Children begin Church School when they are 3 years old. Each of our eight classes is led by a teacher team of at least three volunteers. All the classes use the same curriculum, “Rock Solid,” so that each week all the children learn the same Bible story in age-appropriate ways. Over the course of the year, children will study significant stories from both the Old and New Testaments. The curriculum comes with a take-home flyer, so that parents can stay engaged in and informed about their child’s Church School experience.

Stewardship is an important part of our Church School program. Each week the children are invited to bring in an offering - sometimes money and sometimes a special offering such as peanut butter or pasta for the Interfaith Council’s ministry with the homeless and working poor. There are several offering themes per year.

In the 2009-2010 year, the children have collected food and backpacks for TABLE, a local organization that supplies groceries to hungry children. They have also collected coins for UNICEF, and Church World Service hygiene kit items and money for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. For the Easter offering, the children will collect funds for One Great Hour of Sharing.

The classes are grouped as follows: 3-year-olds; 4-year-olds; Kindergarten; First; Second; Third; Fourth and Fifth Grades (combined).

Church School begins in mid-September, and is held most Sundays through mid-May.

Click here for our Church School Registration Form.

Worship is the central act of Christian community; and as children mature, they need opportunities to learn how to be full participants in this most important gathering of the week. The Board of Children’s Ministries partners with parents to provide encouragement and instruction as children transition into attendance at full-length services. Examples of worship education include:

• Worship bags for younger and older children at every service
• A selection of Bibles and Bible storybooks at every service
• A children’s message or component during most services
• Children’s Church, during the Church School hour, periodically throughout the year
• Worship education programs during the all-church Wednesday evening series
• Special sessions on worship education for younger elementary-age children as they transition out of Nursery
• Occasional workshops related to the seasons of the church year

Nursery care for children in the first grade and younger is provided downstairs in Rooms 130 and the adjoining Room 127. Alison Robertson, a child care professional, has been our Nursery Director for many years. She heads a staff of eight Nursery Assistants, allowing for a high staff:child ratio.

We welcome babies and toddlers to our worship.  Rocking chairs are available in the back of the sanctuary, so that parents may hold their young ones comfortably during our worship services. Parents and babies are also welcome to use our Family Parlor, just across the Narthex, where parents are able to hear the service while tending to the needs of their child.

Throughout the year, the Board of Children’s Ministries sponsors a variety of programs for parents and families. Examples include the weekly Faith and Family Class, held during the Church School hour; Advent-wreathmaking workshop; the Giving Tree (a Christmas giving opportunity); Wednesday evening programs. Our fall retreat to Blowing Rock and our spring retreat to Sunset Beach, organized by the Board of Fellowship, also provide wonderful ways for church families to get to know one another.

Secret Pals

Sponsored by the 4th and 5th grade Sunday School class, this activity fosters relationships between children and adults in the church. Adult pals, recruited in early January, exchange letters with the students for a 6-week period. During this time, both adults and children know each other only by their secret “code” names. True identities are revealed during the culminating activity, a special “Pals” party.

Vacation Bible School

Each summer the Board of Children's Ministries organizes a VBS experience for UCCH children and friends. Held on four consecutive mid-summer Sunday mornings, our program is open to children ages three through fifth grade. Each week we learn Bible stories, participate in educational crafts and discussions, and sing songs related to the theme of the year.

This years's theme is: Don't Waste It! Going Light on God's Earth. We'll consider how to make the best use of what we have, and discover some new ways to give away those things we no longer need. We'll do art projects with found objects, give our gently-used books to children in the hospital and take field trips to both the local landfill and The Scrap Exchange. The prophet Isaiah said, "The designer and maker of the earth established the earth, not creating it to be a waste, but designing it to be lived in." We invite UCCH children and their friends to join us for one or all of our sessions, as we explore

how we can go light on the earth God designed.

Registration forms available here.

Please contact Susan Steinberg with questions, or to volunteer.

