Church Registration form 2009 - 2010
CHURCH SCHOOL E-NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2010 Helga Finlay – Church School Coordinator Reprint of E-newsletter
Dear First Church Families,
Welcome to our first ever church school e-newsletter. Our goal in providing this newsletter in to give parents another way of keeping informed about changes, developments and opportunities taking place within our church school program and the life of our church. As this is a new venture here at First Church in Windsor, we invite everyone to share their thoughts and welcome any comments towards improving the content as well as the format of this e-newsletter.
New This Month
I pleased to announce that we have a few new teachers who have volunteered to serve as church school teachers in the newly combined kindergarten, 3 and 4 year old room. The new classroom teachers are Lisa Dube and Kristen Eckhardt. Stacy Marcella will also be helping out one Sunday a month to help with both coverage and provide an occasional break for the regularly scheduled classroom teacher. We are grateful and excited to have these three women join us in the Sunday school program here at First Church. Welcome aboard!
Cindy Eisnor has volunteered to take over the Cherub Choir this spring. Cindy has been serving in the regular choir for the past year and will be rehearsing once a month with the 3-5 year olds. Welcome Cindy, we are looking forward to hearing from those little angles.
The February rotation class will learning about the prodigal son. This month’s teachers leading the rotation class are Maurva and Jamie Copeland, Jim Corbett and Heather Collins.
Serving in the Classrooms
The toddler room is currently being staffed each Sunday by a rotation of volunteers. The following people have generously offered to serve one or more Sundays each month to help out with our little ones. Thank you, Phia and Peter Blume, Mona Stone, Vanda Doyle, and Pamela Petro for your contributions.
In addition to the adult teachers, there are several youth volunteers who help out each week in the Sunday school classrooms. Thank you, Cassie Copeland, Brendan Gale, Jessica Drost, Alaina Lewis, Mikayla Hudson and Brittany Napiorkowski for your time and contributions.
High school students who have made their confirmation and choose to continue with their Christian education are welcome to join in a bible study group led by Charlie Copeland. This group meets each Sunday during our regularly scheduled worship hour. Students in this group have the opportunity to continue to grow and share their faith amongst their peers using a variety of different media.
MISSION of the MONTH
During the month of February our mission of the month will be Baby Care Kits for Haiti relief. Information about these kits and how we can each participate will be announced during the next few Sundays. Additional details will be available during the coffee hour.
UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS
February 14: Annual Budget Meeting at 11:15 pm in Nelson Hall. Child care will be provided in 3 and 4 year old room. Movie, crafts and light snack. The 7th and 8th grade students will hold a bake sale prior to the meeting for the Haiti relief fund.
February 16: Strove Tuesday at 5:30-7:30 pm - Nelson Hall come out for all the pancakes, sausage and ice cream that you can. There will be games, crafts and pancake flip-off contest. Everyone is welcome.
February 17: Ash Wednesday Taize service at 7:30pm – Meetinghouse
February 21: Scout Sunday - calling all scouts! Please wear your scout uniforms to church.
See our schedule of Lenten Events in the Highlights section of our website for more information.
CHURCH SCHOOL
Families are encouraged to begin 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship together in the meetinghouse (sanctuary). Nursery and toddler childcare is available on the lower level of the Parish House (brick building) and children can be left with our volunteer caregivers beginning at 9:45 AM. After the children's message is shared in the early part of the worship service, children leave with their teachers for the church school and rotation classes held in the Parish House.
On the first Sunday of each month (Communion Sundays) children through Grade 6 begin the morning at a brief children’s chapel service in Nelson Hall of the Parish House beginning at 10:00 AM before going to their classrooms. Parents are welcome to remain or to attend worship and receive Communion in the meetinghouse.
In class in the lower level of the Parish House, toddlers, three’s and four’s enjoy stories, puppets, music, crafts, games and interactive play time. First and second graders also meet on this same level and engage the Augsburg Press “Witness” curriculum. Grades three through six meet on the main level and follow a rotation model curriculum, a multi-sensory and interactive approach to learning the biblical stories and/or about the church year through cooking, skits, drumming/music, computer games, writing, and other opportunities. Seventh and eighth grade classes meet in the Youth Room (lower level of the meetinghouse) and use the “Seasons of the Spirit” curriculum. (http://www.spiritseasons.com/)
All of our teachers are dedicated members of the congregation who volunteer to support the teaching mission of First Church in Windsor. Our staff are always available to answer any questions or to support you and your child(ren).
Summer Explorers
During the summer months, we offer a multi-aged Explorer Group that is led by church members who share their interests, hobbies and talents and explore the unlimited connections these offer in relationship to God, church and faithful discipleship.
Vacation Bible School
First Church hosts a wonderfully creative, fun and music-filled Vacation Bible School for one week in August from 9AM-12PM for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. All of the classes and activities are led by volunteer church members and youth leaders.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Cherub Choir is for three to six year olds and is held during Sunday class time. Our new director is Vanda Doyle.
Genesis Generation is for children in grades one through five and takes place at 11:15 in Conference Room #1 of the Parish House. Activities include singing, drumming, tone chimes and creative movement. Mark Watkins leads this dynamic and interactive group. Parents provide a snack on a rotation basis.
Mission of the Month
Outreach is a vital part of being a Christian, which we teach and practice through the following monthly mission activities and themes:
September—Windsor Food Bank
October – Connecticut Humane Society
November – UNICEF and Thanksgiving cards
December – Connecticut Children’s Home
January – Immaculate Conception Shelter
February – Child Sponsorship Program
March – One Great Hour of Sharing
April – Habitat for Humanity
May – Heifer Project International
June, July, August and Sept. – Covenant to Care
Summers at Silver Lake Conference Center
Silver Lake Conference Center is the home of the Outdoor Ministries of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. Nestled in the picturesque foothills of the Berkshires of Litchfield County, Silver Lake has been welcoming church groups, youth groups, schools, non-profits and businesses, for almost fifty years during the Fall, Winter and Spring.
Each summer, Silver Lake continues the proud tradition of being the vibrant church camp for up to 1300 fourth graders through high school-age young people. These week-long "conferences" offer "once-in-a-lifetime experiences, over and over" to several generations of youth, helping to shape future leaders and spirited community-builders everywhere.
Silver Lake has become a sacred place to so many people, young and old. We invite you to come away from the busyness of everyday life and find out what is so special about this ministry of God's love.
Mission Statement
Silver Lake Conference Center, a year-round outdoor ministry of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, is called to covenant in partnership with God and with the churches of the Conference in the work of forming life-sustaining leaders for the Church and world, by offering:
Experiences of inclusive and nurturing Christian community
Opportunities to grow and participate as Christ's disciples
A model of sustainable environmental stewardship of God's world.
We worship, learn, play, serve and work together, respecting the right of private judgement. We seek to provide a safe environment of acceptance regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, reflecting our unity in Christ and respecting the faith journeys of all of God's children. "Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God." Romans 15:7
Church and Staff Support
Faith and discipleship formation at First Church is a shared ministry among all of us! Parents, church members, confirmation mentors, volunteer teachers, youth assistants and staff come together to create a community of learning, exploration and sharing that serves as a faith foundation for life. Your ideas, thoughts, support and questions are welcomed.
Laurel Slate, Chairperson, Board of Christian Education
Rev. Rick Huleatt, Senior Pastor
Char Corbett, Minister of Youth and Outreach
Helga Finlay, Church School Coordinator
Gary Sava, Church School Assistant