Children and Youth
Christian Education and Programs for Teens
- Why Christian Ed?
- Preschool - Kindergarten
- Early Primary
- Late Primary
- Junior High
- Senior High
- Events
- Teen Youth Program
- Seasonal Music
Why Christian Education?
Christian Education is a whole lot more than Sunday School. It is a philosophy for a lifetime of learning. At Central Baptist, we take seriously the responsibility for incorporating our children into the life of the church and helping our adults to keep the growing edge open. We begin with classes each Sunday morning for preschool through adult. We include a children's time in the worship and a junior church for children up to third grade. We welcome capable young people to read, greet, sing, play musical instruments and receive the collection. We believe that children are truly a part of the family that is Central Baptist Church.
We also offer additional opportunities for youth, such as the winter retreat at Monadnock Christian Conference Center. There our young people are challenged to deepen their commitment to Christ, and wrestle with their faith, while having a blast! The youth raise funds through a number of work projects. The most popular ones are the Super Bowl subs and the all-church breakfasts.
Preschool - Kindergarten
Teacher - Kathy Glidden
I have been teaching Sunday School at Central Baptist for 20 years. It brings me great joy to see the children grow spiritually as each year passes. The bonds they make with each other are amazing.
Our Bible based curriculum focuses on the stories of the Bible, prayer, worship, mission and service. We learn to pray and play together while building a strong Christian foundation and making special lasting friendships.
We learn about our church and the many ways we can help. Whether it is coming with Mom and Dad to a work party, donating to the local Food Pantry, being the Greeter or singing a song during worship. Participating in various activities helps us to instill personal values and an understanding of what our faith means in our lives.
Late Primary
Teacher - Heather Brown
My name is Heather Brown and I teach grades 5 and 6 at the Central Baptist Church Sunday School in Chelmsford. I love working with this age group, and the young people in my class of 2009 - '10 are all kids with an enthusiasm for learning about the Bible. I look forward to my time with them each week. We hope our numbers will grow so that we can have many opportunities to share this time of fun, fellowship, and spiritual guidance.
This Fall our preteens are looking forward to making new friends and growing in their relationship with God. We will continue to start each class with the students offering their own prayer. Some of our upcoming study topics include making wise choices and attitude adjustment. We always have a scripture spotlight to read and discuss.
Our David C. Cook curriculum also suggests some real "hot crafts for cool kids". I like to listen to the suggestions of my students regarding what they enjoy in class, and what makes them want to bring their own style of energy on Sunday mornings. They also love to act out skits, and I will endeavor to provide a time for that. In our class we like to sing, we like to laugh, and we like to jump for joy! For me, teaching Sunday School combines my love of children, my faith in Christ, and my commitment to outreach. I feel that when you touch the heart of a child that has a ripple effect on many others, including ourselves
Junior High
Teacher - Dawn Ryan
I have taught Sunday School at Central Baptist Church for about 20 years, covering the age groups from first grade through junior high. One of the main reasons I have been involved with Christian Education all these years is seeing first hand the impact that a good church experience can have on young people. A wonderful memory from my own childhood that made me feel special is the interest that each of my Sunday School teachers expressed in me personally. I try to carry that forward to my role today, and keep in touch with my students outside of Sunday morning with an occasional e-mail or card to let them know that I personally care about each of them.
Our David Cook curriculum makes connections between modern day people and the Bible in a way that the youth of today can relate. I try to reinforce this basic theme by engaging the students in talking about the everyday experiences and choices that they have in school and their life in general. I will occasionally pose a question for my class to think about during the week. It's wonderful to see them sharing their own experiences, and watching them grow spiritually while developing a strong foundation upon which to face the difficult decisions that life can present to each of us.
Senior High
Lead Teacher - Sandy Rega
I was raised in Chelmsford and brought up through the Sunday School of Central Baptist. My husband Andrew and I are happy to now be bringing our own three children up here as well. My adult involvement with the CBC Sunday School started first as Superintendent for three years, after which I moved into a teaching position with the high school class. I absolutely love working with the teens of the church. It is a pleasure to have open conversations with our students, relating our weekly lessons from Student Life Bible Study to our daily lives. Class activities allow an easy transition into seeing how the experiences of biblical characters can correlate to the struggles and difficult decisions that high school students come across on a regular basis and how strength of character and faith in God can bring you through.
Assistant Teacher - Julie Brajak
Major Events During the Calendar Year
- Rally Day: The second Sunday of September is Rally Day, when the Sunday School kicks off with games, refreshments, and registration. It's a great day to meet teachers and new friends.
- Children's Choir: Children's choir practices from Thankgsgiving through Christmas. All the Sundays of Advent we feature the children singing, from preschool through early elementary, all are welcome.
- Living Nativity: In conjunction with the Community Tree Lighting on the town common, our adults and youth provide a musical pagent, telling the story of Jesus' birth.
- Children's Day: At the end of the Sunday School year, we devote a Sunday morning service to honor and celebrate our children and their accomplishments. The children present a service based on what they have learned in Sunday School during the year. It is a time of celebration for the spiritual growth of our children.
Teen Youth Program
Central Baptist sponsors a teen youth group which participate in a number of activities during the year, both within the life of our church, and as a group doing "their own thing". The youth group periodically sponsors all church dinners and breakfasts to raise funds for their activities. Activities might include outings such as meeting with other local church youth groups through Grotonwood, the American Baptist Church Camp and Conferencing Center, or local trips such as movies or the beach. The group's biggest outing each year is a retreat weekend to the Monadnock Bible Conference Center in Jaffrey, N.H. Finally, the youth group is an active and vital part of the life of our church through their participation in music, greeting, readers, Junior Church, live nativity at Christmas, advent programs, and simply worshipping with us on Sunday mornings!
Seasonal Music
During various seasons of church life the youth add to our worship by participating in youth choir and handbell choir, bringing solo pieces both with instruments and voices. Handbell choir is a multigenerational experience as it typically includes ages from grade school through retirees. We have a wonderful time practicing and performing in addition to establishing closer cross generational ties.