WELCOME
You’ve come to…
A friendly Church…
A lively Church…
A Church that values and cares about you!
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey…
you are welcome at The Congregational Church of Littleton. Every time we gather, we recall the goodness and love of God, offered to all people throughout history. Our congregation includes people from many varied denominational backgrounds who have found their spiritual home here. If you are interested in learning more about us, please contact a member of our staff or browse our website to learn more about our church.
WHAT IS HERE FOR YOU?
A lot, we think. Come spend some time at our church—see for yourself!
You are always welcome here. If you come on a Sunday, please speak with one of the members of the Welcoming Committee—they are the folks with the red-and-black “Welcome” badges. Ask questions. Meet new friends.
Enjoy refreshments in Fellowship Hall. If you come on a weekday, go to the Church office and speak with one of our helpful staff members.
We look forward to welcoming you and helping you find your place among us.
MEET OUR STAFF
REV. JEN MUNROE-NATHANS
Senior Pastor – rev.jen@ccol.org
Jen was raised in a variety of small New England hamlets, spending her adolescence in East Brookfield, Massachusetts. Yes, a town that has as section officially named “Podunk.”
After college, Jen worked in many human service and higher education organizations until her call to ministry became too insistent to ignore. In 2007, after serving several churches as a licensed pastor, she graduated from Andover Newton Theological School and holds ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. Her latest call was to the Church of Christ, Congregational in Millis, MA where she has served for twelve years.
Jen has created a pastoral ministry of laughter using a combination of jokes, pop culture references and 80’s hair band lyrics among other things. Her church sign, which she uses to bring a little laughter to the street, has been featured on the New England Cable News Network, the local ABC news affiliate and even mentioned by Lin-Manuel Miranda on his Twitter feed.
She believes that the Christian Faith is based on joy and hope that should be shared. Jen often reminds people that faith should inspire hope, joy and love in daily life. Sunday morning worship together is important but so is letting someone else have the good parking spot at Market Basket on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
At the age of 40, Jen fulfilled a bucket list item and learned to become a stand-up comedian. She’s taken the stage in a variety of locations around New England and around the U.S. with an interfaith comedy tour. She spent a portion of her 2015 sabbatical at the Second City Training Center in Chicago studying improv and comedy writing. Jen currently resides in Norfolk, Massachusetts with her scientist husband, Rob, her college-student son, Parker and a very naughty puppy named Sir Sullivan J. Whoodle III (but his friends call him Sully.)
MICHELLE RAWLINSON
Director of Christian Education
michelle@ccol.org
PETER SCANTLEBURY
Sexton
POLIANA YEE
Office Assistant
office@ccol.org
AMBER LASANTE
Digital Media Coordinator
SANDY CLYDE
Financial Administrator
sclyde@ccol.org
WORSHIP SERVICES
We know that visiting a new church can feel awkward and we want to make it as comfortable as possible for you. So here are some things to know about this service.
When you entered the sanctuary (worship space) you were probably given a folded paper. We call this the bulletin, and it contains the outline of the service you are attending. Use this paper to follow along. It gives you the order of the service, unison readings and tells you where to find the songs that we will sing together. It may also let you know when to stand— but don’t worry, the Pastor will let everyone know what to do.
Prelude, Welcome, Call to Worship and Invocation:
This is how we normally start our service. The music and words are the way we gather ourselves for worship.
Hymns:
Our tradition includes music. We often have two songs each week. They are printed inside the bulletin.
Scripture lessons and Sermon:
There is a Bible in the pews if you want to read along. The sermon invites us to connect the readings to our lives and our faith.
Prayer:
The prayer is led by one of the Pastors and we usually join together saying the Lord’s Prayer (words are in the bulletin.)
Offering:
This is where we share our resources for the church and the community. As a visitor there is NO obligation to give. Your presence with us is already a gift.
Communion:
Once a month we share in the Lord’s Supper. Directions will be printed in the bulletin. You are welcome to participate.
Benediction:
This is a blessing as we go on our way and start our week.
Special Services Communion:
If you are here for a wedding, funeral or a memorial service, the bulletin will be your guide to the service as well. If the family has asked to have communion (The Lord’s Supper or Eucharist) as a part of the service, we believe that we eat at Christ’s table and, since it is His table, no one is excluded. ALL are welcome.
A Note for Parents:
Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don’t feel you have to suppress it in God’s house. Participate in the worship and quietly explain parts of the service to your children. Children have great questions, and they learn by copying you. If you need to leave the service, feel free to do so, but please come back. As Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” A basket of children’s books and coloring materials is located in the back of the church. Help yourself! We know that the way we welcome children into the church affects the way they respond to church, to faith and to one another. The presence of children is a gift to the church.
GENERAL INFORMATION
We gather for our weekly worship service (what in the Roman Catholic Church is called Mass) on Sunday mornings at 10 am. The service usually lasts about one hour and includes singing (don’t worry — we give you all the words, and don’t judge!), Bible readings, prayers, community announcements, and a sermon. Sometimes, we have special events going on, like a baptism, new member reception, or confirmation. It all depends on the day.
On the first Sunday of the month, we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist). In our tradition, the deacons of the church usually bring the cups and bread to the people in the seats. Everyone is invited to participate in the sacrament — members, visitors, kids … everyone! You would be welcome — but you are also free to pass and just watch.
Sunday School: Children, preschool through 8th grade, attend the first portion of the worship service in the sanctuary with their families and then depart for Sunday School and Middle School Youth Group after Children’s Time except on Communion Sundays. On Communion Sunday, children go directly to Sunday School and join the congregation for Communion in the sanctuary. We usually offer a children’s message each week, and then the kids go into the classroom to learn more about God in an age-appropriate lesson. We have excellent, safe, and trained adult supervision in the classroom. Nursery Care is provided at the 10:00 am service.
When the service is over, we invite everyone to gather in the social hall (we call it our Parish Hall). For coffee, juice, and snacks. It is our time to hang out together and catch up with friends. You are welcome to come down, grab a cup of coffee, and meet some new people.
There is almost always something going on at the Congregational Church of Littleton. Community groups use the space for scouting events, rehearsals, meetings, and a variety of other uses. There are also multiple small groups within the church that gather weekly or monthly. We offer many ways to meet people and get involved.
If it is a snowy Sunday morning … or there is a hurricane … and if you are in doubt of Sunday Worship service. We post closings on WCVB Channel 5, send a broadcast e-mail blast, and update the message on the church phone (978-486-3245).
Church office closures: If Littleton Public Schools are closed, the church office will also close.
Please call the Senior Pastor, the Rev. Jen Munroe-Nathans at 978-486-3245 if you have questions. She’d love to hear from you.
BUILDING USE
As a church that welcomes all and reaches out to the community, we welcome outside organizations to use/rent our facility. If you are interested in utilizing our church (the parish hall, the kitchen, other various rooms, the parking lot, etc.) for a wedding, a meeting, or any event, please call our church office at 978-486-3245 and speak with the church administrator. You can also email the church administrator at office@ccol.org with the details of your request.
The church administrator will provide paperwork that includes our church use policy, Hold Harmless agreement, the fee schedule, and a contract requiring signature. Weddings also have a wedding application to complete and do require a church coordinator to be involved. Local non-profit organizations typically may use our facility for no cost, depending on the size of the event.
We look forward to having your next event at our church!