Welcome! The following pages are designed to give you all the exciting plans for our program this year! Southport Congregational Church is committed to providing programs that will inspire faith and enable our children and adults to love and serve God.
In these pages you will find a wealth of information including our Church School Calendar, descriptions of our Church School curriculum, youth programs and adult education opportunities, the general policies of our Church School, as well as much more.
So sit back and read about many of the wonderful ways that Southport Congregational Church will enhance your lives this year!
Yours in Faith,
Rev. Laura Whitmore
Minister of Christian Education and Youth
Pamela Poling
Church School Assistant
WORSHIP
Participating in the worship of the larger church family is an important aspect of a child’s religious education. To that end, the Southport Congregational Church invites the children to participate in the opening parts of the Sunday services with their parents. This includes the Call to Worship, the opening hymn, the Prayer of Invocation and the Lord’s Prayer, and ends with the Children’s Sermon. At that time, the Church School gathers in the Chapel for a brief time of worship and then is dismissed to their classes.
CHILDREN’S CHAPEL
All children, above the age of 4, participate in Children’s Chapel on the first Sunday of the month. Following dismissal from the Sanctuary, the entire Church School gathers for a Chapel service that is a review of the previous month’s Rotation lesson. These worship services include singing, games, scripture as well as lessons and discussion.
BABYSITTING AND NURSERY CARE SERVICES
For the comfort of all in worship, we offer babysitting for infants and toddlers in Room 3 in the lower level of our Education Wing. Our Nursery Caregivers are Maggie White Mallory Will and Lily Pigue, all Juniors at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Our Caregivers are in the Nursery from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Parents should drop off infants and toddlers prior to the start of the worship service. Children must be signed in and signed out of the Nursery. Please bring a diaper bag with additional diapers, wipes, change of clothing, and an extra bottle.
OFFERING
On the first Sunday in October, children will receive their own offering envelopes. Collection is received every Sunday either in Children’s Chapel or in the classroom. The donations are given to a charity determined by the Church School in September. This year, our Offering will go to Simply Smiles.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
Children Grade 3 and above will be released from church school to locate their own parents. Children in Grade 2 and below must be picked up from their classroom by their parents. The Church School will be sharing in snack at 11:15 am in their classrooms and will dismissed at 11:30 a.m. If parents need to pick up their child earlier, they may simply come to the classroom.
CURRICULUM
Sunday Scramblers is a Sunday morning program for first through eighth grade which takes place during the 10:00 service. The “workshop rotation” model is used for this age group. In each multi-week session, the children rotate through different workshops on the same Bible story. Those workshops might include games, video, drama, cooking, puppetry, computers, music, or arts and crafts. The children attend the first part of the worship service with their families, and then are dismissed to the Chapel where they are grouped and escorted to their class. Although the children see a different teacher each week, the same high school “Shepherd” goes with them to each workshop. The Kindergarten class follows the rotation schedule, however, they do not rotate teachers.
There are a number of advantages to the workshop rotation model. There is more active participation in the workshops. When children miss a week of class, they don’t miss the story. They will hear it in each workshop. Hearing the story several times makes it easier to remember.
While the children rotate from class to class each week, the mentors teach the same lesson for a month. This allows more people an opportunity to teach, and no one has to teach all year.
Also, the lessons for Sunday Scramblers were written and complied by Rev. Laura Whitmore. This is a huge benefit, as we are able to teach our theology at all times. The Board of Christian Education chooses the Bible stories that will be taught each year.
The Chapel Service will be on the first Sunday of the month. This worship service will be based on the Rotation story of the previous weeks, and will include the music, the art, the drama skits and all other parts of that rotation’s activities!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Several times during the year children will be encouraged to help in community outreach by bringing non-perishable food items, mittens, hats and scarves, school supplies and other items as needed. We will send a flyer home announcing each outreach collection to keep you informed.
