Programs for Children & Youth

Nursery

We so warmly welcome your babies, toddlers and young pre-school children to join the fun in our church nursery each Sunday! Nursery children between the ages of birth and three or four are cared for by loving teenagers who play with and read to your children in the context of a clean and safe nursery environment. 

Church School

Join us for the most wonderful church school program in the whole world! Our Church’s Faith Formation Ministry Team welcomes our Church’s children—from our four year olds to our fourteen year olds—to participate in our prayerful, progressive, Biblically-based and global Church School Program that seeks to ground our children and families on a journey of faith that both spiritually nurtures and deepens our relationships with God, ourselves and one another and seeks to explore relationships with those who are different from or unknown to us, just as Jesus teaches us to do. We look forward to welcoming your children in our Church School Program that includes: 

• Family-friendly worship with Wee-Worship Bags, Children’s Bulletins, Children & Youth Messages and opportunities for all ages to participate in leading worship
• One Room Schoolhouse Church School Classes for four years olds to 8th Graders, featuring “Prayers and Blessings Time” at the beginning of Church School, Bible Stories, lessons and activities
• Mission and Service Opportunities to learn about and engage in locally and in our wider world 
• Drama Pageants at Christmastime and other seasons

Faith Odyssey

Our Faith Formation Ministry Team is pleased to continue offering this very popular program for seventh and eighth graders who are interested in exploring the many dimensions of their spirituality and faith. 

This two year program invites our youth to explore and express what they believe about themselves, the world and their faith, as they discover more about the United Church of Christ, Christianity and other world religions, and issues that are significant to their lives. Opportunities for service and lots of fun abound! For those who choose, this program culminates in Confirmation and membership within the Meriden Congregational Church. 

A team consisting of the co-pastors, mentors and other church members lead and offer support in this learning endeavor. Faith Odyssey meets approximately twice per month for two hour sessions during the church school year.   

If you are interested in this special program, please be in touch with our Co-pastors, Susan and John Gregory-Davis. We look forward to being on this journey of faith with you! 

OWL

The Our Whole Lives curriculum from the United Church of Christ is an excellent opportunity for your child to learn about physical, emotional, and sexual health in a progressive, open-minded, and spiritually nurturing way. Meriden Congregational Church offers these classes for Kindergarten through high school. Classes are led by trained instructors who present fun and accessible lessons. Contact Co-pastor Susan Gregory-Davis at susan@meridenucc.org for more information about class availability and enrollment.

Senior Seekers

If your high school student is looking for a welcoming, positive social group, he, she or they, is welcome to join this amazing group of teenagers brought together by Meriden Congregational Church. Please contact Kelsey at kelsey@meridenucc.org for more information.

Spirit Sunday Schedule

Your children are welcome to join us each Sunday for enriching and hands-on workshops that focus on developing a sense of spirituality, practicing mindfulness, defining one’s values and identity, and learning to be open-hearted and kind to others. Each workshop is guided by a positive affirmation that frames the learning in each session. Join us for:

• First Sunday of each month- Child-friendly intergenerational service including a fun Children’s Message.
• Second Sunday– Yoga, during which we practice meditation and moving our bodies in calming and strengthening ways.
• Third Sunday– Baking or cooking treats to enjoy during Coffee Hour following church.
• Fourth Sunday– Storytime, a morning during which we enjoy and discuss biblical stories, picture books, and articles.

Parents’ Night Out/Off

Meriden Congregational Church wishes to help support local families in a variety of ways. Sometimes, this can just mean helping parents get a well-deserved night out or off from parenting. Offered on the third Saturday of each month, MCC will provide a supervised movie night for children from ages 4-12. Participation is limited to 15 children per evening; please enroll your children ahead of time with Kelsey at kelsey@meridenucc.org. We will snack, play and enjoy a movie at the Parish House from 6-9 pm.

Our Policies

In our on-going attempt as a church to ensure that this faith community is as SAFE A PLACE AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, the Safer Church Committee—in conjunction with the Faith Formation Ministry Team and Board of Deacons—is continuing to enact Safer Church Policies. These include fire safety instruction, guidelines about the physical space of the church school (open doors, visible teaching areas, two adults present with a group of children whenever possible, limiting the church school bathrooms to children and families only, etc.), and simple, but intentional, applications to be filled out by each adult who ministers with our children and youth either through church school teaching or youth group leadership. The Safer Church Committee, a working group of the Board of Deacons, will continue to evolve these policies to ensure that our church provides as safe a place as possible for the emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual health and well-being of each member of our community. If you have any questions about the work of this committee, or if you would like to be part of the ongoing development of Safer Church Policies, please speak with our Co-pastors, Susan and John Gregory-Davis.

If you have questions about any of our youth programming, email Kelsey, Spiritual Formation Coordinator at kelsey@meridenucc.org.