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Children, Youth & Family Programs

Children's Ministry

Children’s Ministry

We take joy in providing Church School for children three years old and up during our 10:00 am Sunday services. Children are an integral part of Ladner United Church. They are always welcome, whether you choose to have your children stay with you during service or attend Church School.

We follow the Sparkhouse “Whirl” Church School curriculum which imaginatively engages scripture through activities, discussion, current events, and the arts so that your children can go into the contemporary world to test, share, and live out their faith.

Please join us as we share Bible stories, have fun with crafts and activities, play music and prepare for special church events.

We also have “Intergenerational Worship” every few weeks, which means everyone stays in the Sanctuary for an interactive and different way of approaching scripture and worshipping together! These services are designed with our children and youth in mind and are for all-ages.

Kids Space & Quiet Room

For children who decide to stay in the service rather than attend Church School, we have two areas where they are welcome to play (in addition to being able to sit with their parents or guardians too!). We have a “Kids’ Space” right in the Sanctuary where children are invited to colour, draw, read some books, or do a puzzle. This space is off to the lefthand side as you enter the sanctuary, complete with a table, chairs, bookshelf, and rug.

We also have a Quiet Room, to the left of the Front Entrance to the church, where there are more toys, books, etc. for kids who want a bigger space to play during worship. This space has a couch and some chairs for parents and lots of toys for children. There is a big window in this room that looks out into the Sanctuary, so parents and kids can still feel connected to worship.

Finally, for children who want to stay with their parents, we also provide clipboards and crayons with some drawing pages.

We want our children and families to feel welcome at LUC, so come how you are and worship wherever you feel comfortable!

Youth & Families

On Sunday mornings, our youth are welcome to either stay in the sanctuary or join the children in Church School. Our Church School is intergenerational and caters to a wide range of ages.

We do also have “Intergenerational Worship” every few weeks, which means everyone stays in the Sanctuary for an interactive and different way of approaching scripture and worshipping together! These services are designed with our children and youth in mind and are for all-ages.

Every quarter or so, we strive to host a “Family Night” where all types of families (and individuals) are welcome to join in games, movies, an activity, etc. The theme and style always changes!

Adult Involvement & Spiritual Growth Programs

Parish Health Ministry

The Parish Health Ministry emphasizes the wholeness of body, mind and spirit rooted in the vision of Christ as our healer. The Parish Health Ministry is a key expression and embodiment of our three key words (Connect, Deepen and Engage) and five directions:

Be a place where people make connections
Be a community services hub
Be a place of family accompaniment
Practice participative leadership
Think creatively and strategically about all our resources and gifts

It is made up of dedicated volunteers who formalize quarterly meetings to organize programs and health-related workshops for the community.

The Parish Health Ministry has offered meditation workshops, healing prayer, chronic pain self-management, a SafeTALK suicide prevention program, and a home visiting program that enables us to keep in touch with those who are ill or can no longer attend church.

Book Studies

Several times a year, we host an online Zoom book study that is open to anyone and everyone! These studies often meet once a week for anywhere between 4 to 9 weeks and about 1 to 1.5 hours at a time.

In the past, we’ve read and discussed: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, The Other Side of Chaos: Breaking Through When Life is Breaking Down by Margaret Silf, When God is Silent by Barbara Brown Taylor, The Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren, and 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, among others.

Our book studies also become bible studies sometimes when we read things like: Light of the World: A Beginner’s Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine or The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem by John Dominic Crossan & Marcus Borg. In these studies, we’ll often take time to pull out our Bibles and discuss parts of scripture as we read from the book about the context, characters, and theology present.

Contact the Church Office for information on the next upcoming study.

START: Seeking Truth and Reconciliation Together

Action for Social Justice Group

Ladner United Church and the United Church of Canada is committed to learning about and addressing critical social issues in our society. We want to be aware of important concerns that affect all of the people of our church, community, country and world.

The Action for Social Justice Group meets regularly to learn and talk about issues including (but not limited to) Indigenous Reconciliation and ways to meaningfully engage with the local First Nations; poverty and food insecurity, world wars and oppression of minority groups, championing the environment in the face of climate change and taking care of our Earth; and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ persons and addressing racism of all kinds.

Some events we have taken part in recently include running booths at the Delta Pride Picnics, hosting a Drag Show at our church to raise funds for the Pride charities, taking part in an overdose awareness and remembrance day, engaging in a letter-writing campaign in support of housing affordability and security, and showcasing films and discussion panels with the community that focus on important social issues.

We welcome anyone with a social conscience who would like to discuss issues and take action along with us.

United Church of Canada Apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ People and Communities – August 2025

The United Church of Canada acknowledged and apologized for the many shortcomings and the harm it has caused the 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities.

“We have failed to celebrate and delight in all of your beautiful creation. We have wounded people instead of seeking wholeness. We are sorry.”

– Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary
– Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdown, Moderator

The United Church reaffirms its commitment to radical hospitality and full inclusion of 2S and LGBTQIA+, people strengthening the church’s witness to justice and love in action. As the first denomination in Canada to affirm the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons into the life of the church in 1988.

You can read the full apology HERE.

