Youth & Family Ministry

Meet our Director of Youth & Family Ministries...

Gwen Lindsley, Director

Gwen Lindsley has devoted herself to building a comprehensive Youth & Family Ministry at Unity of Gainesville. She was part of the study group that formed the church in its early days (1975), along with her mother Doris Green; and served as our first librarian.
Ms. Gwen can be reached at the church on Sundays or email her at gwen81146@yahoo.com.

Over the years, Gwen has built the children's church to include four levels:

the Nursery (infants to 2 years old)
Unikids - Preschool (ages 3 to 5) & Elementary (ages 6 to 10)
Uniteens - Middle School (ages 11 to 13)
YOU - Youth of Unity - High School (ages 14 to 18)

SIGN IN & OUT... To ensure the maximum safety for the children, a parent or guardian is required to sign the child into the classroom. The same person must sign them out immediately following the service.

A Living Curriculum...

The vision of "A Living Curriculum" is to empower children and youth to use their spiritual wisdom to fulfill their soul's purpose; to empower parents to see themselves as the primary spiritual educators of their children and youth; to empower facilitators to see education as a process, through which they effectively support the unfolding of the child's spiritual nature and model the living of the spiritual principles; to empower a spiritual community to function with unity in diversity; to inspire a world educational community by its philosophy, process, programs and products. (Unity Worldwide Ministries)

A LIVING CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY 5-POINT CHECK LIST:

Identify: Each lesson begins with an issue or theme that will be explored.
The Vehicle: Either a Bible story, sacred literature, movie clip, life event or song are used to introduce the issue or theme. This creates a common experience that everyone can connect to.
The Discussion: This is the heart of each lesson. The questions used invite the students to see how the issue is happening to the characters in the story, how it is happening in their lives and the world around them, and helps them come to their own conclusions as to how to experience life from a deeper, more connected place.
The Creative Experience: The creative experience is an open-ended activity that invites the students to play in what they have heard and shared, and to explore how it is relevant to their lives.
The Sharing: Each lesson ends wsith an opportunity for the students to share what they have experienced. They are also encouraged to take the new discoveries home with them and use them in their daily lives.

Nursery (infants to age 2)

Our nursery staff lovingly interacts with our youngest members, affirming the Christ presence within them.
This position is currently open. If you would like to work with infants and toddlers, please speak with Gwen before or after Sunday service; or email her at gwen81146@yahoo.com.

Unikids (ages 3 to 10)

CURRICULUM FOCUS
Creating experiences that:

Help the children know that they are loved just as they are.
Explore Jesus as a human being and as a model of love and goodness.
Help the children understand that they, too, have the spiritual potential to act in ways that bring out their best selves.
Help the children see Jesus as a person who had challenges and difficulties but created a relationship with God that helped him to move through these challenges with loving kindness and generosity.
Invite the children to explore how they, too, can let God live through them as an expression of life, love and kindness.

Uniteens (ages 11 to 13)

CURRICULUM FOCUS
Creating experiences that:

Explore Jesus as a human being who lived and is also the example of God moving in and through us.
Help them know they are inherently good and that they have choices as to how they can show up in this world.

Donate to the Youth & Family Ministry

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Mission Statement...

Unity of Gainesville's Youth and Family Ministry is dedicated to creating a loving environment that nurtures and encourages the expression of God, respecting and supporting the unique unfoldment of every person as a student and as a spiritual being.

Are you called to teach Sunday school or work in the nursery? Speak to Ms. Gwen at Unity!

Spiritual Education Program...

Spiritual Education classes are available for children 3 to 18 years old during the 11:00 am Sunday Service only. Nursery care is provided for children under 3 years of age.

SUNDAY LESSON FORMAT:

Sacred Circle: A time of community building, prayer reconnecting, prayer and meditation.
Story Sharing: An experience that is used to create common ground among the students.
Discussion: The use of a questioning strategy that engages the learner in an exploration of the story and how it reflects Unity principle and relates to their life.
Creative Experience: The students are then invited into creative experiences that allow them time to personally explore the ideas.
Sharing: A time of sharing ideas and talking about their experiences is offered at the end.
Closing: All classes join the adults in the Sanctuary for closing celebrations.

For the safety of the children... We inquire into personal references and perform a criminal background check on all volunteers who work with our youth.

Meet the Teachers...

Presently, there are openings for teachers at all levels. Please speak with Gwen, Julia or Phyllis about your interest! Or email Gwen at gwen81146@yahoo.com.
There is also an opening for someone to care for kids in the Nursery during service. A CD of the sermon will be provided to you.

Y.O.U. (ages 14 to 18)

CURRICULUM FOCUS
Creating experiences that:

Invite the teens to consider the idea that God is a mental attitude that works in and through us.
Help them understand that they are the creator of their own world through the thoughts they give power to and what they choose to see and believe.
Help them to know that each one has the power to live and do as Jesus did.

The Youth of Unity (Y.O.U.) is active again with Julia Lednicky and Gabe Coleman as co-sponsors. The Y.O.U. group will be guided by Julia Lednicky.
Teens (ages 14-18) are invited to join in every Sunday at 11:00 am in the Y.O.U. room at the very end of the hallway on the right.

Volunteer to help...

Sunday School can always use some volunteer teachers for all age levels... this may be your calling! Current teachers of our Unikids, Uniteens, Youth of Unity (YOU), and the Nursery are very dedicated and could use a Sunday off during the month. Can you step up and help?

Please talk to Gwen and see if it is something you would like to do. You can call her at 352-214-7849 or email her at gwen81146@yahoo.com. Of course, you can also catch her at church on Sunday before or after service

If you decide to become a volunteer teacher, you will receive a CD of the Sunday service, and be blessed with an abundance of hugs and joy. There is no greater gift than being in service to our children.

Requirements are simple: be a member of Unity of Gainesville, pass a background check, be physically able to pick up at least 40 lbs. (for the Nursery), and express a love of children.

YOUTH RETREAT... TO RALLY WE GO!
(or "It takes a village to raise a child!")

Youth retreats and rallies are a life-changing experience for most of our Uniteens and YOU (Youth of Unity) members. They grow, learn and make new friends in a loving, safe environment while enriching their sense of self and their spiritual connection. The Uniteens and YOUers have an opportunity to go to retreats twice a year - in the fall and the spring - and sometimes for a week-long summer experience. Each group has its own qualifying requirements for church attendance and fund-raising - and, for YOUers, for community service.

UniTeens & YOUers are responsible for doing fund-raising to support one-third of their retreat's registration cost. Each retreat is supposed to be funded as follows: One-third by the church, one-third by the family, and one-third by the kids' fund-raising efforts (plus money in their set-aside fund). Not every child who wants to go to retreats has the means to pay for their portion, however. A GREAT way for the congregation to show their support for our teens and pre-teens is by sponsoring a portion or all of the expenses for one of our kids to go to a retreat. YOU can do your part by sponsoring our kids with any portion of their retreat costs, but we'd like to suggest the following contribution levels:

- One-third ($55) level sponsorship
- Two-thirds ($110) level sponsorship or
- Full ($165) sponsorship

Can't afford a full level? Go together with a friend for joint sponsorship of a level, and involve MORE people in the opportunity to enrich our connection as ONE FAMILY! ... or make a donation in any amount, as every little bit helps.

Your generosity is much appreciated!