Christmas Season
Welcome! If you are new to the Community Church of East Williston, you might have some questions about our church.
WHO CAN GO TO THE COMMUNITY CHURCH’S SERVICES? The most important thing to know is that all are welcome to join us at services and at our Communion Table. The people in our congregation have come to CCEW from many different churches and religious backgrounds. A very few have been members of CCEW their whole lives. Some just started coming recently.
WHAT ARE THE SERVICES LIKE? Our hour-long services include prayer, hymns and other music, Scripture readings and a sermon.
ARE CHILDREN WELCOME? Children have a special place in our church. Early in the service, before the Scripture readings and the sermon, the Pastor asks them to join him at the front of the church for a Children’s Message and explains the day’s Scripture lesson in a way they can understand easily. The most important part of the Children’s Message every week is that God loves children and cares for them. The children then are escorted downstairs to Sunday School.
WHAT IS SUNDAY SCHOOL LIKE? Our Sunday School classes are led by experienced Christian Educators who use crafts, stories, songs, games, videos and other activities to reinforce the Children’s Message in an informal, welcoming environment. At this time, our Sunday School is a one room schoolhouse, although the children may be divided by age to keep the class size small. If your children are not comfortable going to the front of the church for the Children’s Message or to go to Sunday School, they may stay in the church for the rest of the service or you can accompany them. Children rejoin their families at the end of the service, at Coffee Hour (not an hour long, but you are invited to join us for coffee, tea, juice, cake and cookies and a chance to meet other people—or you can just grab a cup of coffee and go).
WHAT IS THE LIVING NATIVITY? Our Living Nativity has been a tradition at CCEW. A life-size manger scene is placed near the entrance of the church early in Advent. On Christmas Eve, the figures representing Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and angels are removed, and the children of the congregation, in costume, take their places as the story of Christmas is retold. This brief re-enactment is followed immediately by a candlelight service in the church.
If you have any other questions, please email maryellen@ccew.org.