For the youngest children: Each week at the beginning of Church School, the children in the 3s and 4s classes enjoy learning church songs with long-time volunteer Paige Barnett.

For 1-5 Graders: Children’s Choir rehearses each Sunday during the 8:45 worship service. Choir members attend worship until approximately 9:10 and then leave the sanctuary with Paige. Rehearsals end by 10, so that children can move on to Church School. The Children’s Choir sings during worship on a regular basis throughout the year and occasionally performs church musicals.

On March 21, 2010, the United Church Children's Choir presented:

I WITNESS NEWS: LIVE FROM JERICHO
A musical with GOOD NEWS about GOD'S Provision and Faithfulness
created by Peter and Hanneke Jacobs

We place a premium on providing a safe environment for our children. We are happy to provide supervision and care for children during Church School and while they are in the Nursery; otherwise, children should be under the supervision of a parent or another responsible caretaker. For safety reasons, the nursery and playground are reserved for children in Grades 3 or younger.

In addition to Sunday mornings, child care is provided on Wednesday evenings during dinners and special programs (e.g., Wednesday evening programs). Child care can also be provided upon request for Board meetings and special events at UCCH. Our Nursery Director, Alison Robertson, needs at least two weeks notice and needs to know the number and ages of all children needing care; she can be reached by phone at: 919-929-6413. Please see our safe church policy.

Baptism at United Church of Chapel Hill

The United Church of Christ baptizes babies, children and adults. While we do not believe that people must be baptized in order to be saved, we do believe that baptism, as one of the two sacraments we practice, is a significant passage in one's journey of faith. The pastors welcome inquiries about the meaning of baptism and about discerning an appropriate Sunday to make baptismal promises to an infant or child.

A description of the UCC theology of baptism can be found at:

 http://www.ucc.org/worship/baptism

Faith and Family Sunday Morning Discussion Groups

The original Faith & Family Class meets in room 229.  The

The new Faith and Family Class B, for parents of teens and pre-teens,  meets in the Assembly Hall.
This winter the class discussed the book,  Parenting the Teenage Brain by Sheryl Feinstein. The group also discussed teenagers and internet use.  Resources include:

The Teenage Brain (view presentation)

For more background, read "What Makes Teens Tick" from Time and "Inside the Teen Brain" from US News & World Report.

Technology & Other Risks (view presentation)

Seasons of the Church Year

We are now in Lent. A description of this season can be found here.

2009 - 2010 Liturgical Year Calendar

Practicing the Promise: Guiding Children Through the Christian Year

TWEEN TIME: A Bridge Program for 5th & 6th Grade Students

We are happy to announce the formation of a new initiative for the 5th and 6th grade students of our church, the working title of which is "Tween Time."

Our hope is that Tween Time will help students transition more smoothly from elementary school to middle school, and from being active in Children's Ministries to participating in youth group.

We also hope that by sharing in a few experiences throughout the year, the kids will develop closer connections with one another. As these children progress through our program at church, they will increasingly do things together, from worship to retreats and mission trips. Stronger relationships among the members of the group can only make those experiences more meaningful.

We have planned our first event for Sunday, November 1, when we will travel together to Raven Rock, near Sanford, one of the most scenic state parks in the Triangle. We will leave right after Church School, at 11 am. Weather permitting, we'll have a picnic lunch there, and then take the short hike to the park's centerpiece, Raven Rock. We'll return to the church by 4:45 pm.  More information about this outing will follow, but if you know now that your child would like to participate, let Jenny Shultz or Susan Steinberg know. We will need three drivers besides Jenny and Susan, and would welcome any parents or guardians who would like to join us.

Other plans for the year include a group trip to buy gifts for the recipients of our annual Giving Tree Christmas outreach effort, a shoe collection for people in need (through a program called Soles for Souls), a trip to the Carnivore Preservation Trust and going out for lunch after church at a local restaurant.

