Home
Christian
Education
 |
Winslow
Congregational Church |
|
Christian Education and Its Mission
The Board of Christian Education hopes to provide a unique place for families to find support and nurture, grounded in God's love for all people.
Our Church School aims to teach all the children in our program about God's love for each and every one of them. We encourage our children to find meaning and value in their own lives and in the lives of others. To that end, we have structured a program which combines both Biblical and contemporary elements. Our classes include lessons, stories, discussions and arts and crafts projects.
An enthusiastic and dedicated Board of Christian Education supports the Christian Education program. The teachers and children, along with the Board, form a learning community where each individual is nurtured in Christian love, faith, hope and justice.
Most classes are composed of groups of two to three school grade levels. There is also a nursery.
For older students, the church offers a two-year, intensive confirmation class. 2007-08 marks the second year of that cycle, however, students joining this year can be confirmed provided they catch up on work.
We also offer an adult education class which meets Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the church library, starting in the fall.
Children begin most Sundays with their families in church and are dismissed following the Children's Story and song. On Communion Sundays (the first Sunday of the month), children begin the morning at 10:00 a.m. in their Sunday school classes and join their families in the sanctuary following the sermon.
Church school classes, with the exception of the nursery, meet in the build next to the church, known as the Pastor's Study. The nursery is on the first floor of the main church building.
Classes begin meeting in September. The last day of the church school year is usually the second Sunday in June, when the entire church joins in special celebration of our children. On Children's Sunday, students participate in the worship service and, after church, we hold an all-church picnic.
Church School does not meet on the first Sundays of the February and April vacations. It also does not meet on the Sunday after Christmas. Occassionally, there are also "Family Sundays." We encourage familities to attend church together.
At the present time, the church school does not meet in the summer months.
Advanced registration for classes will begin in late August and will continue through the first two Sundays in September.
Children may be registered for Church School at any time during the year. Please see a teacher or the Chair of the Board of Christian Education for information and forms.
A Community that Worships Together - Top
Including children in worship is an important aspect of our community life. We have several goals in welcoming children to the sanctuary. The first goal is to help the children become acquainted with the worship experience so that the sanctuary never feels like an unfamiliar place. The second goal is to include the children in the sacramental elements of our community life (we celebrate the sacrement of the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of each month). Our third goal is to gather the entire community on a regular basis.
Our teachers reflect the variety of our community. The teaching staff includes men and women, high school students and parents.
Although a few teachers teach for the entire school year, most teachers teach for one semester at a time (the church school year is divided into three semesters), with breaks in-between semesters.
Teachers are also involved in a continuing program of training. Through workshops, teachers learn and refresh their memories about such subjects as: classroom management; Bible basics; seasons of the church year; and child development.
We truly appreciate the loving care of those who are willing to serve our church by caring for our nursery age children. Children attending the nursery range in ages from newborn to age three. Developmentally, children at these ages are most sensitive to change and likely to suffer from "Stranger Anxiety." Because of this, we would ask that once church services begin that the nursery be free of interruptions. There is often a transitional period for these children beginning when their parents drop them off. Commonly, a period of anxiety and fussiness last for a brief time during this transition. In most cases, the children become adjusted to the environment and the adult and do calm down.
When new faces, regardless of their age, enter the nursery at any time, this, in most cases, raises the anxiety level of these children once again, and they might, once again, become fearful of their surroundings. In order to alleviate this fear, we ask that no one enter the nursery after church services begin unless it is an emergency situation. This will protect the comfort level of our youngest members and help create an environment where children feel safe. Thank you for understanding!
If you have any questions about the program or would like more information, please call the Rev. Harold Tucker at (207)872-2544 or by email at wcchurch@gwi.net.
Top
Home Page
| Our
Church Community
Bulletin
Announcements | Christian
Education
The Steeple
Press | History of Our Church and Community | Other Sites | Contact Us
This page last updated on November 13,
2004. |