Youth Curriculum, 9-21-25

Announcements: 

Youth and Family are helping to plan the Harvest Festival on September 27th! As part of the festivities, there are some fun activities where you can volunteer a little of your time. You can sign up in the lobby for available time slots to help with the mini farm stand, face painting, scavenger hunt, photo booth, parking, and the upscale garage sale. Reach out to Adrienne, Jenn or Kathy with any questions and ideas. This is open to our larger community so bring your friends!

September Monthly Theme: Transcendent Purpose: Living Beyond Limits
Week 3 Value: Elevation of Awareness — Rising Into Greater Clarity
Affirmation: “I elevate my awareness through practicing the presence of God.”

Curriculum Overview

This week, youth explore what it means to elevate their awareness — like stepping into a spiritual elevator that rises with each life experience. Through mindfulness, art, music, and active play, children and teens discover that growth is built into their very nature. They practice noticing the world more deeply through an “Awareness Walk” and learn how pausing, listening, and acting from Spirit can lift their choices beyond habit. By creating “Lift Cards,” youth design colorful affirmations to carry or share, reminding themselves and others to rise into clarity, kindness, and truth. With Spirit at the center, they see that every moment holds an invitation to lift higher.

Spiritual Lesson

Within each of us is a divine urge to grow and expand. No matter what we face — moving up, down, or standing still — we are always being invited to rise into greater awareness of Truth. Elevating our awareness means learning to notice life more fully, listening for Spirit’s guidance, and acting with courage even when we don’t know the outcome. Each seed of awareness we plant can sprout and grow when we nurture it with faith. With practice, our awareness lifts off like a rocket, carrying us into new levels of understanding. When we live in this way, every act becomes infused with the presence of God, and our lives radiate light for others.

Mindfulness: “Elevator of Awareness”

Youth close their eyes and imagine stepping into a glowing elevator. As the doors close, they feel Spirit surrounding them. With each deep breath, the elevator slowly rises, and they silently say: “I lift into awareness.” At the top, the doors open to a space filled with light. Youth take a moment to notice how their body feels when they imagine being lifted higher in Spirit.

Focus: “I elevate my awareness through practicing the presence of God.”

Repeat Affirmation: “I elevate my awareness through practicing the presence of God.”

Active Listening: Book/Music/Video

• Book (older youth): Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (excerpt) by Carol McCloud
• Music (older youth): “Rise” by Katy Perry
• Book (younger class): I Am Peace by Susan Verde
• Music (younger class): “Peace Like a River” (traditional children’s song version)

Creative Expression: “Lift Cards”

Youth design small cards decorated with colors, drawings, and affirmations that help lift awareness and spread encouragement. Younger children can write simple phrases like “God lifts me up,” “I notice the beauty around me,” or “I choose kindness.” Older youth and teens can create cards with deeper affirmations such as “Awareness opens new paths” or “I listen inward and act with courage.” Cards can be carried in a pocket as a reminder or gifted to someone else who may need encouragement.

Lessons in Action: “Awareness Walk”

Younger Youth: Take a slow, mindful walk where children pause to notice sounds, colors, and feelings around them. Afterward, gather in a circle and talk about what they noticed and how it felt to pay attention in a new way.

Older Youth: Take an intentional Awareness Walk with journals or notecards. Pause at several points to write or sketch three sounds, three patterns or colors, and three inner feelings they notice. Return to the group to share reflections on how deeper awareness can shift their choices and help them act from Spirit rather than habit.

Connecting: “Circle of Lifts”

Gather in a circle and invite each youth to share one way they will lift their awareness this week — such as noticing nature, listening more deeply, or pausing before responding. Close together with the affirmation:

“I elevate my awareness through practicing the presence of God.”