Centre Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

We Welcome Everyone: An “Open & Affirming” Church

Handicap Accessible

Phone: (781) 334-3050;    Fax:  (781) 334-6463;   Email: [email protected]

5 Summer Street, Lynnfield, Massachusetts  01940

Ministry Moments – Education Ministry

This year the Education Ministry Team has six members: Lauren Donadio, Sarah Crosbie, Nancy Miller, Deb Biggar and Judie Potter. Barbara Langill, as the Director of Faith Formation, plays an integral role by collaborating with the team.

The main responsibilities of Education Ministries include but are not limited to the design and implementation of the weekly educational program for children; oversight of the nursery; oversight of the youth groups; confirmation class (in conjunction with the senior pastor); adult education; and the church library.

As a team, we are committed to ensuring that children and youth are provided with a warm, safe and inclusive environment where they will feel loved and respected. Our children are the present and the future of our church and of our world. We view them as an important part of our Christian ministry. In order to support this population and help them thrive, the Education Ministry team frequently reevaluates our programming in order to ensure that it continues to meet the unique needs and desires related the children and youth of our church.

The Education Ministry team has worked on a few significant programming changes within the past year. This is the first full year that our children in Pre-K through 4th grade have been participating in weekly sessions of Godly Play, a Montessori-based program. We have reevaluated at several points throughout the year and made adjustments as necessary including adding additional volunteers and supports.

An additional way we have put the team's purpose into action is in the creation of new programming for the church’s youth population, students in the 5th through 12th grade range. By providing a “Breakfast Club” for this age group, we were able to integrate the necessary work for youth on the path toward their confirmation while simultaneously providing a fun, enriching educational class for this age group. This class provided them with an opportunity to explore their faith and deepen their peer relationships and connection with the church community.

A second program for the youth that we researched and put into place is Giv2. This ecumenical program has allowed the youth of our church to collaborate with youth from several surrounding churches in order to participate in service activities every other month.

While the vast majority of our recent work has been focused on children and youth, we have begun brainstorming about new ideas for adult faith formation as well as Intergenerational opportunities. The church currently offers an adult Bible study every Friday morning. In addition, Rev. Estelle has begun holding mini sessions with hands-on learning activities.

The team is currently working on hosting a Godly Play training for our own interested church members as well as those in the nearby New England area. We are also creating lists of potential volunteers for the upcoming year, as we have an opportunity to add a second classroom of Godly Play.

The Education Ministry team is an open-minded, creative and innovative group of people dedicated to the Faith Formation of our church community. If you have an interest in joining the team or would like to volunteer in any capacity, please see me at any point.

Jill DiGiorgio, Education Ministry Chair

For more information about the Education Ministry Team, please send us an email