10/01/2026

Fall is here...

This past month has been exciting as more than 20 new kids (and their families!) have joined Avon Lake UCC! We have also been fortunate enough to celebrate 9 baptisms in a six week period, which has been wonderful!

Our Trunk-Or-Treat event back on October 15th was a whole lot of fun, with a great showing of kids playing in the inflatable maze, enjoying the inflatable "hamster balls" or decorating pumpkins. Celebrating a Cleveland Brown's win together was a blast, too!

Our Sunday School is growing as well, and we are looking for more volunteers to help with the classes on Sunday morning. Whether you are an experienced Sunday School teacher or new to the idea, we will give you everything you need to succeed. As always, volunteers who work with the children here at ALUCC will need to pass a background check and read and agree to ALUCC's Safe Church Policy - contact me or the office for more details.

November means that the annual Christmas Pageant will start rehearsals soon, and you will want your child to sign up if they want a part. If they are a bit shy, they can always show up the day of the event and get a brief walk-on roll as well.

Fall Programming has begun!

If you are here for the first time, perhaps through a link or QR code, let me express our warmest welcome! I think you will find that Avon Lake UCC has the right balance for your child - a warm and loving environment, where children learn a positive message about who they are and how God loves them. A place where they are safe, where our volunteers are trained and background checked, and the facility is set up with safety in mind. Our Sunday School volunteers are church members with expertise in the areas of education and theology, with advanced graduate degrees  in their field.

Our curriculum is one that takes the bible seriously - but not literally. You won't find a "turn or burn" message here, because we don't believe that this was Jesus' message to the world. Instead, you will find a curriculum that promotes love for one's self, love of neighbor, love of creation and, of course, love of God.

Our education wing is decorated with positive messages, reassuring the children that they are beloved, and that every human has worth. We aren't a huge church - just about 1200 members, but we have a thriving children's ministry where kids can make new friends without just becoming a number in a computer.

There are many ways for your child to get involved, from our fellowship events (youth groups for kids) which begin in September for grades 2 through 5, to weekly Sunday School activities. While preregistration is not necessary, it does help expedite the check in process. You can find the registration link below.

If you are not sure where to start, reach out to me (beau@avonlakeucc.org) or Eileen Zakel, our Christian Education Coordinator ( ChristianEd@avonlakeucc.org ) and we can get you settled in.

From the week after Labor Day until Memorial Day,  Sunday School happens every week at both the 9am and 11am services, but a vast majority of our families with children attend the 11am service.  As a result, there is a children's message during the 11am service, though Sunday School is offered at both.   We have child care available for your little ones as well, and a family lounge just off the sanctuary if that is a more comfortable space when your kiddos get a case of the "wiggles". All children are welcome in the sanctuary during worship at any time, so don't feel the need to leave the area if they become loud - kids will be kids, after all!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Beau

NOVEMBER

Events and Signups

ALL are welcome!

Questions?

If you have questions about the Children and Family Ministry program here at Avon Lake UCC - or any of the other programs - feel free to contact the church office with the contact information below. If you would like to contact Pastor Beau directly, please use the email button below!