Families
Children, Youth & Families
Progressive Faith Formation. Joyful Community. A Place to Belong.
At CCSM, we nurture the spiritual development of children and youth by:
• Encouraging curiosity, wonder, and deep questions
• Offering a progressive, open-minded approach to Scripture and tradition
• Modeling compassion, justice, and love through the life of Jesus
• Engaging in social justice as an expression of our Christian faith
We equip children and youth to discover faith-filled answers… for themselves.
Meet the Children & Youth Team
Elaine Kauffman (she/her)
Elaine has over 20 years experience running museum education programs and most recently served as program director in an afterschool program in San Francisco.
She enjoys sparking children’s imagination, creativity, curiosity and empathy by helping them explore and engage in the world around them. Her role at CCSM is to provide hands-on activities to complement the lessons being taught.
Weekly Programs
Joyful Noise Choir
Sundays from 9:30-10:15 in the Fireplace Room
For toddlers through middle schoolers – and parents too! Come sing, laugh, and make music together as we prepare to share in worship throughout the year. No musical background needed — just bring your energy and joy!
Sunday Morning Faith Formation
During 10:30am worship, children and youth are invited to gather for Faith Formation in our Christian Education (CE Building), where Bible stories come alive through hands-on activities, creative expression, and conversations that connect God’s story with their own. Children will start in worship and then meet our Faith Formation leaders during the Passing of the Peace. If it’s your first time with us (yippee!) we ask that parents/guardians escort kids to the back of the sanctuary to check-in with our teachers.
Sunday Morning Faith Formation - Age Groups
We recognize that children grow at their own pace — developmentally, emotionally, and socially. Our grade and age groupings are flexible so families can choose the setting that’s the best fit for their child.
Nursery Care (Infants–Toddlers)
Loving, safe care for our youngest children with age-appropriate toys and activities in a nurturing environment.
Pebbles Class (Pre-K – Kindergarten, or 1st grade if preferred)
A gentle introduction to God’s love through stories, songs, crafts, and play. Flexible placement based on what works best for your child and family.
Elementary Class (1st/2nd – 4th/5th grades)
Engaging Bible stories, interactive activities, and creative projects that connect faith to everyday life. Flexible grade range so families can choose the right fit.
Gran’Its (Middle School, 5th/6th–8th grades)
A welcoming group for pre-teens and middle schoolers, exploring faith through discussion, service, and friendship.
60 Minutes (High School)
A monthly, youth-led discussion group where high school students choose the topics that matter most to them, guided by adult mentors, followed by lunch and hangout time.
Sunday Afternoon Faith Formation
4-5pm in the CE Building
Our Sunday afternoon Faith Formation offers separate groups for elementary and middle/high school students, with age-appropriate lessons, creative activities, and meaningful discussions. Designed especially for our Wednesday night families and those unable to attend Sunday mornings, but open to all! Come for a single session or make it part of your weekly rhythm.
Snack Supper
Buckham Room
From 5–5:30pm, enjoy a light meal together between afternoon Faith Formation and Youth Group — a relaxed space to refuel, connect, and recharge.
Youth Group
5:30-6:30pm, Kloss Hall
Middle and high school students find their people here — sharing laughter, games, service projects, and real conversations about life and faith. It’s a place to belong, be yourself, and join in the friendship, learning, and service that shape us together.
Wednesday Evening Childcare & Kids Activities
During our bilingual worship service (7:15–9:00pm), children have a safe, welcoming space with caring adults and age‑appropriate activities. While there’s no set lesson, kids can play, create, and connect with friends while parents and guardians participate fully in worship.
Special Events
Preschool Care
Lily Gonzales (she/her)
On Sunday mornings free childcare is available for children 4 years and under from 10:15-11:45.
Lily has been working as our preschool caregiver at CCSM for over 25 years! She enjoys seeing the children every Sunday and playing with them in their many humorous and creative ways.
Over the years, Lily has also babysat for children from the church and has good relationships with many parents in our community. Lily loves spending time with toddlers and elderly people and outside of her role also works as a caregiver, including for some church members.
Kinder - 5th Grade Progamming
At CCSM, we use a Godly Play curriculum.
"The quality of children’s spirituality and its formation is key to adult health and ethical living. The goal is for children to enter adolescence with an inner-working model of the Christian language system that will continue to be of use as a means of maturing spiritually all one’s life."
Middle and High School
Sundays at CCSM
Explore the Intersection of Faith & Science
Weekly youth group exploring the intersection of faith and science - especially geared toward our middle schoolers, but high schoolers are welcome.
Sunday morning service opportunities
High schoolers have the option of volunteering in a variety of ways, such as with kids in the nursery, with our children's program, as an usher, graphics technician during the service, singing in the choir, etc.
60 Minutes
Each month high schoolers and a couple of adults from the congregation come together for a guided conversation around questions the students choose. Stay after for lunch and social time with Sheryl.
Parents
Community Service Projects
Periodically, CCSM youth engage in broader community service projects such as:
- The Martin Luther King Jr Multi-faith Day of Service
- Working with San Mateo County Parks on clean-ups, removing invasive species
- Assembling Christmas care packages for the San Francisco Night Ministry
- Making bagged lunches for Open Cathedral in San Francisco
- Making toys for animals in animal shelters
- Caroling in seniors' homes at Christmas
- Attending social justice-related protests and rallies
Confirmation
The confirmation program is offered every other year and is open to high schoolers who are interested in exploring their faith in community. While confirmation involves exploring topics like the liberative readings of the Bible, movements for faith and justice historically and today, and the many faces and understandings of Jesus, the program is less about "confirming" one's faith and more about "affirming" one's desire to be in relationship with a faith community and exploring one's own spiritual path as it evolves over a lifetime.
Confirmation programming often involves retreats, mentoring, service projects, visits to different faith communities, spiritual practices, and more.
Scholarships
Scholarship announcement for high school seniors and graduate students for 2026-2027 school year:
The Youth Ministry at CCSM is pleased to support high school seniors, college students and graduate students with scholarships for the 2026-27 school year thanks to the generosity of CCSM members.
High school seniors, college students and graduate students who are active members of CCSM are encouraged to apply for scholarship support. Information about the scholarships and application packets are available at the following link:
https://ccsm-ucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-CCSM-Scholarship-info-packet.pdf
Applications with supporting documents and letters of recommendations are due by April 1, 2026.
The Congregation Church has been supportive of education throughout our denominational history. In fact, many of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious educational institutions such as Harvard and Yale Universities and Bowdoin College were founded by the Congregation Church. CCSM follows that important tradition of helping to educate our younger generation with scholarship aid.
Please contact Warren Long at longlake15@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.
Baptism
At CCSM, we baptize babies, children, youth, and adults of all ages. For babies and children, parents make promises on behalf of their child to support them in their spiritual journey.
Our ministers work with the family to discuss the language, ritual, and practices that resonate for everyone. We are happy to work with families to support multi-faith affiliations and to incorporate a variety of traditions such as godparents, if families so choose. We celebrate and affirm all people and families, including those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
For more information, please reach out to one of our ministers. They would be delighted to speak with you!
