9905 Anderson Mill Rd., Austin, TX 78750  512.335.4449   [map]    
   
   
  Youth and Family Ministry  
     
 
Our youth and family programs provides a safe and nurturing environment that promotes spiritual growth, physical and emotional health, and positive self-esteem in our young people. Unity provides the practical application of the teachings of Jesus the Christ, our Master Teacher; we learn to recognize the Divinity in all of life.


Registration & Medical
Release Form

Youth & Family Ministry
Director: Linda Hancock

Overview:
Our children and teens are such an important part of our spiritual family at Unity Church of the Hills. We welcome you and your family to our church home and honor your child's adventure in growing by providing a well-rounded spiritual curriculum designed to reach each child's age and level of understanding.

Our Youth Education Program takes place on Sunday morning concurrent with the Adult Services. Prior to the end of each Service, the children and teens join the adults in the Sanctuary for a special blessing acknowledging their contribution to our spiritual family, followed by the Peace Song.

During Friendship Hour, following the Service, we provide free comprehensive Interactive Child Care for our youngsters so the parents can spend some time in fellowship with other congregants knowing their children are being well taken care of. After Service Child Care is a free service available for parents who need to attend volunteer team meetings, browse the bookstore, or enjoy the adult fellowship of our spiritual family. After Service Child Care is hosted by volunteers.

We also provide Workshop Child Care. Please review the Childcare Policy.

Our Family Ministry provides support to families by organizing events and workshops to strengthen the connection of the family unit and in community to other families. Divine Inspiration works through us to create a nurturing and supportive environment for parents and children through spiritual activities, wholesome recreation and service to others.

  • What We Teach
  • Youth Education
  • Teen Education

Unity teaches five basic ideas or premises. These are expressed here in language young people can understand:

  1. There is only One Presence and One Power - God the Good. God made all things and is everywhere all the time.
  2. God made me and everything in the world. God inside me (the Christ) is loving, kind, wise, and always knows the best thing for me to do. We are all God's children and loved unconditionally.
  3. My thoughts have value and power. Whatever I think about all the time grows. I have the ability to choose my thoughts at all times, my thoughts do not choose me.
  4. I can change my mind at any time. I affirm what is true with positive statements. "I AM God's beloved (perfect) child." I deny (or do not give power to) that which is NOT true. I talk to God through prayer and listen in meditation (the Silence).
  5. God wants me to have a happy, joy-filled life. I use the tools I've learned. The Christ in me helps me in all I think, say and do, to be the best me I can be.

Offered Sundays at 9:30 and 11:30 AM

Unity has been described as a "way of living." Teachers assist children in developing values and seeing how they can use these ideas in their daily lives. Parental modeling reinforces this for the children.

Nursery
Our child care workers lovingly interact with your child by affirming the Christ within them through song, safe playtime or watching your angel sleep.

Toddlers
Teachers caringly interact with your child by introducing them to a beginner's Bible or contemporary story and affirming the Christ within them through song, conversation and other activities. Cooperative play time is also a feature in this class to teach skills to be used in future classroom settings.

Pre-School(Ages 4 and 5 including Kindergarten)
Little ones can learn about God through sharing with others in hands-on lessons. The stories and activities are planned with their attention span in mind. Children learn through wonder questions, music, learning to do for themselves and repetition.

Elementary Grades 1-2
Elementary Grades 3-4
Elementary Grade 5
Children are naturally inquisitive and want to learn. They'll often make a craft to take home that reminds them of the lesson theme. Ask your child to share this with you. Your interest means a lot to them. The use of crafts, hands-on projects, music, games, food, role-play and classroom discussion begins to explore the ways in which each child can incorporate the spiritual principles they learn into their daily lives at home and at school.

An energetic, enthusiastic and loving team of sponsors is present to greet and engage the attention of your teens.

Uniteens (Grades 6-8)
Offered Sundays at 9:30 and 11:30AM

Uniteens is designed for pre-teens and young teens in Junior High and Middle School. The Uniteen leaders prepare activities and lessons that enhance the spiritual, emotional, and social growth of this age group. Learning is enhanced through informal sharing, and occasional service opportunities and fun activities outside of class. A yearly spiritual weekend retreat is also available.

Youth of Unity (YOU) (Grades 9 - 12)
Offered Sundays at 11:30AM

The Youth of Unity is an international organization for youth ages 14-18 (grades 9-12). The purpose of YOU is to facilitate a safe, fun, and loving environment for youth to explore and discuss their spirituality. YOU provides youth the opportunity to explore Unity's Principles and other truth teachings and to demonstrate these in their Unity centers, local community, and daily lives. Visit the Y.O.U. Homepage.

