<Back to Welcome page
 

Children & Youth

About Our Church School   2010-2011 Schedule   Overview   Mission Projects & Offerings   Presentation of Bibles   Youth Group   Junior & Youth Choir   Mission Statement

About Our Church School

Our church school is based on the "Faith Steps" Sunday School lessons.

• "Faith Steps" lessons are adjusted for each particular class, from pre-K through 6th grade.
• Classes at our church are grouped into pre-k & kindergarten, 1^st & 2^nd grade, 3^rd & 4^th grade, and 5^th & 6^th grade.
• We have a different curriculum for our 7^th/8^th grade classes.

Here are photos from recent classes:

A classroom was made into a "Bedoin Camp"	The "Bedoin Camp" often includes storytelling
Classes can include drama, music, and games	"Eat Your Way Through the Bible" is a fun workshop

Would You Like to Help?

If it takes a village to educate a child in reading and writing and math, it also takes an entire church to educate a child in God’s ways. Your contribution to our church school program will be most welcome – and rewarding for both you and the children. Thanks in advance for considering this calling! Call Pastor Chuck Ericson at 649-7077 to see what positions are available in the upcoming months, or email him at chuck.ericson@boltoncongregational.org.

[back to top]

Church School Schedule, 2010- 2011 

Learning From Joshua (Faithsteps Vol 8)

• September 19^th -  Session 1: Spies in Jericho—Joshua 2

• September 26^th -  Session 2: Joshua Trusts God—Joshua 6

• October 3^rd -  Session 3: Achan and His Broken Promise—Joshua 7

• October 10^th -  Session 4: Joshua Serves God—Joshua 23–24

Learning From Ruth  (Faithsteps Vol 8)

• October 17^th – Session 1: Ruth Stays with Naomi—Ruth 1

• October 24^th – Session 2: Ruth Meets Boaz—Ruth 2:1-13

• October 31^st – Session 3: Advice for Ruth—Ruth 2:14-23

• November 7^th – Session 4: Ruth Respected Others—Ruth 3–4

Celebrating Advent  (Faithsteps Vol 10)

• November 14^th –  Session 1 – A Message for Mary  Luke 1:26-38

• November 21^nd – Session 2 -  Joseph Learns about Mary (Matthew 1:18-25)

• November 28^th -  Session 3 -  Mary & Joseph Travel to Bethlehem  (Advent Workshop Sunday School  Dismissed when Church ends)

• December 5^th – Session 4 – Mary Has Gods Son  (Christmas Pageant Rehearsal immediately following Sunday school)

• December 12^th -  CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

• December 19^th – Re-cap of Lessons Learned this Unit

• December 26^th  - No Classes for Christmas Break

• January 2^nd – No Classes for Christmas Break

Learning from Bible People (Faithsteps Vol 10)

• January 9^th – Session 1 – Solomon Asks for Wisdom (1 Kings 3)

• January 16^th – Session 2 – Josiah follows Gods Teachings (2 Kings 22:8-23)

• January 23^rd – Session 3 -  Jesus Told Stories (Mark 4:1-20)

• January 30^th – Session 4 – Philip Teaches an Ethiopian Official (Acts 8:26-40)

Caring for Others

• February 6^th - Session 1: Peter and John Help a Lame Man—Acts 3:1-10

• February 13^th – Session 2: Priscilla and Aquila Help Others—Acts 18:1-4, 24-26; Romans 16:3

• February 20^th - No Church School Winter Break

• February 27^th - Session 3: Paul Writes a Letter to Friends—Romans 12:1-8

• March 6^th - Session 4: James Writes a Letter to Friends—James 1:19-2; 3:9-13

• March 13^th - Session 5: Paul Teaches about Caring for Others—Philippians 2:1-11 (Pancake Breakfast – 5^th/6^th and 7^th/8^th graders responsible for setting up, serving and clean-up)

Discovering Jesus

• March 20^th - Session 1: Jesus Was Tempted—Luke 4:1-13

• March 27^th - Session 2: Jesus Went About Doing Good—Luke 5:17-26; John 2:1-11

• April 3^rd - Session 3: Jesus Died—John 19

• April 10^th - Session 4: Jesus Lives—John 20

• April 17^th – No Church School April Vacation

• April 24^th -  Easter Sunday (No Church School – Families attend Church together)

Preparing for Church School Sunday and Reviewing

• May 1^st

• May 8^th

• May 15^th

• May 22^nd – Church School Sunday

[back to top]

Overview

Nursery Care (newborns – 2 l/2 year olds)

Sundays 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.  Our nursery supervisor is primary caregiver whom the children know and love. She is there each week, assisted by a parent volunteer.

Church School (2 l/2 year olds – 8^th grade)                       

Our classes teach about the Bible and Christianity in a fun, active and age-appropriate manner. 

First Communion Classes

First Communion classes are offered to third graders on the two Sundays prior to Maundy Thursday. Older students new to our Church School are also invited. Each student will receive a certificate and the sacrament of Holy Communion on the evening of Maundy Thursday during the celebration of the Passover Seder and The Service of the Last Supper and Tenebrae.

Confirmation Classes

Confirmation Class is offered to all ninth graders considering church membership. Classes are held on Sundays, September through May. The program includes affirming baptismal vows and understanding church membership.  Each confirmand is paired up with a mentor. Four visits to other congregations and a weekend retreat are highlights of our time together. Confirmation Sunday is the first Sunday in June.

[back to top]

Mission Projects & Offerings

We encourage the students to participate in local and outreach mission projects.

Currently we sponsor the Manchester Area Conference of Churches Samaritan Shelter/Shepherd’s Place Soup Kitchen in Manchester and Back Bay Mission, a United Church of Christ mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. Older youth are encouraged to work at the Soup Kitchen and every two years or so have an opportunity to work at Back Bay Mission.

As children are present in worship during the offering time, they are encouraged to participate fully. Our hope is that children will be allowed to earn the money at home by performing small tasks and that they experience the satisfaction of truly giving to others.

During Lent the church school adopts its own mission project, selected by the children each year.

[back to top]

Presentation of Bibles

Bibles are given each spring to all students completing second grade in our Church School. Children in grades three and up are encouraged to bring their Bibles to their Church School class to use in their studies. All older children new to our Church School will be given a Bible if they do not have one.

[back to top]

Youth Group

Known as the “Yoot Group” meets the first three Sundays of each month in the Education Building on Sunday evenings from 6:00-7:30 P.M.  All youth in Junior and Senior High School are welcome.  Potential activities for the year include:  a lock-in or retreat, beach trip, bowling, Laser Tag, Halloween night, hike, caroling.

[back to top]

Junior & Youth Choir

This choir is open to all interested children and youth in our Church School.  Times of rehearsal will be announced throughout the year.  Choir robes are provided and are worn during pageants and on special occasions.

[back to top]

Mission Statement

Christian Education – Becoming the voice of the Body of Christ

The voice of the Body of Christ speaks, and eager ears listen, as the traditions and “good news” of our faith are passed along in the arena of Christian Education. It happens constantly – in the Sunday School, Adult Education classes, Bible Study, Confirmation and Communion Education. And it happens because many choose to serve as teachers, leaders, mentors and guides – making a decided difference in the lives of young and old as they seek to grow in Christian faith.

[back to top]