WELCOME!
The Mission of Children’s Ministries at the Wollaston Congregational Church United Church of Christ is to develop and promote educational programs and events that enable children and their families to understand the teachings of Jesus and the works of God.
We have a variety of programs on Sunday available for children:
Nursery and Toddler Room
Our nursery is consistently staffed by a Registered Nurse and dedicated volunteers from our congregation. Each week, these youngest children can participate in the Sunday School curriculum by coloring pages, making a simple craft or singing songs.
Kindergarten thru Grade 3
This class will average between 8-10 children during the 2011/2012 school year. Each Sunday, a pair of teachers uses the age-appropriate “Rock Solid” curriculum to teach the week’s lesson. Storytelling, reading from a children’s Bible, play acting, games, and arts and crafts are some of the many hands-on methods used to help reinforce the lesson of the week.
Grades 4 thru 6
This class will also average between 8-10 children during the 2011/2012 school year. As with the K-3 class, each Sunday, a pair of teachers uses the older children “Rock Solid” curriculum to teach the week’s lesson. Each week’s lesson is the same for both classes, but in the Grades 4-6 class, the children frequently read directly from the Bible, and discuss similar situations or lessons learned from today’s modern world. Group discussion, along with role playing and crafts are the methods used to teach the lesson.
Confirmation
This is a two-year program offered to youth entering Grade seven. Confirmands learn about the church with a mix of experiential learning, through mission projects, classroom activities and other participatory activities. This program is taught by Rev. Dr. Gifford and adult mentors.
Sunday School Curriculum
Our nearly 20 Sunday School teachers will again be using a Bible-based program that helps
connect learning about faith to children’s everyday lives. The curriculum is called “Rock Solid – Building a Heart of Faith”, published by Cokesbury, a leader in Christian Education curriculum and literature.
In September through November, 2011, our curriculum will focus on the theme of “blessings” from stories found in the Book ofGenesis. The stories will discuss blessings given by God, how God’s children were blessings for each other, and how our children today can each provide and receive blessings.
Then, in December, we spend our Sunday School classes preparing for our annual Christmas Pageant presented during our Worship Service, this year on December 11th. The children can participate in so many ways during this fun theatrical presentation.
In January through May, 2012, our curriculum will concentrate on the life and teachings of Jesus from stories told in the New Testament. And finally, in mid-June, our academic year ends with the presentation of Children’s Sunday.
Music and Visual Arts in Sunday School
Learning about God, Jesus, the church, and the world happens in a variety of ways. Each week, in addition to regular classroom activities, children can create art projects which reflect the lesson of the day. Often, these artistic creations are appropriately displayed in our sanctuary during the following week’s Worship Services.
Children also have the opportunity to participate in worship through music and drama. Working with the Minister of Music and Director of Christian Education, we offer children many opportunities to sing and play instruments—to make a joyful noise! In addition to participating during a variety of Worship Services, each year, the children present a Christmas Pageant and end the academic year with Children’s Sunday – where they lead the congregation in worship in every aspect.
Acolytes
Beginning in the 4th Grade, children can participate in worship through service as acolytes. Our acolytes participate in the 10:00 a.m. worship service by lighting the altar candles. In worship, the flame is a symbol of the presence of Christ. An acolyte training class is conducted once a year in September.