Table of ContentsChristian education
Youth activities
Adult Bible study and spirituality groups
Prayer chains
Inquirer's classes
Soup group
Retreats
Social outreach
New Member Ministry
Fellowship
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Sunday School
Sunday School is held at the same time as the worship service. The curriculum varies with the age level.
- Elementary School (K-grade 5)
Currently, we are using a workshop rotation approach. This approach is based on the idea that children have different learning styles and different learning tools are used, including drama, art, and cooking. Each month, there is a new theme. The theme is often a Biblical story such as the story of Ruth and Naomi, Noah, Daniel, David or perhaps a season such as Advent. Each month starts with a children’s worship service which the children run themselves, with supervision from adults. Following this first of the month service, each subsequent week takes a different way of interpreting the theme.
- Middle School (grades 6-8)
The curriculum focuses on Bible study.
- High School (grades 9-12)
The curriculum focuses on Bible study.
- Summer Schedule
In summer, ages K- 5 are combined. High school classes are discontinued.
Youth activities
Social activities for middle school and high school youth are scheduled for each month. Social outings include activities such as movies, bowling, and skating.
- LOGOS
Logos literally means “the Word” and it is a program to bring Christian education and a playful, family style experience of church to our children and youth. The LOGOS program at CCMI focuses on group activities and includes a requirement for parental involvement. LOGOS meets on Wednesdays after school from the end of September through Thanksgiving and from January until spring break. Mercer Island school buses will drop children off at CCMI for LOGOS on Wednesday afternoons.
Activities include recreation, worship skills including singing and prayer, Bible study and family time. The family time includes eating dinner together on Wednesday nights. After dinner, there is a game or other playful activity.
- Confirmation
A confirmation class is held for middle school students, usually 8th graders. The class is led by the minister and involves weekly meetings from October through May, work with a mentor and some field trips.
- Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School (VBS), for children in fourth and fifth grades. For more information, call the church office at 206-232-7800.
Adult Bible Study and Spirituality Groups
Bible study is a central activity of CCMI. We feel that as a church that takes the Bible seriously, but not literally, a continuing dialogue with the text is vital to our faith. Group Bible studies allow individuals to become interpreters of the text, to relate the Bible to our daily lives, and to be enriched by one another’s stories and perspectives.
In the same way, we find that group study of faith practice strengthens and enriches our walk with God and one another. Spirituality Groups have included: introductions to spiritual disciplines, a focus on prayer, seeking simplicity, and reading and reflecting on our faith. There are currently two Bible study groups and one spiritual discussion group. Adult groups meet from September to June.
Wednesdays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. This self-directed study group meets in the Library.
Thursdays, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This self-directed study group meets in the room above the library.
Sundays, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Building the Body of Christ (BBC). This group reads and discusses books dealing with spiritual issues.
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Prayer chains
Prayer chains are a way of supporting others in need through prayer. The prayer chain allows those with a prayer request to receive special, concentrated attention. There are five chains, each with about seven members plus a captain, and a prayer request can be sent through one or all five chains. When a request is received, each captain is notified and, in turn, passes the request on through his or her chain. The members will pray per the request for at least one week, or longer if the request is updated. A prayer request should be specific enough to allow all the members an opportunity to pray clearly, though we work with whatever information we have. Members of the prayer chain respect the confidentiality of those for whom we pray. Prayer requests need to be submitted to the head of the Prayer Chain Team or to our pastor.
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Inquirer’s classes
The purpose of these classes is to provide interested individuals an opportunity to learn more about the theology, UCC denomination and the specific history of the Congregational Church of Mercer Island. These classes are scheduled on a periodic basis when there are guests who have been attending services for awhile and have expressed interest in learning more about the church. The classes are usually scheduled immediately following the worship service.
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Soup group
This group of women prepares soup, freezes it and always has soup ready for people who are ill, housebound or in other circumstances where soup would be helpful and enjoyable.The members of the soup group take the initiative or respond to requests for soup.
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Retreats
Several retreats are held each year. There typically is a women’s retreat, a men’s retreat and sometimes a prayer retreat. The women’s and men’s retreat generally develop around a spiritual theme. The prayer retreat provides an opportunity to work on prayer as a spiritual discipline.
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Social outreach
In recent years, social outreach has focused on local organizations benefiting children and families. We have ongoing relationships with three local organizations that we support in a variety of ways. These organizations are the Atlantic Street Center, the First Avenue Service Center and the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services.
Social outreach programs also support national and global causes. The church participates in One Great Hour of Sharing, which supports Christian missionaries, the Heifer Project, which purchases animals for farmers in third world countries, and the Emergency Feeding Program of the Church Council of Greater Seattle.
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New Member Ministry
New Member Ministry functions just as its name implies. The members greet visitors at the door each Sunday, giving them a name tag and directing them to the nursery if there are children. The committee maintains the name tag board. They develop new ways of integrating new members and visitors into the life of the church. They are responsible for informing the newspapers of church functions and placing regular ads.
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Fellowship
The Fellowship Committee provides many events throughout the year that enrich the communal life of the Church. They plan various activities such as visiting restaurants, attending concerts or sporting events.
The third Sunday of each month features a Senior brunch immediately following the worship service. Seniors stay and enjoy brunch together which is prepared by cooks under the able direction of Jeannette Eggebrecht.
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