 

This Week's Lessons

Toddlers/Unitots: 
"Truth for Tots"

Pre-K Kindergarten:
 "I Care For “God-As-Me” (Principle 2)

First-Fifth Grade:
"Do My Thoughts Affect My Body? "
(Principle 2)

Uniteens:
"So Many Choices"
(Principle 5)

Y.O.U:
Teen led lesson
 
   
 

Did You Know

Upcoming Youth & Family Events

Youth Education Registration
Parents, do you have to write in your child's name when you drop them off to Sunday School? Your child's name will be printed on the classroom roster after you return a completed 2012-2013 Youth Education registration form. Forms can be obtained in your child's classroom or outside Room 140.

Parent Partners

During the summer months several of our teachers and angels go on vacation and Parent Partners help fill the gaps while they are gone.  Parents, if you can volunteer  as a helper in your children’s Sunday School rooms, please talk to Linda Hancock in Room 140

Y.O.U. Summer Legacy Rally Registration

Today is the early registration deadline for the Youth of Unity's Summer Legacy Regional Rally held June 20-23 at University of Central Oklahoma. Completed forms and payments should be returned to the Youth Education Office in Room 140.  Copies of forms can be obtained in the Y.O.U. classroom (Room 203) in Unity Oaks.

Papa John's Fundraiser

Order your Papa John's pizza online using the code word "UNITY" and 10% of your order will be donated back to our Y.O.U!  Spread the word to family and friends acrross the country!  Just go to PAPAJOHNS.COM anywhere in the U.S.A. and we'll get credit for the order year-round!


Wee Wisdom School Logo

                   Wee Wisdom Preschool

Wee Wisdom School is enrolling for the 2012/2013 school year! Call Miss Lisa or come in and schedule an appointment to view the school.

Profound Parenting: A Parenting Solutions Group
3rd Sundayof each month
10:45am
Love Offering

Join Language of Listening and Love & Logic facilitators and other parents for a solution-oriented discussion about the challenges and successes you are having with your children. The facilitators are experts in their respective parenting philosophies, and lovingly share insight and guide discussion as parents make discoveries about their children and themselves. The focus of the group is on how to help you help your children see and express their inner greatness!  Bring a friend; the public is welcome. 

Jun  16 -- Smart Phones & Video Games - Moving Kids Outdoors
Jul    -- Perfectionism - How to End the Stress & Keep the Benefits
Aug  -- New Challenges - To Push or Not To Push?
Sep  -- Homework - Helping Kids Learn
Oct  -- Too Much Drama, Anger, Fear?
Nov  -- Cultivating Respect & Appreciation
Dec  -- Inner Guidance - Following Yonder Star


 

Kids Summer Camps

We've scaled back on our summer camps this year to accomodate busy schedules and budgets. We are offering one camp per age group as follows:  ages 4-6, 7-10 and 11-14.  The camp is entitled "Creative Spirit Camp" and will be a rich blend of all the creative arts.  The elementary and middle school camps will have an opportunity each day to go on a field trip to visit a creative venue that matches the art form being learned that day. For more details, refer to the bulletin insert.  Camp brochures and registration forms will be available soon.  Look for more announcements in the near future.

Breakfast Tacos

Our YOU will be selling breakfast tacos on the first Sunday of every month.  This is to raise funds for them to attend the International YOU Conference at Unity Village in July.  Tacos will be sold after the 8:00 a.m. Service and between the 9:30 and 11:30 Services in Friendship Hall. There will be three kinds--egg & potato, egg & bacon, and egg & sausage.  Cost is $3 each or two for $5.  Thank you for supporting our YOU!

Family Celebration Service

June is a five-Sunday month and on fifth Sundays we hold Church Services for the entire family in lieu of regular Sunday School.  This gives children an opportunity to experience a Church Service with their parents in a more informal setting.  These kid-friendly Services are held in the Pavilion.  Childcare will be provided for infants and toddlers in their regular Sunday School rooms.  Parents, if you are unable to attend the Service with your child, there will be childcare available in Room 135 during the 9:30 and 11:30 Services.
Sunday June 30 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. in the Pavilion

Childcare Policy
UCOH childcare will now be available for children ages 18 months to 10 years.  To ensure that childcare is available for your class or event, register your child(ren) at least three (3) days in advance.  Send an email to childcare@unityhills.org or call 335-4449, ext 113. 

Childcare is $10 per child for the first two hours of childcare and then $5 per child per hour thereafter. You can pay for childcare in advance by going online to unityhills.org.  For more details about the new policy, refer to the childcare brochure which is available on the hallway table outside the kitchen.  You may also obtain a brochure in Room 135 or in the Youth & Family Ministry Office, Room 140.

 

U Better Sing Online Store

Kelley Glover's ogranization, "U Better Sing" has opened an online store to sell U Better Sing apparel.  Kelley will be tithing 10% of the proceeds from these online sales to our Uniteens class.  You can shop in the online store by going to ubettersing.org or look for the link on the YFM page of the Church's website.  Thank you Kelley for your generosity to our Uniteens!