Advent Adventure: Dec. 6th- Gift buying for Giving Tree Families

     Students & parents will gather in the youth lounge, following the 11 o'clock service, and enjoy a brown bag lunch together.  (please pack your own lunch) After lunch the group will proceed to Target where they will purchase gifts for the families & children represented by our Giving Tree at UCCH.  This is a family affair so parents are expected to accompany their 5th/6th grader(s).  For more information, please see Jenny Shultz or Susan Steinberg.     

TWEEN TIME CALENDAR

• Sunday, November 1st – Trip to Raven Rock State Park
• Sunday, December 6th- Giving Tree Christmas Gift Buying
• January - Lenten Season- Soles for Souls Collection
• Sunday, April 18, Lunch at the LOOP!
• Sunday, May 2nd, Trip to Carnivore Preservation Trust

*Scholarship assistance is available for all programs.

United Church Preschool (UCP) is a high quality early childhood program for children ages 2 to 5. Our preschool is a small, non-profit school with very low child/adult ratios. There are two classes for children who will turn 2 by September 1, a Monday/Wednesday class and a Tuesday/Thursday class. There are two more classes for children who will turn 3 by September 1, a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class and a Tuesday/Thursday/Friday class. Four year olds attend either of these 3 day classes or there is also a separate 4 year old class that meets 5 days a week. School runs from 9-12 p.m. with an option to stay for Lunch Bunch until 1 p.m.

At UCP, your child can …

• Have fun in a warm and nurturing play atmosphere
• Participate in individual and group activities
• Learn to share and gain respect for others
• Get to know and love caring grownups, in classes where the student/teacher ratio is 4.5:1 for younger classes and 7:1 in older classes
• Express themselves through art and explore the creative process
• Enjoy a weekly music and movement class with an experienced children's music teacher
• Strengthen muscles and cooperative spirit through lots of outdoor play
• Learn about science and nature
• Experience the fun of activities like singing, dramatic play, cooking, and story time
• Get messy!

Here is what some parents have to say about United Church Preschool

"We love the caring, capable teachers at UCP and the low teacher to student ratios."

"Whenever we drive past United Church, my 18 month old son shouts, 'School! School!'. He just loves his school."

"My daughter missed school so much last summer she spent all summer writing cards and drawing pictures to mail to her teachers."

"UCP was the first school experience for both of my boys and I am so grateful to them for giving them such an enriching and caring place to start."

Admission Guidelines

Children must be 2 years old by September 1st for the younger classes and 3 years old by September 1st for the older classes to be considered for enrollment. Members of the United Church of Chapel Hill are given priority for enrollment. (Once a child is admitted to UCP, however, he/she cannot be "bumped" from a spot by church members.) Siblings of currently enrolled children are given next priority. If openings are available, children from the community are admitted.

Applications for enrollment by church members must be made by December 1st of the preceding school year. Please refer to the Parent Handbook for more admission information.

Scholarship funds may be available. Applications can be obtained from the Director.

More information

We invite you to check out our handbook. If you are interested in UCP for your child, please call Mary Glish, our director, at (919) 794-5013.

You will find our 2-page application form at the end of our Parent Handbook. To apply, please print this form, complete it and mail it with the $30 application fee to:
UCP
1321 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

We are currently full for the 2010-2011 school year, but have very short waiting lists for all classes.

Thanks for visiting our site!

All photos compliments of Robin Lin Photography.

At UCCH, we believe that children are a vital part of our community.

We welcome children of all ages into our worship services, and encourage them to participate in many areas of congregational life. Children represent the future of the Christian faith, and we take seriously our responsibility to nurture their growth into mature disciples.

The Associate Pastor and Board of Children’s Ministries oversee all programs for children ages infant-11. Our programs provide a safe and loving environment for children to learn about the Bible, as well as Christian beliefs, practices and community.

We also offer events for the whole family, so that parents and children have opportunities to engage together in faith-centered rituals and practices.

For further information about any of these programs, please contact the Associate Pastor for Children’s Ministries, Reverend Susan Steinberg at ssteinberg@unitedchurch.org or 942-3540.