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Youth Ministries

Click here for Youth & Family Ministry Volunteer packet, please also include the information release form when submitting your packet.

Welcome to
Unity of Omaha’s
Youth Education Programs!

What's New?

Upcoming Youth and Family Events page has all the latest events and information for planning your Family experiences.

Spirit Spotlight: December

Shining a light on our recent events and blessings

Our first ever Family Advent Service, led by our youth director, Alysa Choquette, was fun for all ages. We explored the spiritual themes from the movie Elf, and how we can live by the code of elves year round. We had such a good time, that now every 5th Sunday is a Youth and Family Sunday. See below for more info.
This December, our youth explored the true gifts of the season and how to be a gift to others by expressing the Christ within. We ended the year with our attendance 2 to 4 times more than this summer! Our light is ever expanding. Thanks to all who helped to make this tremendous growth happen.

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youth 1

Where God is with and within us.
Where laughter is a virtue.
Where Jesus is followed, rather than, worshipped. Where you feel loved, blessed, appreciated, and at home!

We are dedicated to the spiritual growth of our most precious resource-the children. We honor each child and family as an expression of the Christ within. Every Sunday, our Soul School is full of children and teens exploring the loving and practical principles of Unity through the metaphysical teachings of the Bible, Jesus, Unity curriculum, and like-minded spiritual resources. A Living Curriculum of engaging lessons, along with our staff of loving volunteers, help support their spiritual growth, physical and emotional health, and positive self-esteem…All while having fun!

5 Basic Unity Principles-worded for kids

God is all good and active in everything, everywhere.
I am naturally good because God’s Divinity is in me and in everyone.
I create my experiences by what I choose to think and what I feel and believe.
Through affirmative prayer and meditation, I connect with God and bring out the good in my life.
I do and give my best by living the Truth I know.

Youth Director’s Message

I look forward to meeting all of you and coming alongside your family to help your children discover that they are intrinsically good, utterly unique, and fully capable of expressing their divine selves. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments… And thank you for this opportunity to share in the blessings these youth have to offer!

In Love and Light,

youth 2
Alysa Choquette
Director of Youth Education
youth@unityomaha.org

Sunday Routine

Preparing to Come: Please label all bottles, sippy cups, diaper bags, etc. for
children under 3 years who will be attending our nursery. Please dress comfortably, youth will be participating in circle time, crafts, and games.

Prior to Service: Families are asked to allow plenty of time to sign youth in at the
Youth Ed table, located near the main entrance. Youth attending UniTeens (6th-8th) and Y.O.U. (highschool) should go directly to their classrooms on the main floor, north side, prior to the start of service. Volunteers will be there 10 minutes prior to the start of service to welcome the youth.

10:30am: Sunday service begins. Parents, please keep your children (except
Uniteens and Y.O.U. youth) with you during this time to celebrate the first
moments as a Unity family.

10:40am: Children are called to the front of the sanctuary where they are blessed
by the congregation before teachers lead them to their classrooms
upstairs. Parents may take children under 3 years of age (or those not
yet potty-trained) to our nursery by the main entrance.

Conclusion: Parents are asked to please pick-up their children and UniTeens
immediately following service. Older siblings may not sign them out as part of our Sacred Safety policy. The Y.O.U. dismiss themselves. Uniteens may also do so with a signed permission slip from parents, found in our parent registration packet.

Sacred Safety

All parents/guardians are required to sign their children in (Nursery-8th grade) at our Youth Ed table each Sunday. Except for guests, all families must have a registration form on file. This alerts us to any allergies or special needs your child may have.
Once the Sunday service has ended, parents/guardians are required to pick them up immediately and to sign them out.
There will always be a volunteer present with your child who has undergone a complete criminal background check. Our volunteers receive ongoing support and training.

Classes

Nursery (under 3 years of age, or not yet potty-trained)
Our nursery is the perfect environment for our youngest congregants. While you enjoy the adult service, your little one will receive his or her first introduction into Soul School. The loosely-structured time includes free play along with occasional specials i.e. art, stories, snacks, and a short circle time that can include simple songs affirming God’s goodness in and around us.
UniTots (3 yrs old-Kindergarten)
Our curriculum is designed to offer your children experiences of themselves as divine beings, with stories, songs, affirmations, creative play and other activities that introduce universal truth principles such as Love, Kindness, Uniqueness, Family, and Oneness.
UniKids (1st-3rd grade) & UniTweens (4th-5th grade)
UniKids and UniTweens explore the truth principles through Unity’s “Living Curriculum”. We explore spiritual truths found in metaphysical interpretations of the Bible and other resources, and then relate those to the greater community, and finally return to discover a personal meaning for each child. Aside from Bible stories and other resources, we add music, yoga, games with a purpose, prayer, meditation, and positive affirmations to creatively experience these lessons in fun way. This “Living Curriculum” is designed to provide children with a “spiritual toolbox” that they can use throughout life. We aim to equip our students with such “tools” as the Five Basic Unity Principles and the ability to look for personal meaning in positive prayer and the teachings of spiritual wayshowers, like Jesus.
UniTeens (6th-8th grade)
Along with Unity curriculum, some of the material addresses issues that directly affect the pre-teen today. We appreciate that at this age, the youth’s needs are changing and they may like to discuss in more detail how they can identify spiritually-centered solutions to real-world challenges. This is presented in a safe, relevant, practical way, while helping to foster positive self-image, confidence, and faith in the spiritual truths at work in our lives. UniTeens take on more responsibility within the classroom and our spiritual community through volunteerism and fundraising efforts. They also have the opportunity to attend youth lock-ins and regional retreats.
Youth of Unity (Y.O.U.) –highschool
The Y.O.U. is a group of teens that come together to learn Unity principles, serve the community, and share supportive, spiritual fellowship. All Y.O.U. activities are designed to promote of three goals: spiritual enfoldment, service, and spiritual fellowship. While it is a youth-led group, there are adult sponsors who provide the input and steady guidance. Aside from lock-ins, campouts, and service events, Y.O.U.’ers have the opportunity to travel to regional rallies and the internationally attended annual Y.O.U. conference.

Parent and Volunteer Participation

Your presence and participation in our program are not only welcomed, but necessary to ensure a strong program through the years. This is a partnership-we all want what is best for the children. Please visit our Youth Ed table for more information on how you can help create the best youth program for our families.
By volunteering to assist the teachers or to become a teacher yourself, you will feel more confident in your own role as a spiritual guide. Plus, by actually spending time in your child’s classroom you relay a very positive message…

Your child’s spiritual growth, and ultimately, ability to create a life of abundance and joy is important to you!