Children & Family Ministries

With toothy smiles, bouncing curls, squeals of glee, and furtive rustling paper, our church is filled with children who are absorbing and growing in the love of Christ. Weekly, eight Sabbath School classes are filled with curious minds and compassionate hearts as stories of hope, healing, and help are shared by a team of people who diligently serve Jesus as they serve our families. With more than 100 volunteers leading in our children’s divisions, Pathfinder club, youth groups, and Vacation Bible Camps, we are blessed to have generations proclaiming the love of God, one to the next. 

Many hearts within this congregation beat with the mercy and grace of Christ and the overflow is shared generously. Our grade schools benefit from years of dedication to Adventist education. Our families grow in small group Bible studies. Our middle school students are challenged to understand and claim their faith. 

Thank you for being a part of the dynamic process of sharing faith with the newest generation of thought leaders, and faith displayers to walk this earth. Your time and energy are valued. 

This Sabbath, as we celebrate those who give their lives to kids' ministries, we are once again blessed by what has become a biannual tradition. Tonya Wessman's first– and second–grade class at Rogers Adventist School leads our children's story time at the second service with a dramatic presentation of "Joan and the Big Fish." Wessman directs and wrote this play herself, and each of her students is involved in the production. 

If you would like to help out with children's programming, Sabbath Schools, or other related ministries once a month, please contact Pastor Jenn Ogden to get more information!

TOUCHES OF INTEREST

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson will speak in the University Church Sanctuary next weekend, Nov. 11–12. Friday, November 11, at 6pm, Robinson will read an essay adapted especially for her WWU visit. This will be followed Sabbath morning at 10:30am by a discussion and Q&A session on the same topic. Sabbath evening at 5:30pm, Robinson will read again. This will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing. All events are free and open to the public. Learn more at wallawalla.edu/marilynne- robinson. 

All Church potluck including visitors and students - Sabbath Nov 12, 2016 after Second Serve in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Ordination update. The Upper Columbia Conference administration has agreed to meet with our church in response to a request by our board. The time will be spent discussing the status of commissioned pastors in this conference. All church members are encouraged to attend, Wednesday evening, November 9 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Deacons Needed. Please contact Deanne Hoehn if you would be willing to serve, hoehndee@msn.com.

The One project is coming February 24-27 to San Diego, Cal. This year, three events make up the weekend experience that is the One Project. Join Pastor Alex, Paddy, and the rest of the crew for one day, three, or all four. Find more information at the1project.org. 

Rogers Adventist School Holiday Bazaar is coming Sunday, November 13. 

Rogers Adventist School recognizes Veteran’s Day on Friday, November 11. They are planning a special project and display to honor veterans. If you are willing to share names of family or friends who served in any military service branch, please send those names to Mrs. McCrery at cindy.mccrery@rschool.org.

Please deliver pies for the community Thanksgiving dinner to the church office by 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 22. 

Little Women, a musical performed by WWU Drama opens this weekend in Village Hall. Performances include acting and singing by members of I Cantori and a live orchestra directed by our own Kraig Scott. Shows will be November 5–6, 10, and 12–13. Visit drama.wallawalla.edu for tickets.

Camp MiVoden registration for the summer of 2017 is now open. Call 509.242.0506 or visit mivoden.com.

Annual Blue Mountain TV Constituency Meeting, Sunday, November 6, at 10am at Sonbridge. We are meeting in the first room to your right after entering. All are welcome.

Congratulations to the WWVA girls volleyball team, who have advanced to the regional tournament after placing first in their district tournament. Each and every girl on this year’s team is also a member of the University Church! Your church is proud of you ladies!

The College Place Spanish Church is having a silent auction through Facebook to raise funds for Christian Education and thus continue to financially support 15+ students. The silent auction will run from Monday, Nov. 14 at 8 am until Friday, Nov. 18 at 1 pm. Please visit our silent auction FB page “Thanksgiving Silent Auction for Christian Education”, like it and share it!  Thank you for participating and happy bidding!! God bless you all.

A memorial for Steve Wagner will take place on Sunday, November 13 at 10:15 am at the Village Church.

The Alaska and Washington chapter of Make-A-Wish® needs your help! They are seeking qualified Wish Granting Volunteers in Walla Walla. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.  Wish Granting Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, and work in teams of two to help plan and fulfill each wish. Volunteers interview each child to determine their wish, then work with the staff to make the wish come true!  The time commitment is flexible and variable depending upon what the child wishes for.  Volunteers can expect to meet with the family one time at their home to identify the wish and get the paperwork filled out, conduct follow-up phone calls about logistics, and plan a wish presentation about a week in advance of the wish. All of these things can be scheduled based on the family’s and volunteers’ availability.
Please visit http://www.akwa.wish.org for more information about Make-A-Wish, and check out Caitlin’s wish to go to New York City! http://akwa.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/wish-to-go/caitlin-nyc-wicked. Please email Volunteer Coordinator Chris Sullivan or Wish Coordinator Lauren Davies to begin the process of becoming a Wish Granting volunteer.  chris@akwa.wish.org   laurend@akwa.wish.org

SonBridge is in need of two volunteers, one for the reception desk and another for the Thrift & Gift decorative flower department. If interested, please call (509) 529-3100 or visit SonBridge.org/volunteer.

Milton Adventist Church is looking for volunteers to help with leadership positions in the “Journey to Bethlehem” community program. For more information or to sign up, please contact Marja McChesney, Office Manager at 509.386.6071.

“Armor of God”, a free women’s DVD Bible Study, starts at noon on Wednesday, September 28! Based on Ephesians 6:10–19 by Christian author and speaker Priscilla Shirer, the study will take place on Wednesdays, noon to 1pm, September 28 through November 9. No registration needed. SonBridge Community Center, 1200 SE 12th Street, College Place. 509.529.3100.

Interested in Jail Ministries? Call Eastgate SDA Church (Candice Reece) at 509.301.8114 for more information.”

Free counseling for individuals, couples, and families at Pathways to Change, a community counseling clinic managed by the School of Education and Psychology at Walla Walla University.  Counselors are second-year master’s students in counseling psychology under the supervision of program faculty.  The clinic is located in Smith Hall and is open Sunday through Thursday from 2 to 9pm.  For more information, or to make an appointment, call Pathways to Change at 509.527.2654.

Volunteer Opportunities at Christian Aid Center:
- Breakfast Cook every Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.
- Weekend Breakfast Host from 6:00 to 8:30 a.m., Saturday and Sunday openings (food handler card required)
- Weekend Dinner Host from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday openings
- Chapel Speaker
- Childcare Provider (weekday morning times available)
Please call Jeannette Regalado, at (509) 525-7153 ext. 114 for more information.