Educational Ministries of First Congregational United Church of Christ

First Church historically held Christian Education as a priority and continues to value its prominence in the life of the church. Our Educational Ministry includes the nurturing and faith formation of people of all ages, from infants through adulthood.

Infants and Toddlers
At birth, infants are placed on our Cradle Roll and parents receive Christian Parenting resources. During the Sunday morning hours, infants and toddlers are cared for on the lower level of the educational building.

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The Sunday Church School
This is the primary educational ministry experience for children. Beginning at age three, children are exposed to Bible stories and learn God's love for them through stories, crafts and music. "Seasons of the Spirit" is the main curriculum resource used in all levels of the church school. It is a lectionary-based curriculum that centers on education, worship and service.

Preschool age children and older begin in worship with their families, and then attend church school following the Pastor's sharing the word of the day with them. In their classes, they hear the same lesson that their parents hear in worship. During the summer months, children in the younger elementary grades attend a multi-age class.

During the summer, Vacation Bible School is held jointly with St. Paul's United Church of Christ. Children 3 yrs - 6th grade participate in this week long program. Bible stories, crafts, songs and game make this an enjoyable experience.

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Confirmation
Confirmation classes are for those young people entering the eighth grade or older. The purpose of the program is to help them gain an understanding of the faith, of the Church's history and its mission so that they will be able to make decisions from the point of view of a person of faith. Confirmation classes meet, depending on schedules, either Sunday evening or Sunday morning during the church school hour September through May.

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Spiritual Growth

The spiritual formation of our church family is an important aspect of our ministry. We have a Labyrinth available for walking on the first Wednesday of the month from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Our outdoor labrynth is available during regular church hours. The Women's Spirituality group meets on the third Wednesday of the month September through May at 6:00 p.m. An annual retreat for women is held at Common Ground Retreat Center in either the Spring or Fall.

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Adult Education
First Church offers a variety of learning experiences for adults of all ages. There are Bible Study classes; and Discovering the Bible, a Kerygma course on Sunday evenings and a thematic Bible Study held at Abbewood on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 10:00. In addition, there are a series of classes on Sunday evenings throughout the church year. The Pastor or visiting presenter leads the classes. The topics are varied, ranging from Bible Stories, current events, to the secular media and the Church. Tours to museums, etc. are also offered. A specialized ministry, Second Monday Men, is an interfaith group that meets monthly to discuss a variety of topics.

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