Home     /    Staff    /    Contact
An Open and Affirming Church.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey,
YOU are welcome HERE!

Youth and Family Ministries

Whoever you are, wherever you are on  life’s journey, you are welcome in our Children’s Church…

Children’s Church and Nursery Schedule

The Nursery and Children’s Church programs begin with Homecoming Sunday, the second Sunday of September, and run through the end of June. Volunteers provide fellowship activities for children during July and August.

Nursery (Children Aged 3 and Under):

First Sunday of the Month: Communion Sunday: All children are invited to remain in worship with their caregivers (communion is served and is open to all).

Second through Fifth Sundays of the Month: Infants and toddlers (age 3 and under) are invited to stay in the nursery located on the second floor. The nursery is staffed by a paid attendant starting just before 10:00 am. Please complete the Child Registration and Safe Church Policy forms when dropping off your child for the first time.   

Please note that our nursery attendant cannot do diapering in accordance with our Safe Church policy. If your child requires a diaper change during the worship service, someone will come to find you in the Sanctuary. There is a fold down changing table in the larger bathroom in the Dining Room. 

Children’s Church (CC) (Children in Pre-Kindergarten – 5th Grade):

Except on the first Sunday of the month, when all children are invited to remain in worship with their caregivers, our children begin worship in the sanctuary and then leave for the classroom after approximately 20 minutes (usually after the offering). Please complete the Child Registration and Safe Church Policy forms when dropping off your child for the first time. Below is the monthly schedule:

First Sunday of the Month: Communion Sunday: All children are invited to remain in worship with their caregivers (communion is served and is open to all).

Second and Third Sundays of the Month: Children’s Church Classroom Lessons: All children are invited to join Children’s Church for classroom lessons led by the Children’s Church Director and assisted by an adult HCC volunteer. Lessons use a mix of the Montessori-based “Godly Play” curriculum, along with a new curriculum – – “Whirl” – – by the publishers of “Holy Moly,” plus lessons created  by Haydenville Congregational Church.

Fourth Sunday of the Month: Children’s Church Fellowship Time: All children are invited to join Children’s Church for a fellowship time with art, games, and music led by the Children’s Church Director and assisted by an adult HCC Volunteers. 

Fifth Sunday of the Month: Cathedral in the Night Food Prep: All children are invited to join Children’s Church to help make food for Cathedral in the Night, led by adult HCC Volunteers. 

*Note for children in Children’s Church and Nursery: You or a designated individual must  pick up your child at the close of worship following the Benediction. If you would like to  go through the “Hug and Handshake Line,” please first retrieve your child.

Youth in Middle and High School

We are hoping to coordinate some social gatherings for youth in Middle and High School. Please contact Ms O’Connor (youth@haydenvillechurch.org) for more information or if you are interested in helping to coordinate these gatherings. On Sunday mornings, youth are invited to remain in worship, or to volunteer as a Youth Classroom Assistant in the Children’s Church classroom. In this role, Youth Classroom Assistants support the work of the Head Teacher by engaging with the younger children. There are also opportunities for youth to serve as paid Nursery Attendants when we have young children present (contact Ms O’Connor for more information) or FaceBook Live Worship Technicians to record the service for live streaming (contact Carla Imperial at carla@imperial-jewett.com for more information).

Here’s How You Can Help

  • Pray!
  • Help nurture an intergenerational culture of welcome during our worship, especially on the first Sunday of the month when children remain in the sanctuary.
  • Help the Children’s Church Director teach a Children’s Church lesson on the second or third Sunday of the month: see sign up sheet in dining room
  • Help the Children’s Church Director with fellowship time (games, music, crafts, service projects) on the fourth Sunday of the month: see sign up sheet in dining room
  • Help children make sandwiches for Cathedral in the Night on the fifth Sunday of the month (Blue Moon Sunday): see sign up sheet in dining room
  • Share your special gifts/skills/talents in Music, arts, theater, gardening, etc. for a Children’s Church activity: contact Ms O’Connor for more details
  • Assist Children’s Church Director in organizing special Children’s Services and/or the Christmas Pageant: contact Ms O’Connor for more details
  • Help coordinate activities for our Youth Group (Middle and High School Students) or act as an Advisor and/or Chaperone: contact Ms O’Connor for more details
  • Join the Youth and Family Ministries Committee.

Youth and Family Ministries Forms:

Youth & Family Ministries Parent Information 

Youth & Family Ministries Volunteer Information

Registration Form for Children & Youth 

Safe Church Policy Form for Parents and Volunteers

Volunteer CORi Authorization Form