Embodied Prayer

Embodied Prayer is a contemplative practice where participants are invited to move in “free form,” allowing the whole self to respond to the music in whatever way is accessible to each person. We let the rhythms in the music “inhabit” us by responding with whatever gestures and movements come to the surface. In this way our capacity to live more fully can expand as the physical, mental, and soulful beings God created us to be. Embodied Prayer can be fun, meaningful, energizing, deeply spiritual, and more!
Each session of movement is followed by a short silent sitting time for, “nothing quiets the mind faster than moving the body” (Gabrielle Roth).

A time of sharing is provided for to actively listen to whatever may want to be expressed about the journey we are on together.

This practice is inspired by the work of Gabrielle Roth, who identified 5 archetypal rhythms or energies we experience in living and are expressed in various music styles. Each has its unique feel: Flow, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, Stillness…

Please know that this practice is available to all those who inhabit a physical body. No level of physical fitness or dance experience is required. If you can feel the music and are open to the presence of the Holy then you can experience Embodied Prayer from sitting, lying down or standing in place.

In the past Embodied Prayer has been offered in person and online for 6 – 8 week periods at different times throughout the year. Please watch for the next Embodied Prayer offering.

Healing Touch

Healing touch

Healing Touch has been offered at Ladner United Church for over a decade. Healing Touch is a Christian adaptation of Therapeutic Touch. It is a spiritual energy-based approach to healing.

Healing Touch sessions are open to the community and are offered by request. Currently, due to Covid-19 safety restrictions, sessions are offered by distance over zoom. Fees are not charged for a healing session as this ministry is a part of the Parish Health Ministries of Ladner United Church and All Saints Anglican Church.

For more information or to arrange an appointment please contact the Ladner United Church office at 604-946-6254 or email healingtouchministry4u@gmail.com

Prayer Shawl Group

The Prayer Shawl Group has provided cozy prayer shawls for a number of folks over the years. This group meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month in the Knoblauch Room at the church at 10:00 AM. Knitters and crocheters are welcome to to join. Come for some fellowship and stay to share your skills! This is a fun, friendly group who loves to visit and “stitch” once a month and provide some appreciated warm hugs in a covering for those who need it most.

Circle Dance

All are welcome to join Circle Dance. Using dances from around the world and from all traditions, sacred and secular, serious and lighthearted to celebrate community, the earth, each other, and the simple joy of living. All dances are taught and easy to learn. New dancers always welcome. No experience or partner required. Comfortable clothing, soft soled shoes and water bottle are recommended. For the comfort of fellow dancers please refrain from wearing fragrances.

Dates and times are subject to change. Please RSVP to circledanceladner@gmail.com if you plan to attend. Cost is by donation.

Day

2nd & 4th Monday of the month

Time

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Location

MP2 Room

Drop-In Coffee

Sunday Coffee Hour & Thursday Tea Time

All are welcome – the coffee is on! Join us after worship in the Celebration Centre for coffee, conversation and a chance to connect. Treats are provided and there is no charge. Sunday Coffee Hours are held one or twice a month and dates can be found on our social media pages or keeping connected by joining our weekly newsletter.

Thursday Tea Time is held once a week in our Celebration Centre.

Day

Thursdays

Time

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Location

Celebration Centre

Silent Prayer & Prayer Labyrinth

If you’re interested in coming to the church for some time of silent prayer, the sanctuary is available throughout the week during our church office hours. Please check with the church office first, if you’re interested in stopping by.

In our Celebration Centre, we also have a Prayer Labyrinth which is a small path that leads, via a circuitous route, to the center of an intricate design and back out again. It is used to facilitate prayer, meditation, spiritual transformation, and global unity. Prayer labyrinths have been used in a wide variety of cultures for thousands of years. If you’re interested in coming in to use the Prayer Labyrinth, please check with our church office for days and times that are available.

Choir & HandChimes

Voices of Vision Choir

Music has the power to touch and move us, empower and connect us in a way no other creative medium can, and in recognizing this, we consider it an integral part of worship and community life at Ladner United Church. Along with the preaching and liturgy that are integral to our worship services, music helps to connect one part to the next, weaving together the creation of a unified and communal offering to God each time we meet.

The Ladner United Church Choir, also known as the “Voices of Vision,” are a dedicated and community-minded group of individuals who offer their voices in song to assist congregational singing for our services. Each choir member comes from a very diverse vocal background, some have had vocal training and some can’t read music, but they strive to build each other up to achieve their best individual potential. All are welcome to sing in the choir, no audition is necessary, the only requirement is the wish to worship God with your voice! Rehearsals are Thursday nights from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

There are many other ways in which you can offer whatever musical talents you might have – just talk to Anna Vavilova, our Music Director, for possible opportunities to offer your gifts and talents. Follow this link for more info: https://ladnerunited.org/music-ministry/

Sunday @3!

Watch for a concert every month! Normally on the first Sunday of each month (September through June) at 3pm, we have a different musician or musical group in to perform for the community at a reasonable price. This is our way of giving back to the community in the form of quality music and an opportunity for friends and family to spend time together!

All are welcome, so please pass on the word to friends and family. Admission is $10 each. For the latest concert info, check out our social media or contact the church office.

Christmas Village Bazaar

Every year we have a Christmas Village Bazaar on a Saturday near the end of November from 10am to 2pm. What can you expect? A fabulous silent auction, home baking, collectibles, crafts, and a delicious lunch! We always have live Christmas music playing and people chatting and connecting all over the church building. It’s an event you won’t want to miss and the major fundraiser for the church! For specific details, please contact the church office.