Our children are an important part of our “church family” and our hope is that when children attend church they feel that they are valued. Our goal is to teach them to love God, to love their neighbor, and to love and respect themselves.
We hold Sunday School class for elementary school-age children one Sunday a month during the school year. On those Sundays, they are invited to join the adults in the sanctuary at 10 am for the first 15 minutes of worship. They listen to the organ and piano music and join in singing a hymn. The minister then shares a “Time for the Young and Young at Heart” by telling a story which offers a lesson, then they are free to go to class with their teachers.
We have one classroom for all elementary school kids as well as a nursery. A typical class involves reading a Bible story, followed by a related craft or activity. Children who can read are often anxious to help by reading parts of the story. The older children help the younger ones, which is one of the advantages of having one classroom.
Our church follows “safe church” rules which require that there are two adults in the classroom as well as the nursery, so that the children are properly supervised. All teachers have passed a CORI check.
There is a table with puzzles, books, coloring pages, crayons, and paper at the rear of the sanctuary, as well as a rocking chair which is always available if children or babies need a little break time.
If we have students who are of age desire to be confirmed, and formally join in full membership in the First Congregational Church UCC, North Adams, a confirmation curriculum and program will be developed.
A “Journey in Faith” book group meets one Sunday a month after worship for informal discussion which is facilitated by a lay person. The group has read fiction as well as nonfiction with the group always finding topics which relate to our lives as Christians. Titles are suggested by members of the group, and the “the book of the month” is chosen by consensus of the group. In addition to learning a lot from the reading, the book group members have gotten to know each other from their discussions, ideas, and sharing of their experiences.
Our current book is Stitches by Anne Lamott.
Previous book-group books include: