Sunday School

On a typical Sunday, families begin the worship service together at 10 am in the sanctuary.  After the beginning of worship and a special “Time With the Children” led by one of the pastors, children are dismissed for Sunday School.  Following worship and Sunday School, children and parents meet up for coffee hour in the vestry.

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Twice a year, at Christmas and at the culmination of the traditional school year on Children’s Sunday, the children lead the worship service with a performance or other creative collaboration (e.g. the Christmas Pageant, Noah’s Ark, The Tale of the Three Trees). Leading up to these dates, Sunday School time is spent preparing and rehearsing. All ages are welcome and encouraged.

 

Sunday School Classes

Grades K-5

 

Two volunteer teachers per classroom provide developmentally appropriate and engaging lessons for early primary and older primary aged children.   Children may leave the worship service at the appointed time with the teachers for that day so that parents may stay for worship.   Parents are also welcome to accompany their children to the classroom and return to worship, or stay in the classroom. We encourage parents to do what is comfortable and appropriate for them and their children…including remaining in worship together if they so choose! 

 

Our Teachers

Dedicated volunteers from the congregation: parents, grandparents, and other adults provide a warm, caring and safe environment for our children.  We encourage all generations of our congregation to share the joy of their faith with our Sunday School program.  If you are interested in becoming involved, please email Hadley Bunting at hadley_abernathy@yahoo.com

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Curriculum

The Christian Education committee has chosen a wonderful curriculum called “Seasons of the Sprit.”  This curriculum is lectionary-based and engages children in a variety of ways so that children can approach the topic of the day in ways that are exciting and approachable.  We invite you to explore this curriculum by clicking here.

 

Nursery Care

Nursery care is provided throughout the worship service beginning at 9:45 AM downstairs in the vestry. Parents are welcome to bring their babies or young children to the nursery at any point during the service. 

 

 

Youth Groups

Kids Cook!

That’s what we do! Open to all children and youth age 6 and older, we get together once a month to cook for the hungry, providing food for the Salvation Army in Burlington, Harbor Place in Shelburne, the Charlotte Food Shelf, and coffee hour after the church service, among others. In the summer many of our ingredients come from our Stewardship Garden; through this the children lean both environmental and social stewardship. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Hadley Bunting at hadley_abernathy@yahoo.com 

 

Junior Youth Group

Grades 5-8

During Sunday School time, our junior youth are invited to meet together in the church library for conversations about faith with different members of our congregation, or to remain in the sanctuary for worship. We also meet monthly outside of worship time to foster our relationships with God and one another. Recent activities include a corn maze, making care packages for kids at JUMP, Winter Olympics, and a Junior Iron Chef competition! Kids are always encouraged to bring friends; all are welcome. For more information contact Hadley Bunting at hadley_abernathy@yahoo.com or Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen at rev.kemg@gmail.com.

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Confirmands

Grades 8-10

Purpose: The purpose of Confirmation Program is for the Charlotte Congregational Church to walk with its Confirmands as they prepare to affirm their baptismal vows and to make “this faith their own.”  These classes are an opportunity for our Confirmands to engage in a process of faith formation with one another and with committed and caring adults, as they learn, question and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Ages: 8th and 9th grades with flexibility to those who may begin the confirmation process after 9th grade.

Commitment: approx. 7 Classes in Winter/Spring 2018.  Assistance with Ash Wednesday, Easter & Pentecost services.

Topics Include: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Sin, Salvation, Forgiveness and Grace, Discipleship, History and Heritage of the United Church of Christ, The Church, The Sacraments (baptism and communion), Mission and service, Peace and justice, Ecumenical/Interfaith Relationships, The Bible, Worship and prayer, Current events, Topics of interest to Confirmands

Staff: Rev. Goldenbogen, Rev. Susan Cooke Kittredge, and parental support.

Format: Hour long class sessions, Select Worship Services, Confirmation project to be presented by confirmands on Confirmation Sunday

Costs: None for students and families.

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For more information contact our Senior Pastor, Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen at rev.kemg@gmail.com or our Associate Pastor, The Reverend Susan Cooke-Kittredge at scookekitt@mac.com

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Senior Youth Group

Our Senior Youth Group is open to youth in 9th-12th grades.  This program is in transition and has been meeting occasionally, and as opportunities and interests arise.  Activities include engaging in Mission projects, enjoy the wonders of God in the great outdoors, trips to Montpelier to bring our faith into the public square, etc. For more information please contact our Senior Pastor, Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen at rev.kemg@gmail.com or our Associate Pastor, The Reverend Susan Cooke Kittredge, scookekitt@mac.com

 

 

Adult Groups

Bible Study

Recent courses:

Loving Kindness & Ruth: A Brief Bible Study of the Book of Ruth, Summer 2018

Look Again! Revisiting Bible Stories We Think We Know, Fall 2017

The Book of Lamentations, Early Summer 2016

From Conflict to Consensus, Winter 2016

What is Your Credo?, Winter 2016

The New Testament (Dickinson Bible Study Series)

The Old Testament (Dickinson Bible Study Series)

Book Study

Recent books we've studied:

Beyond Belief by Elaine Pagels

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

About Grace by Anthony Doerr

Jesus: The Human Face of God, by Jay Parini

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown

The Baker's Secret by Stephen Kiernan

The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

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For more information please contact our Associate Pastor, The Reverend Susan Cooke Kittredge, scookekitt@mac.com 

 

Centering Prayer Practice

Centering Prayer is an ancient Christian practice. Here is how Mark Kutolowski, who is a lay oblate of Saint Benedict and a wilderness guide through the New Creation Wilderness Program, describes the practice:

"Centering Prayer is a method of response to God’s invitation to enter into loving intimacy and relationship. The practice prepares us to be open, available, and present to God’s action and presence in the innermost recesses of our being. It facilitates a process of interior transformation initiated by God and leading, as we consent, to divine union. Centering Prayer facilitates both the deepening of our personal relationship with Christ and release from the attachments that hinder development of this relationship. The fruits of Centering Prayer are naturally and gradually experienced in daily life with increased ability to love and serve God and neighbor."