Registration and Attendance
There are 230 children and youth involved in the life of First Parish. Nursery- 8th Graders take part in Sunday morning classes. 9th Graders attend the Minister’s Class. High School students participate as lay leaders, choir members, ushers, childcare providers and one 11th grader delivered a sermon this spring. Many of our high school students attend church on Sunday morning.
Attendance on Sunday morning was strong in the fall, averaging 95 children in N-8th grade each week. It is always the case that during the rest of the year, attendance is more sporadic due to varied vacation dates, family travel and the lure of spring weather after a long winter. It’s the nature of the program that attendance is uneven for many children; families are busy and pulled in many directions. I do urge parents to have their children participate as often as possible. Regular attendance deepens the child’s experience and learning and helps them feel more a part of the church community.
This year over 60 people volunteered in the Church School program. Some helped out for one or two Sundays while others led a class for the full year. Most teachers commit to one term of teaching. There were 4 terms of varied lengths. The fall was a 7-week curriculum based term, the 4-week Holiday term over Christmas focused on the Christmas Pageant and a community service project. Winter Workshops ran for 4 weeks in January and February and the curriculum based spring term lasted 7 weeks into May.
The Sunday school program depends on volunteers. Thank you all. There would be no program without you.
Deb Manegold chaired the YPC this year. Meetings were held on the first Tuesday of every month. Deb provided us with delicious things to eat and kept her promise to keep meetings within an hour and half time frame. We flew through the agenda each month and accomplished a great deal this year. Special thanks to Deb for her leadership, vision and support. Thanks also to the committee members, Cathy Jahrling, Susan Beard, Annie Charrette, Linda McMillan and Karin Levy for their insights, advice and hard work. Members of the YPC helped recruit volunteer teachers for the 2004-2005 church school year. Together we are evaluating and shaping the Sunday school program to make it the best it can be.
Our paid staff consisted of Jan Carlson in Pre-Kindergarten (now in her 7th year), Kelly Boynton in the Nursery alternating with high school students, Alison Kelman and Anna Bishop. Music teacher, Mark Weltner joined us for the final four children’s chapel services. With guitar in hand, he taught us some new songs and reminded us of old favorites. We look forward to having Mark join us for our monthly Children’s Chapel again next year.
A new initiative this spring was the 8th Grade Lunch Group, which met after the church service. Student minister, Rosemary Lloyd, helped create the program and led it with church member, Ben Wells. Many thanks to Rosemary and Ben for bringing this 8th Grade program to a new level. It is our goal that each spring the student minister will lead this group.
Thanks, as always, to Roger Paine for meeting with our youth. Each year he leads the 9th Grade Minister’s Class. This spring, he met with the 6th Grade Neighboring Faith Class. After learning about other religions, it is so helpful and important for them to check back in with our minister. A lively discussion insued. Roger also met with the 7th graders this spring.
Worship is central to Religious Education. It provides a consistent thread each week, which is especially important in a program where attendance can be erratic. Every class begins with a simple worship service, which often includes lighting candles of joy and concern, saying the Call to Ministry or the Covenant and the Lord’s Prayer. On the first Sunday of the month, children in grades K-4 gather in the piano room for Children’s Chapel, a communal worship service. In this way, our children get a taste of ritual and a quiet space to reflect, share some inner thoughts or just daydream in peace.
This was my second year as Director of Religious Education. I can’t do it alone, so I want to especially thank everyone who took part in the work and joy of caring for the spiritual lives of our children! There have been many fruitful collaborations and discussions this year, as we imagine what can be. We are slowly shaping a program that we hope will meet the needs of this community. The stories I hear from teachers each Sunday, remind me that what we do here is important. The children really respond to the discussions, stories and worship. The results aren’t always immediate but I believe the time we put in with the children is lasting. As one of my heroes, child psychiatrist Dr. Robert Coles says, “children are soulful”. I have the great fortune of experiencing this every week.
It’s a wonderful thing to have colleagues with whom I can learn, work and laugh! My appreciation goes to the staff of First Parish; Emery Cormier, Doug Swain, Alice Daisy, Malcolm Hawkins, Rosemary Lloyd, Gert McDermott and Roger Paine. It’s been a good year.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara O’Neil, Director of Religious Education