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.
Curricula for our Confirmation program and our Youth Group are developed by a dedicated team of volunteers and our Pastor. Our Sunday School curriculum is chosen yearly by our Religious Education staff and the members of Religious Education Board.
Nursery ages 0-3
You walk in the door carrying your most treasured possession – your child. You’ve decided to give the nursery at try. you want your little one to receive the ministry at their level and you can’t wait to soak in the church worship service – it’s been a long week!
Welcome to our Nursery!
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.
Nursery Wish List
Although the nursery team loves donations of toys and supplies, our most needed and most valuable donation is your time! We are always looking for volunteers to help our staff care for our children.
In order to assure the safety of our children and youth, all adult volunteers must be cleared through a background check.
sunday School
3 years- 5th Grade
Because children are an important part of our worship life, children from age 3 through 5th grade start the day in worship with the gathered community. In this way, they join us for singing, praying, and a dedicated time just for them with the Pastor. Around twenty minutes into worship our children go to Faith Formation (Sunday School) and learn the stories and ways of the Christian faith in a more focused environment.
We are convinced that the Table is open to all, so we celebrate the sacrament of Communion at the beginning of the worship service on the first Sunday of each month so that our children may partake before departing for Faith Formation. When Baptisms are celebrated they, too, are conducted early so that children may participate in the blessing of the water.
In Faith Formation, the children are divided into three groups: Preschoolers, Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, and 3rd-5th graders.
Youth Group
Grades 6th-12th
Anoka UCC's Youth Group meets on Wednesday evenings during the school year (September – May) at 6:30 p.m.
In the summer the youth group does not meet regularly, but does enjoy occasional activities such as an annual weekend retreat in July at our Abbie N. Larson Memorial Campsite we will camp.
Youth group members are involved in our church community. They participate in worship services through various music pieces, readings, and our annual Youth Sunday Service. Youth regularly serve on the church's Boards and Committees and are vital partners in our church's ongoing work.
Our youth group is active in the community, too. They serve a meal annually at an area homeless shelter and have a longstanding annual tradition of Trick or Treating for canned and dry goods for the ACBC Food Shelf. Fundraisers are held to provide funding for both internal and external activities at several times during the year to supplement the generous support of the congregation.
About half of our large youth group is made up of friends and neighbors of our church members. This outreach to our community speaks well to the values and commitment that our youth have to spreading the love of God.