Get Involved

We recognize that parents have too little time with their children - and we want to do something about that. So in addition to our Sunday morning classes that admittedly do separate families, we are committed to offering more opportunities for multigenerational worship, social justice efforts, and social activities. 

Services for the Whole Congregation

To bring our families together in worship, we encourage attendance (and participation as appropriate) in our Sunday morning "Services for the Whole Congregation." The dates for 2011-12 are as follows: August 28 (Water Ceremony), November 6 (led by Senior High youth), February 5 (led by multi-age group), April 1 (led by Middle School youth) and June 3 (bridging service led by Kathleen Carpenter and Jay Leach). Preschool classes are held on these Sundays, but other classes are canceled.

In addition, families are invited to our new "contemporary, experiential worship" services which are designed with all ages in mind. They will be held quarterly, on Saturday evenings. The first is on October 8 and will focus on the music from the hymnal supplement, "Singing the Journey." The next one, scheduled for December 17, will celebrate the winter solstice through artistic expression, music, and stories. Our newsletter, Voice, will provide dates and descriptions of the others as they are planned.

And, of course, families are very welcome at our 6:30pm Christmas Eve service.

Family Dedications

As a congregation, we say that our mission is, in part, to "help children discover and articulate deeper spiritual meaning." Many of our young families find their way here for just that purpose: because they want a community in which their children can participate in a process of faith development consistent with the values they hold as a family. We believe that is a lifelong process of discovery, one which begins at birth. For that reason, we offer Family Dedication ceremonies on a regular basis. These ceremonies are designed for families with relatively young children, though we welcome families with older children to participate as well. Interested members should consult the church newsletter, Voices, for ceremony dates or contact Jay Leach, our minister, or Kathleen Carpenter, our CYRE Director.

Social Events

Fun get-togethers for families this year will include: a picnic in September, a Holiday Crafts "Helping Hands & Loving Hearts" Get-Together in November, Snacks with Santa in early December, a Womyn & Girls Celebration of the Divine Feminine in January, our Secret Valentine party in February, a Sources Supper in March, a celebration on Easter, and another picnic in May. Other family-friendly events will be publicized in Voices as they are planned.

Outreach Opportunities

The CYRE program is working very closely with the congregation’s Social Justice Team in coordinating projects on the theme of Affordable Housing and Homelessness for the next three years.

Our year will kick off with a family event designed to educate children on homelessness in an age appropriate way. Our popular "Kids in a Box" event that was originally scheduled for September but was canceled due to flooding on the playground, has been rescheduled to April. An article on the event will appear in Voices and registered families will be notified via e-mail. It will be suitable for children K-8th grades.

Congregants of all ages are invited to our quarterly sandwich making Sundays in Freeman Hall. All sandwiches are donated to the Urban Ministry Center. Dates are publicized in Voices. In addition, keep an eye out for dates when we will go to nearby fields and harvest/glean leftover crops which will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank. We attempt to glean a couple of times a year.

Our middle school youth have created a relationship with Charlotte Emergency Housing's shelter, Plaza Place. They will engage in on-going projects with the shelter all year - along with weekly collections of food for their pantry and money for calculators for youth in the shelter. The younger children will join them in a one time collection in the fall.

The High School youth will be guided by the Youth Social Justice Team. These youth will organize activities both local to our church and in conjunction with other houses of faith, including activities coordinated by Mecklenburg Ministries Interfaith Youth Council. Our high schoolers are also given the opportunity to participate in a week-long mission trip in June.

Volunteer Opportunities in CYRE

Leadership Opportunities Requiring Church Membership:

• Sunday Morning Preschool & Elementary Teachers - serve on a 4-person team (May-Aug annually; training is in Aug)
• Sunday Morning Middle & High School  Advisors - serve on a 4-5 person team (May-Aug annually; training is in Aug and Feb)
• Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education Facilitators (anytime - training is usually in Aug)
• Coming of Age - Coordinator & Mentors (even years May-Sept; experience required for Coordinator; mentor training is in Oct)
• CYRE Team, Members (April-June annually; retreat is in the summer)
• Summer Program Coordinator (March-May annually)
• Serve on a short term task force on one of the CYRE Issue Areas: OWL, Coming of Age, Social Events, Safety Policies, Social Justice / Outreach, SpiritPlay, Youth Program, Worship, Parent Support, Program Evaluation (task forces meet as advertised but at least biannually)

Volunteer Opportunities for Members and Non-Members:

• Help with Middle & High School non-class activities (as needed throughout the year)
• Teach or assist with the summer program (June-Aug)
• Create manipulatives (small pieces) for SpiritPlay stories (anytime)
• Help with Social Justice projects (different age groups) (as needed throughout the year)
• Volunteer during the week with administrative projects (anytime)
• Serve on the planning team for the annual CYRE worship service (Nov-Jan)
• Coordinate or assist with a social event (as needed throughout the year)
• Provide childcare for church events: paid position for teens and adults or can be done for volunteer credit for school or organization (as needed throughout the year)
• Serve as Advisor/Chaperone on a Youth Con (Nov-Dec and Jan-March during cons)
• Serve as Advisor/Chaperone on youth trip (as needed throughout the year)
• Drive to events or on class field trips (as needed throughout the year)
• Help with food for teacher events , teacher training and teacher dinner (Aug and Jan)
• Substitute—paid or volunteer—in a Sunday morning class or in the nursery (as needed throughout the year)

*(Sign-up times are in parenthesis)

To volunteer in our Children and Youth Religious Education program, please
contact Kathleen Carpenter