Christian Education

Church School

"But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10: 14-15

If you were to venture downstairs just before a Sunday service at College Street Congregational Church (CSCC), you would catch a glimpse of several areas where church school materials are laid out on tables, poised to come to life during the approaching church school hour. These might include a table with art supplies, puppets and a wooden puppet theatre, a large decorated box, a display board, games, and pictures. Our church school runs concurrently with our service. The children participate in the service for the first 10-15 minutes, and then are dismissed to church school.

This year, we have embarked on a new teaching model for our church school called workshop rotations. These rotations are based on the Logos curriculum called Come Join the Circle. We explore 5 workshops throughout the year, each is 5 weeks long, and each focuses on a specific lesson and accompanying passages in the Bible. Our children explore these lessons in a different way each week. The program encompasses different modalities of teaching, such that every child has the opportunity to learn in the way that best suits him or her. One week might involve a cooking class, the next a day of games and stories, the next a sojourn through weaving or quilting and the next a dramatic re-enactment.

Our church school has its own rhythm. Each Sunday we meet in the Perkins room, or in the Assembly room. We gather in a circle, teachers and children together, and share greetings and peace with each other, one-by-one, addressing each person by name. We share announcements and discuss the lessons and activities for the day. And we share a prayer together, thanking God for our opportunity to be together and for our place in the world. Children are grouped by age, and each group then goes to their workshop for the day. Each group will be taught by a Leader and a Shepherd. The Shepherds provide consistency, familiarity and comfort, and get to participate in the activities or help where help is needed. The Leaders provide the framework and the teaching and guide the group through their lessons and activities. When the congregation begins community time in the sanctuary, we begin community time too. All of the groups gather together again in the Perkins room or the Assembly room and we discuss the day’s activities. Children will describe what they did, what they learned, or share their creations. We end with lemonade and snacks, as the children await their parents’ greetings.

Currently, CSCC offers church school to children of pre-school age through high school during the school year (September through May). During the summer, a 6-week long Summer Sunday School course includes planned art activities centered on bible stories for the children to participate in together.

The children of our church participate in several regular services throughout the year, which celebrate them and the congregation as whole. These are: Rally Day, which begins the year and includes a picnic following the service; the Hanging of the Greens during the second Sunday in Advent; the Christmas pageant, presented during the Christmas Eve service; Youth Sunday, usually in February of each year and run by the youth; Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday; and Church School Sunday, which concludes the year and celebrates the past and looks to the future.

Youth Group

The youth group is an opportunity for seventh grade through high school youth to get together for a wide variety of fellowship, study and worship, and ministry activities and events. The youth group and its activities vary from year to year, in accordance with the needs of the group.

Youth group activities may include camping trips, lock-in overnights at the church, mission trips, meetings, fun outings and activities, and Bible study.

The youth group is led by two adult volunteers and meets regularly each month.

Adult Education

Adult forums are scheduled at different times throughout the year. Adult Bible study classes may be offered after the church service on Sundays, on weekday evenings, or on weekdays at lunchtime. Volunteers are encouraged to lead adult forums.

We can all benefit from continual fortification, enrichment, and consideration. We hope that in our church community, we can encourage learning, reflection and acceptance of God’s love, both as a group and individually.