At Portland United Church, we strive to welcome children and youth into all aspects of the Church community as we learn and worship together. Sunday Services begin with children, youth and adults gathering together for an opening to the worship service. Following a Children’s message, children are invited to attend Sunday School for the remainder of the service, where they share in a time of music, Bible stories, discussion and activities. Children are always welcome in the sanctuary throughout the service; however for those who wish, the Friendship Room is available for young children to play while parents can sit comfortably and hear the service.
Our ultimate goal is to help each child experience God’s love, to nurture them in their faith and spiritual development, and to help bring them to a closer relationship with Christ. Becoming servants of God is also a focus of our Sunday School, and we engage the children of our congregation to serve, both locally and abroad, in as many ways as possible. We offer various ministries throughout the year including a summer Vacation Bible School for children, and youth events for teens. As we share in learning and worship together, we invite you to join in this exciting ministry in whatever ways you feel God is calling you
Our main extra events in Sunday School are the Christmas concert followed with a potluck, and the Vacation Bible School. V.B.S. has run the first week of July the past 4 years and plans are made year-by-year.
Children attend Sunday School together each week. On the first Sunday of every month, we stay upstairs and participate in the regular service in various ways (i.e. scripture reading, ushering, etc.).
The mission projects in which our Sunday School regularly participates are:
– sponsoring a foster child from Guinea through Plan Canada
– raising funds through cookie sales, coin jars and offerings to purchase “Gifts of Hope” through the United Church giving program and to contribute to the Dental Issues Group (DIG)
– organizing a sock and mitten tree at Christmas to donate warm necessities to the food bank for distribution with the Christmas hampers
Various congregations in the Presbytery (including our own) take turns hosting events for our older youth (grades 7 – 12). To date, our Pastoral Charge has hosted an indoor lawn bowling event and an afternoon of canoeing.