Children (Through Grade 5) at United Church

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

UCCH has a Safe Church Policy

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

Our Minstry to Children includes:

Care and Comfort

For newborns: Visitation and the gift of a Hope Basket.
For babes in arms: Rocking chairs in the sanctuary, so that parents may hold their young ones comfortably during our worship services. And coming in 2008: a family room, where parents can tend to babies' needs and listen to the service.
For children who need care during worship services: Nursery care for infants-1st graders 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 9 Nursery Assistants, allowing for a high staff-to-child ratio.

Church School Education

Classes are held from 10-10:50 am Sunday mornings for children ages 3 through the fifth grade. Each of our 8 classes is led by a teacher team of at least three volunteers. All the classes use the same curriculum, "Exploring Faith," and each week all the children learn the same Bible story in age appropriate ways. The curriculum comes with a take-home flyer, so that parents can stay informed about and engaged in their child's Church School experience.

Stewardship is an important part of our Church School program. Each week the children 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.

Healthy snacks are also an important part of Church School, at least for the younger children. The older children tend not to need snacks at all. For those classes that do provide a snack, parents are asked to sign up to bring in something nutritious.

Worship Education

Children's Church:: In order to help children understand the components of our worship services, and to give them the experience of leadership, we hold Children's Church approximately once a month. On those days, all the Church School classes gather in the sanctuary for a 30-minute service that includes all the main elements of our usual services. The classes take turns doing such things as handing out bulletins, reading scripture and collecting the offering.
Special Programs:: The Associate for Children's Ministries also schedules seasonal worship education programs for families and plans a unit of worship education for the first grade class each spring.

Worship Experience

Children's Component:: Each week we offer a Children's Message or a children's component (such as an anthem by the Children's Choir or the children's participation in a baptism). Most of our programming for children occurs during the 8:45 service. Following the message at that service children have several options:
Nursery:: We provide care for children through the first grade throughout the whole morning.
Children's Choir:: See next topic.
Kids Kare:: For children in grades 2-5. In this pilot program, children will learn about and contribute to one of the congregation's outreach projects. They will return to the service after the sermon.
Remain in worship:: We encourage children to remain in worship with their families. Children's bibles, bible story books (some in Spanish) and children's bulletins are available to take into the sanctuary each week.

Choirs

For the youngest children: Each week at the beginning of Sunday School, the children in the 3s/4s and Kindergarten 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 Sunday School. The Children’s Choir sings during worship on a regular basis throughout the year, and occasionally performs church musicals.
For 4-8 Graders: Joyful Noise Handbell Choir, our children's hand bell choir, rehearses every Sunday from 6:20-7:15 with church musician Bob Lawton. Joyful Noise participates in worship several times per year.

Vacation Bible School

Each summer the Board organizes a week-long VBS for UCCH children and friends, so that children can learn Bible stories, do educational crafts and activities, pray and worship together in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Vacation Bible School Registration is Open! To sign up for Clean Water for All God's Children, Sundays July 13, 20, 27 and August 3, please download the printable registration form and return the completed form to the church office.

Special Programs

Throughout the year, the Board of Children's Ministries organizes a variety of programs for parents and/or families. Examples include: the weekly Faith and Family Class; Advent-wreath-making workshop; the Giving Tree (a Christmas giving opportunity); and Wednesday evening programs. The church's fall retreat to Blowing Rock and our spring retreat to Sunset Beach also provide wonderful ways for church families to get to know one another.

United Church Preschool

United Church Preschool (UCP) is a high quality, early childhood program for children ages 1½ to 5 held in our church building five days a week from 9AM until noon. UCP students participate in structured and unstructured activities, in groups and individually, within a warm and nurturing environment. As one of the most established and well-respected preschools in our community, UCP helps children develop personally and socially during these formative years.

Younger children can join one of the two-day per week classes, and older children may attend for 3 or 5-days. Church members are given priority for enrollment, but spaces do fill up quickly. If you are interested in UCP, please call the Director, Mary Glish, at 928-9608 and visit the website: www.unitedchurch.org/ucmo.html.

Practicing Faith with Children Conference

The Practicing Faith with Children Conference was held at United Church of Chapel Hill, February 13-15, 2009. Please visit the conference resource page for audio recordings and other resources from the conference.