Our Christian Education Ministry works directly with our Associate Pastor of Faith & Fellowship to plan faith-based activities for all of our church members, from children to adults. They oversee Sunday School, Youth Group, Confirmation, and many special events.
Christmas Pageant
Each year on the Sunday before Christmas, we celebrate a beloved tradition where the story of Jesus’ birth comes to life through the eyes of our children and youth. From the humble manger to the bright star of Bethlehem, we worship together to witness the timeless journey of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to pause during the busy holiday season and reflect on the true "Reason for the Season."
Christmas-in-a-Box
Our Christian Education Ministry offers several service projects throughout the year. Each December, we partner with the North Reading Food Pantry to do our Christmas-in-a-Box service project. We are so grateful each year to everyone who takes the time to decorate a Christmas-in-a-box and thoughtfully fill it with wrapping paper, hot chocolate, toys, and other delightful holiday extras. These are the things that often fall outside a family’s budget, and providing them helps alleviate a real source of stress during the holidays. Dozens of boxes, filled with wrapping supplies, festive treats, and small gifts are collected and delivered to the North Reading Food Pantry in hopes that they will allow families to focus on celebrating the season rather than worrying about the extra cost of these special holiday items.
Advent Workshop
An annual favorite tradition, our Advent Workshop (or Christmas-Craft Workshop) is held every year on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Our Christian Education Ministry chooses a theme and then plans out a variety of crafts that fit the theme. This year’s theme was “Starry Night” and the event sparkled with festive cheer as we enjoyed star-themed and glow-in-the-dark crafts including luminaries, waving star wands, star-shaped ornaments, tin foil stained glass and lots more! Possibly the biggest hit of the day was the young-at-heart craft where children and adults alike crafted sheet music luminaries, for some vintage, holiday warmth!
Making pudding cups for our Worldwide Communion Sunday Potluck
Making braided dog toys for rescue animals
Decorating cookies for the
North Reading Police Department
Sunday School Service Projects
Each month Christian Education plans a service project for the Sunday School children and Holy Hangout Youth.
Valentine’s Cards for the North Reading Fire Department
Decorating lunch bags for
My Brother’s Table
Drawings to go with
Thanksgiving Meals
Bible Quest & Bible Sunday
Every March, our Christian Education ministry and pastors partner to host Bible Quest, an engaging, hands-on experience for children in third grade and above. This interactive program helps the children grow comfortable navigating their Bibles and discovering the stories within.
The following Sunday, we celebrate this milestone during our worship service, where each child is presented with their very own Bible. This gift from the church serves as a companion for them as they continue their unique faith journeys.
Heifer Birthday Bash
Every Spring, our Christian Education Ministry invites the congregation in fundraising for Heifer International which provides livestock and education to families in impoverished areas in order to make a living for themselves. We do 3 weeks of cow-themed skits and the fundraising campaign culminates on Palm Sunday with our annual Heifer Birthday Bash where we have a cake (or cupcakes) for each month and participants are invited to leave a donation in exchange for a delicious piece of cake!
Summer Fun Boxes
In June, the Christian Education Ministry invites the congregation to join in our Summer Fun Box Service Project. Boxes are decorated by the Sunday School children & Holy Hangout youth. And then similar to our Christmas-In-A-Box program, these boxes are filled with items that make the summer months a little more fun for families in need. Boxes include things like kites, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, pool noodles, sand toys and all kinds of other summer fun!
Devotionals
At various times throughout the year, the Christian Education Ministry hosts themed devotional time as a way to grow deeper together in faith.
Advent Labyrinth
Labyrinths are thought to be about 3,000-4,000 years old, maybe more. By 1200 AD, they were in some churches as a way to have a symbolic journey to the Holy Land when people couldn’t actually make the trip. On the longest and darkest night of the year, Christian Education and Pastor Gayle celebrate the tradition of the labyrinth as we contemplate the One who we are waiting for and the hope, peace, joy and love that come with that gift.
