Welcome | Ozaukee Congregational Church

Youth Ministry

At Ozaukee Congregational Church, we seek to help young people learn about spirituality in an environment that's encouraging, inspiring, and constant.

Joyous Journey
Who said Sunday School had to be boring? Our Joyous Journey church school engages children from preschool through 8th grade in regular rotations of art, drama and storytelling, teaching the classic Bible lessons through active participation. Joyous Journey creates opportunities for our youth to learn about Christ's life, our church's mission, and each other.

Junior & Senior Youth

Q4 makes Sunday mornings fresh and fun for middle and high school students! Quads + quotes +quizzes + questions = Q4. We begin in Fellowship Hall at 10:00, where 6th-12th graders experience the first three Qs, plus some time for sharing joys and concerns, a moment of prayer, and a look at the day's Bible passage. About 10:30, middle and high schoolers separate into two rooms for smaller group discussion (the fourth Q). Rev. Rob Fredrickson and a team of terrific adult volunteers facilitate Q4, which will meet on most Sundays during the academic year. (About once a month, all middle and high school students will be invited to attend the 10:00 worship service in lieu of Q4).

Reinforcing the connections made during church school tends to keep young people active and engaged in church life. Our Junior and Senior Youth Groups provide an opportunity to socialize and have fun, nurtured in an atmosphere that offers plenty of opportunity to discuss the issues that matter in their lives.

Giving to the community through large and small efforts is an important part of the Junior and Senior Youth Programs at our church. Creating care packages for college students and raising money to support a child overseas—as well as challenging each other in Q-tip darts and Name That Tune competitions—are just a few of the ways that our Junior and Senior Youth stay connected at Ozaukee Congregational Church.

Confirmation Class
In this church, we run our Confirmation Class a little differently than the usual confirmation program. Instead of a narrow focus on didactic learning of names, dates, and places, we believe that "Christianity is best caught, not taught." To this end, our program is dynamically based. We offer experiences first and then reflect spiritually on the Confirmands' individual learning. This allows for more of an experience of joy and gives the youth an opportunity to raise their own unique questions and concerns.

We weave a combination of fun and games, outreach and service, and personal reflection in providing a year-long experience about God, Jesus Christ, the Early Church, formation of the Bible, Congregationalism, sacraments and church membership.

Nursery Care
We provide safe and reliable nursery care for infants and children through age 3. Carolyn Herem has been our Director of Nursery Care for over 20 years and has a loving way with the littlest ones of our church. Other church members assist in the nursery on occasion when needed. In keeping with a policy of safeguarding all children entrusted to us, we always operate with a policy of "two adults."

Special Note:

If you would like to help out with by teaching Sunday School, assisting in the Nursery or working with the PF kids, please be sure to fill out and turn in your Screening Application for working with youth. You can get an application from Sharon Neece or from the office.

We hope everyone is enjoying a fun and relaxing summer. Since fall is just around the corner, we're sending out a desperate plea for a Preschool teacher (or teaching team) for the first teaching session. It's only a 4-week session (September 12 - October 3) and is sure to be lots of fun with our K4 & K5 children. Also keep in mind there are lots of other teacher openings (both Joyous Journey as well as Preschool) during the fall. Just check out the sign-up board by the coffee area in Fellowship Hall or talk with Sharon or Carol.

Thanks for the enthusiastic support of everyone who signed up to decorate and fill Operation Christmas Child boxes during our 'Christmas in July' campaign! For those of you who missed it, have no fear. The decorating kits and supply lists will be available again during September. In the meantime, don't forget to take advantage of the current 'back to school' sales to stock up on supplies to fill your box(es).

Have an awesome August!
Sharon Neece & Carol Larsen

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PICTURES FROM CAMP

WCA Camp at Mt. Morris

July 11 - 17 2010