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Christian Education

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Our Christian Education ministry is focused on the well-being, spiritual formation and education of individuals and the church as a whole. Specifically, the Sunday School program provides an introduction to the traditions and stories of our faith in a loving environment. Intergenerational events provide many opportunities for fellowship, education and spiritual formation.

The Christian Education Ministry is carried out by a group of adults who facilitate all aspects of Christian Education. Anyone with an interest is invited to participate in this important ministry of the church.

Children and Youth at First Parish

Let the children come to me for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:16

All young people are welcome in our worship every week. Our SS & YG start each Sunday in the Chapel with a brief message led by our Pastoral Assistant, Judy Haley. Students are then dismissed to their classrooms where preschool through 5th grade learn about God through the Godly Play curriculum and sing with our Music teacher, Ann Greenleaf. Grades 6 through 12 participate in youth group.
During the year children also participate in worship by singing in our Sunday School choir and serving as bell ringers and acolytes. Older youth serve as liturgists, readers and greeters. Children are welcome to receive Holy Communion, at the discretion of their parents. Holy Communion instruction is offered to our 4th & 5th grade class.

Curriculum

Sunday School starts for children at kindergarten and continues through the eighth grade. Confirmation is a two-year program for youth in 9th and 10th grades. The Sunday School program uses the Godly Play curriculum, which through storytelling teaches the bible stories and traditions of our faith and highlights God’s love and grace for all God’s children and the welcoming message of the gospel that Jesus proclaimed.

Nursery

Sundays 9:450 am. to 11:30 a.m.
Our volunteer nursery staff welcomes and cares for children from infancy through age 3 on Sundays from 9:45 a.m. until the end of the worship service. Nursery care is also available during some of our educational events and special programs.

Godly Play for preschool through Grade 5

Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
“Engaging the whole child: heart, mind, hands, senses, intuition.” Godly Play is a Montessori-related approach to learning which enables children to experience the presence of a loving God and discover how to “speak the language” of their biblical faith. The Godly Play curriculum is focused on both the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures. It is a discovery method of learning using storytelling and props which enables young children to encounter God. Its intent is to invite children to experience God’s presence as real and loving. Godly Play is offered at First Parish on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. for children ages 4 through grade 3, in three rooms designed for Godly Play.

Youth Group Grades 6-8, led by our Youth Director, Jared Hamilton

Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
What does the Lord require of you by to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
The goals of our Youth Group program are building community, establishing relationships which honor each individual’s gifts and talents as necessary for the life of the group, and unfolding a basic understanding of the call of God on all of us to live in accordance with God’s Word. Youth also participate in service projects and fun activities together at other times.

Confirmation for Grades 9 and above

Our two-year confirmation process strikes an important balance between the community and the individual. Our pastors and deacons provide instruction using the curriculum Affirming Our Faith. Through classroom lessons, service work, and retreats, the young people begin to understand the Christian Faith as lived in community. At the end of the two-year cycle, a confirmand chooses whether to be confirmed and become a member of the church.

High School Youth

Throughout the year programs are offered for our High School youth. Recently, a group of high school youth participated in a Youth Exchange with the Union of Evangelical Churches in Westfalia, Germany. The students were hosted by a local church in Hemer, Germany. Led by Rev. John Hughes, Mrs. Marilyn Hughes and Ms. Christiane Alsop, the students spent one week with German families and then embarked on a journey across Germany on the way to their final destination: Berlin. The focus of the trip was to study the origins of Christianity and the relationship of church to culture, specifically exploring the differences in Christianity between Germany and the United States. High School youth also play an active role in our Sunday School as teachers and volunteers. Service projects and mission trips are offered yearly.

Events for Families with Children

In addition to our Sunday morning School, families with children participate in special intergenerational events:

  • Jazz Sunday worship, a lively Church service featuring jazz music followed by a fried chicken picnic and children’s activities in September
  • Ingathering Sunday and Fall food drive, led by the Missions committee
  • Thanksgiving Baskets for the Manchester COA, assembled in November
  • Christmas Pageant presentation in December
  • Christmas Eve Family Candlelight service, at 5 p.m., a festive Christmas service and lighting of candles during “Silent Night”.
  • Birthday Bash luncheon, celebrates all birthdays in our Church
  • Heifer International Fundraiser, features a Church-wide Talent Show and luncheon in the spring
  • Palm Sunday and Easter worship services include an ecumenical Sunrise Service on Easter morning at Singing Beach
  • Children’s Sunday, a year end celebration, worship service and teacher appreciation luncheon
  • Tuck’s Point family worship service, followed by a Church community picnic in June

First Parish Playgroup

The First Parish Playgroup is a community outreach program that is open to parents and caregivers with their children under six. Tuesday morning’s from 9:30 to 11:00, we meet in the Chapel Hall located behind Sovereign Bank in downtown Manchester to play, meet new friends, make crafts, and just have fun! Playgroup offers parents and caregivers a place to come and relax at their convenience. The group is eclectic and diverse with grandmas, parents, and nannies coming from Manchester and the surrounding communities. Playgroup is open to everyone and there is no charge. Snacks are provided and the children have a great time.

Adult and Small Group Programs

Adults at First Parish are offered a range of programs throughout the year that provide fellowship, instruction in our faith and spiritual formation. We welcome everyone who wants to examine or reexamine Christian thinking, imagining, and living, whether their religious background is long-standing or non-existent. Some of our on-going programs include:

  • Growing Together, a weekly evening gathering for examining what it means to live a life of faith in the twenty-first century. Topics have included Values for Living Well, Daily Sacred Pauses, and a study of Philippians. Friday Bible Study, a weekly study of the Bible passages for the following Sunday
  • Soup and Conversation, a monthly lunch, presentation, and discussion forum of such topics as the history of St. Nicolas and the value of Santa for children, the role of women in early Christianity, and how faith makes a difference in a difficult economy.
  • Women’s Gatherings, occasional events to explore our tradition through meditation, retreats, and the arts.
  • Book Group, a monthly discussion group that explores theology through current fiction and non-fiction.
  • Care Team, a hands-on outreach team that provides visitation and meals.
  • Faithful Families, a monthly support group and forum of ideas for parents.