Christian Education

On a snowy Sunday morning, Pastor Cathy and Cassidy talked about feelings. Then they took pictures of people in the congregation making faces that showed different feelings.

​We offer Christian education opportunities for all ages, including the children’s message during worship each Sunday, Sunday School, Youth Group, Confirmation Class, summer camp scholarships, and adult Bible study.
 
Children are invited to hear the children’s message before the sermon each week.

The children (well, most of them anyway) join hands for prayer after the children’s message.

Sunday School (K-grade 5) meets during the worship hour, from the Sunday after Labor Day until Easter. The children learn songs and stories, practice saying the Lord’s Prayer, and do craft projects related to the children’s message that they heard in the worship service. 

The children heard the story of Joseph during the children’s message in worship, and then made collages of Joseph’s coat during Sunday School.

Youth Group (grade 6 through high school) meets monthly during the school year, usually on Sunday afternoon. They do projects, like picking apples for the church’s apple pie fund raiser, or filling gift bags for students at the Pine Haven Boys Center.

The Youth Group painted signs and decorations for the church’s child care room.

Confirmation class meets monthly for students in grade 8 through high school who wish to affirm their baptisms and become adult members of the church. Confirmands, study the life and teachings of Jesus, talk about sacraments and prayers, learn about the United Church of Christ, and explore what they believe at this point in their lives. They do a service project and write a personal statement of faith.

Alexa Lazazzera’s confirmation class service project: collecting books to distribute to children in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program

Brad Leberman’s confirmation class project was to help raise the timber framing for a pavilion at a Scout camp.

Pastor Cathy anoints the confirmands - Greta Achenbach, Alexa Lazazzera, Brad Leberman, Jeremy Mako, and Dakota Mako

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ecumenical Shrove Tuesday pancake supper at St. Charles

Camp Scholarships

Our church provides scholarships to help children attend summer camp at Horton Center Camp and Retreat Center, a ministry of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ. 

​Find out more about Horton Center here:
https://hortoncenter.org

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Adult Bible Study

The Bible study group meets on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM. They have a lively discussion of selected scriptures. Conversation goes where it will. Often, they end up laughing themselves silly. Pastor Cathy says Bible study is the most fun she has all week. The group has about 10 regular participants. It is open to everyone.

Heart and Hands Thrift Shop

Heart and Hands is a cooperative project of Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, and our church. Its mission is “to be the heart and hands of Jesus, by benefitting the community with reasonably priced items to take the burden off the cost of living.” All proceeds after operating costs are returned to the community in the form of grants. In the past three years, Heart and Hands has made over $170,000 in grants to community groups. Members of our church serve as volunteers at the shop and also serve on the board.

Mission Board

The First Congregational Church of Meredith’s Mission Board is a vibrant group of caring individuals whose contributions are felt both locally and nationally as well as around the world. Our team consists of longtime members working alongside new members who come together to do Christ’s work. Meetings are on the second Tuesday evening of each month where members share in making each mission project a success. New members to our board are always welcome.
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Our goal is to reach members and friends of our congregation through:

• the Sunday morning “Mission Moments”
• the church bulletin and
• the monthly “Caller”

in order to inform all shareholders about a variety of missions needs including dates and specific tasks to fulfill such needs - both locally & globally.

​These are the ministries that our Mission Board regularly coordinates for the church:
 
Year Round United Church of Christ (UCC) Basic Support
Year Round Call to Action - community coalition re: Opioid crisis
Year Round Hearts & Hands Thrift Store - proceeds help local causes
Year Round Meredith Food Pantry - ongoing collections
Year Round Pastor’s Discretionary Fund - confidential pastoral assistance 
Every Other Month Salvation Army Lunch - Laconia 
As Needed Carey House - homeless shelter (food & toiletries)
As Needed Response Missions - ranging from natural disasters to economic emergencies, housing for exchange students and more. 
February Souper Bowl of Caring - Local
Holidays Support Pine Haven School for Boys in Allenstown - Gift Bags on holidays to share Christian grace (Valentines, Easter, Halloween) - Local
March UCC One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) - International
June Heifer International Project - International
July/August Interlakes School District - Backpack Project to assist students who need help preparing for return to school - Local
August Children are Blessings from Heaven - tuition support for two students in India - International
October UCC Neighbors in Need - National
October India Students - gift bags - International
October/November Stewardship Drive - Annual Church Giving
November/December Christmas Angels - clothes & toys for children in need - Local
December Veterans of the Cross - National

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