our faith journeys are lifelong and enduring. At Anoka UCC we strive to enable, assist, and equip our community of disciples to walk on that journey with confidence and love.
Faith Formation is what we call that preparation. This includes our smallest members who play in our nursery; Sunday School for ages 3 years to 5th grade; Youth Group for those in 6th-12th grades; Confirmation; Vacation Bible School; and various adult education offerings. We understand Faith Formation to be an engaged process of learning and practice integrated throughout all aspects of congregational and daily life.
Nursery ages 0-3
Our Nursery is for children from birth – to 3 years of age. We are open 15 minutes before the 10:30 service begins through 15 minutes after the service ends (9:30 in the summer). Our nursery is staffed by a certified childcare professional.
sunday School
3 years- 5th Grade
Children belong in worship as much as adults, so our children begin each service in the Sanctuary. After they join the Pastor for the Children’s Time, they may go with our Faith Formation staff and volunteers for Sunday School or they may return to their seats with their adults.
At Anoka UCC, children are welcome to partake of the sacrament of Communion. Our Baptism liturgy also involves them in the blessing of the water and welcoming of the newly-baptized.
On most Sundays, Sunday School children are sorted into older and younger cohorts.
Youth Group
Grades 6th-12th
Our Youth Group meets on Wednesday evenings during the school year (September – May) at 6:00-7:30pm. Summer activities vary by year but do not generally include regular meetings.
Our youth are welcome to invite their friends to join them at Youth Group.
Favorite activities of our youth include sharing music videos, playing Apples to Apples and other games, creating art, playing Dungeons & Dragons, spending time at our church campsite, and participating in a multi-church, annual winter retreat at the end of the Gunflint Trail.
Our Youth Group programming doubles as a de facto Confirmation program that includes Bible study, an annual Youth Sunday (most recently held on Maundy Thursday), service projects, and more.