Ministry

Music

Our choirs add another dimension to our worship experience. Learn about our music programs here. New ideas and members are always welcome!

While we search for an organist and Choir Director at the Middlefield Federated Church. The choir, which rehearses every Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the church, sings at Sunday services from September through June.A special cantata is performed around Easter time every year. New members always welcome! If you are interested in joining the choir, simply show up at a rehearsal or talk to Pastor Dale after the service.

Outreach

How do our behind-the-scenes activities and committees serve others? This section tells you how we are involved in our church and wider communities.

Missions

Our church provides monetary support to both denominations for their administrative, social justice, and missionary programs.

Special offering in the past year included record-breaking totals for One Great Hour of Sharing This and other collections help us reach out and contribute to Nicaraguan flood relief (through America Friend's , Neighbors in Need ,Veterans of the Cross and Red Stocking Fund (Methodist Hospital). Our members always participate in and, this year hosted, the annual CROP Walk . Three-quarters of the funds go to Church World Serviceand the remaining one-quarter was designated to fight hunger through local organizations. This very active Missions committee organizes our monthly collections of goods for local organizations including the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Middletown, two battered women’s shelters (in Middletown and Meriden), and the Middletown School District Special Education Program, as well as many others. Community Involvement

Each year, we invite high school graduating seniors who will be continuing their education by attending a college or vocational school to apply for the Middlefield Federated Church Scholarship, established in memory of Alan Chiarappa. Recipients must be members of the church, who have been and continue to be active in the life of the church. Applicants' ability and character, as well as financial need will be taken into account. The scholarship is announced in February and March each year. For more information about the scholarship,contact the church office. During the month of July, members of the United Churches of Durham (our neighboring town)worship at our church, and during the month of August, our members worship at the United Churches of Durham. Get your hot roast beef sandwiches! Roast beef sandwiches are prepared, packaged, and sold by our members at the annual Durham Fair. The fair is held annually during the last full weekend of September. The Christmas Fair, run by the Women’s Christian Fellowship (recently reorganized and revitalized), is an annual early November event. Our church is an active member of the Middlefield Community Services Council (MCSC). This community-based organization provides food, fuel, housing,medical, and other types of assistance to Middlefield residents. The Council is active year-round but especially gears up around the holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, providing food ts, clothing and gifts to those in need.

Adult Ministry

Our emerging adult ministries continue to be a priority within our congregation. Whether it be Bible studies, discussion groups or times for fellowship, providing opportunities for the growth and development of our adult members is essential to our goal of "being a meaningful presence in our community".

Women's Christian Fellowship

Our recently revitalized women's fellowship group meets 6 times throughout the year. We often invite guest speakers in to share with us their ministry as we celebrate the many ways God works in our midst. One of our largest functions is organizing the church's Christmas fair in November. Money raised at the fair and through other projects goes toward local and world missions, as well as occasionally funding ministry within our congregation.

A.M. Bible Study

Our AM Bible study meets weekly throughout the year focusing on different books of the Bible. Discussions evolve spontaneously as we encounter the text. In recent years we have read 1 Thessalonians, Ruth, and the Acts of the Apostles. The AM Bible Study meets on Friday mornings from 10:00 -11:15AM.

Disciple

Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study Disciple is a very special program that we began for the first time in October 2000. It is an amazing small group study that has deeply impacted the lives of individuals and their churches around the country. In this study, roughly 12 people journey together through the entire Bible over a 34-week period with an emphasis placed on making the scripture and our faith relevant in daily life.

Unwrapping Our Gifts

This is a program that our church first offered in the year 2000. It is sponsored by the Laity Empowerment Project of the United Church of Christ. The focus of this event is to celebrate the gifts that each of us brings (laity and clergy) to our church's ministry.

Short-term Discussion Forums

Intermixed between the programs already mentioned and scattered throughout the year are our short-term discussion groups. These groups meet for shorter periods of time and focus on narrower topics. They are discussion based and often are accompanied by a video series. In the future we plan to offer "Jesus' Resurrection: Then and Now", focusing on the relevance of the Resurrection. We are also considering offering a discussion on "Raising Great Kids" focusing on rearing children under the age of 5.

Good Samaritan Group

This group's goal is to help and assist members and friends of our church who are unable to do certain jobs in and around their home. The jobs include, but are not limited to, cleaning gutters in the fall, painting a room, sealing a driveway, or adding an additional electric outlet.

Children and Youth

Programs and education for our young people are always a priority.

We incorporate children and youth fully into the worship life of our church. Whether they celebrate the entire worship service as a part of our congregation or proceed to Church School following the Children's Message, we try to make worship engaging and meaningful for them. We include youth participants in all of our special services as worship leaders and look forward to our annual Children's Sunday, which is led and carried out in its entirety by our youth and children. They participate fully in our rituals and sacraments.

Church School

Our Sunday School holds classes from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade. The children begin at 10am Worship with their families and then leave worship following the Children's Message. Our program has recently been redesigned to offer Bible lessons in a multi-intelligence manner and is now called My Faith Center (MFC). Leaders of the individual classes are called Faith Guides and they lead their groups through a series of Workshops over a four to six week unit. Workshop Leaders present the curriculum in a variety of methods such as story telling, dance, cooking, art and more.

Child Care

Nursery care is available for infants and children up to three years of age during worship. We have age-appropriate toys and loving caregivers for the little ones. Infants and children can come to the nursery at the start of the service or at anytime during the service if the need arises.
Child care is usually available for special events to enable families with young children to participate in these events.

Youth Fellowship

Our Church encourages the fellowship of Junior and Senior High Schools with two regularly meeting youth groups. We take part in Church and non-church activities, play, share meals and work at mission projects large and small. While our group is primarily church members, friends and cousins are always welcome. Our program combines mission, retreats, outings and fun guided by a self written covenant of Christian behavior.If you want to know more about this group please contact Marilyn Keurajian at thrivinglives@sbcglobal.net.

Youth Camps

Our church supports the Camping Ministries at the UMC Camp Epworth in High Falls, NY and the UCC Silver Lake Retreat and conference Center in Sharon, CT. We strongly encourage our youth to take advantage of camping opportunities at these camps.Scholarships to help families take advantage of the summer programs are made available to those in need.

Adult

We value the opportunity to deepen our spiritual understanding and relationship to God and one another in these new adult education programs.

Women's Christian Fellowship

A.M. Bible Study

Disciple - Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study

Disciple is a very special program that we began for the first time in October 2000. It is an amazing small group study that has deeply impacted the lives of individuals and their churches around the country. In this study, roughly 12 people journey together through the entire Bible over a 34-week period with an emphasis placed on making the scripture and our faith relevant in daily life.

Unwrapping Our Gifts

Short-term Discussion Forums

Good Samaritan Group