PLACEMENT
We are blessed to have a vital Church School, and many dedicated teachers. In order to have continuity in our program, we place pre-school children by age, and we ask that your school age child attend the same grade level that he/she attends in school.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
JYG (Junior Youth Group)
The JYG is open to all sixth, seventh and eighth graders and meets one Sunday afternoon a month from 4 - 5:30 p.m. This program will provide opportunities for fun, and exploration of faith and life issues. Friends are welcome to attend with you. We will go on fun outings, have an overnight in New York, and share in meaningful discussions. Come join us!
SHYG (Senior High Youth Group)
The SHYG is open to all ninth through twelfth graders. We have created a program based upon the four marks of the Church - education, mission, fellowship and worship. Almost every week, we gather for fellowship, fun and meaningful discussions and programs from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room with Laura Whitmore. This group focuses on religious and social issues which deal directly with the lives and pressures of teens. Through opportunities for discussion, reflection, recreation, and service, high schoolers are encouraged to continue on with their faith journey through relationships with peers and adults. Whether through arts and music, volleyball or bike riding, being a Church School Shepherd or Junior Deacon, repairing a roof or cooking a meal, everyone is invited to share their God-given talents with the Church Family, the Community and the World. With an emphasis on putting your faith into action, we go on an annual mission trip, which is often the highlight of the program year.
CONFIRMATION
Our Grade 9 students are invited to attend Confirmation Classes. These classes will meet on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Meals are provided by the families of the Confirmation Class. Our Minister of Christian Education and Youth, Laura Whitmore, will teach this class. The Board of Deacons sponsors the Confirmation program, and the Deacons will be acting as mentors to our Confirmands. In addition to the weekly classes, the Confirmation Class will attend two retreats at Southport Congregational Church, attend the Annual Meeting of our Church, and will lead the Sunrise Service at Sasco Beach on Easter morning. The culmination of this class will be Confirmation Sunday in May where each Confirmand will have the opportunity to share their faith journey with our church family.
JUNIOR DEACONS
The Junior Deacons, under the supervision of the Minister of Christian Education and Youth and the Board of Deacons and led by Jr. Deacon Chair Christina Whittaker, is a select group of tenth through twelfth graders. They are chosen because they show maturity of faith and a desire to continue their faith journey, as well as exhibiting a strong commitment to community service and the worship life of our church.
This group of youth will have an assortment of responsibilities, which will grow and change as the program grows and changes. In this year, the Junior Deacons will serve as bell ringers, acolytes, ushers and greeters. In the future, they will also videotape the church services for our shut-ins and will assist the Board of Deacons on Communion Sundays with preparation and clean up.
MUSIC PROGRAMS
We are pleased to offer many different music programs for our children. From the learning of the basic religious songs in Chapel Choir, to performing intricate musicals, we offer something to meet every child’s musical spirit within. With a highly professional staff of music professionals, our music program is of the highest caliber.
CHERUB CHOIR
Under the direction of Marnie Kruse, the Cherub Choir is open to children ages 4 through Grade 2. They sing in worship service approximately once a month, and they hold rehearsals every Sunday in the Chapel for 50 minutes beginning at 9:00a.m. Those Cherubs who wish to participate will have a part in the Christian Musical put on by our choirs during the year.
JUNIOR CHOIR
Under the direction of Kristen Graves, the Junior Choir is open to children in Grades 3 through 6. The Junior Choir sings in worship approximately once a month and on all major religious holidays. Rehearsals are held Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in Room 1, and regular attendance is critical for the success of our program. The Junior Choir performs a Christian Musical for the church family during the year.
TEEN CHOIR
Under the direction of Kristen Graves, the Teen Choir is open to youth in grades 7 through 12. The Teen Choir sings in worship approximately every six weeks. Rehearsals are held Sunday mornings following worship. The Teen Choir is a part of the Christian Musical put on during the church year for the church family.
CHURCH SCHOOL CHAPEL
Our Church School students gather in the Chapel on different Sundays for a worship service and a time of singing the “old time” Christian songs as well was learning contemporary songs. It is a wonderful time for the children of all ages to get acquainted.
CHURCH SCHOOL MUSICIANS
We are always looking for our Church School children to share their musical abilities with us during the year. If you play an instrument and would like to share your ministry with us, please contact Rev. Laura Whitmore. There are a number of opportunities for playing, so you will be sure to have a chance to play.