Children, Youth, & Families Programs
Just Love. Period.
This is the framing for our ministry to children, youth and families. Children and youth are on a journey to discover their spiritual identity, and we’re here to support them every step of the way. We create a safe and brave nurturing container in which they can explore questions about identity, responsibility, friendship, peer pressure, and how faith in God can accompany their growing-up. Thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly endowment and support from congregants and volunteers, Just Love is the lens through which Biblical narratives, storytelling, and the arts teach values like justice, kindness, service, generosity, caring for the environment. Our welcoming, inclusive, progressive, intersectional theology empowers young people to become socially conscious, revolutionary lovers who inspire and teach us as much as we teach them. Together, we’re shaping a just and loving world. To keep updated on what we’re doing for CYF at Middle, subscribe to our newsletter below.
To keep updated on what we’re doing for CYF at Middle, subscribe to our newsletter below.
Just Love
Youth Group
Freedom Summer
Children's Multicultural Book Fair
Village Chorus for Children and Youth
Community Norms
We are committed to these norms within Middle Church’s community and spaces we hold together:
Middle Church Community Norms
We listen to understand until the speaker has finished and we do not interrupt
We ask clarifying questions (I’m so glad you share that, do you mind if I ask you a clarifying question)
We do not cross-talk (Thank you for your perspective, here’s my point of view/take on that/I have a different thought VS I think you are wrong or I disagree or That is so stupid)
We speak for ourselves, not our cohort, our group, or anyone else
We use “I statements” as often as possible. (When I am interrupted I feel frustrated and find it difficult to stay engaged VS You interrupt me and it makes me frustrated)
We keep confidentiality in our groups
We do not make triangles, we say what needs to be said to the person who needs to hear it.
We tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Lying is disrespectful and anti-community. We know there might be more than one truth in a system but we try to tell ours and own it.
We step up and step back to allow all voices to be heard.
Zoom participants will adhere to demonstrating Revolutionary Love at all times. If a participant’s behavior is deemed inappropriate by the meeting host, they will be removed. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to harassment, threats and bigotry of any kind. If you experience behavior that feels inappropriate, we invite you to remind the participant of this covenant and also message the host.