Children's and Youth Ministries

Worship
Children worship in the sanctuary with their parents through the Children's Message, after which they go, with their teachers, to their church school classrooms. On the first Sunday of each month, children will go to the Allen Chapel (downstairs) during the first hymn. Following a combined youth program, children in grades 2 and higher will return to the sanctuary for communion. Younger children will celebrate communion together in Allen Chapel.

Children's Choir
All children who can read are invited to Children's Choir. Rehearsals are Tuesdays, 3:15, beginning with a snack. The Children's Choir sings in worship once a month and performs two major events in place of the sermon in Sunday worship, once in December and once in late Spring. Parts are available for all children but singing and speaking parts are reserved for those in the Children's Choir. The Children's Choir also has one over-night at the church every year, led by Ernie Drown and Rob Grabill.

Church School
This year, we will be using the Cokesbury curriculum, Rock Solid for children ages 3 thru 11 (Pre-K thru 5th grade) and Gather 'Round (United Church Press) for grades 6-8. Children are grouped by age and classes: Pre-K (3&4 year olds) -K, 1-2,3-5,6-8. Each grade level is team-taught, giving children an opportunity to get to know many members of our church, and giving many members of our church a chance to get to know our children! For information about church school, please contact Religious Education Director, Rob Grabill at the church office.

For all ages


Second Hour Forums Throughout the year, the Boards of Deacons plan study forums for the hour following Sunday worship. Some current and future topics include: Sustaining the Balance of the Separation Between Church & State; Church and Earth: A Theology of Sustainability; Sustaining the Spirit: UCC I Family Conference on Star Island; Justifiable Homicide? The New Hampshire Death Penalty. All Second Hour Forums are announced in the Sunday bulletins and News and Views and on this website.

Lenten Study
On Wednesday evenings during Lent, study will be offered by Carla and Ernie. Participants may choose between two offerings. A light supper precedes the classes and a service of prayer and music concludes the evenings. Begins March 4, 2009.

Open Book Study An informal gathering, following worship, open to all for book study. Future books and dates are announced in the church bulletin and News and Views as well as in the calendar section of this website.

Conversations with Carla Senior Pastor Carla Bailey will be leading study and conversation sessions on issues of faith and life throughout the year. Topics include Voting our Faith, death and dying, the symbols of faith, the Kingdom of God, trusting God through dangerous days. The first of these sessions will be held Monday evenings, beginning in October.

Church Library
Located in the newly refurbished Hamilton Library Room, books for children and adults are available for loan. Information about books appears monthly in News and Views. Study books for the year may be found in the library as well as wonderful reference books and books for children.