About Us
With a proud history and tradition of spiritual growth and community service to a wide rural area in western Medina County, the Chatham Community Church offers opportunities for:
- spiritual growth and worship
- Christian education for all ages
- service to others through denominational and local mission programs
- fellowship with other Christians
- outreach to the un-churched.
Sunday School is offered for all ages from September to June.
The children’s Sunday School takes place at the same time as the worship service, 10 a.m.
The pre-school class learns basic Bible stories supplemented with age-appropriate craft activities. The Discovery Zone is the name for the Sunday School program for elementary school students. They learn by a rotation model, where the same topic is presented in several different ways in order to reinforce the basic lesson and to accommodate various learning styles. The lessons are usually four weeks long and consist of an art activity, a drama activity, a cooking activity and a video or computer activity.
The adult class meets at 9 a.m. The adult class uses various study guides and features casual, open discussion. The adult class will choose lessons and Bible studies in the Serendipity Bible for Groups, which is a NIV version of the Bible that has 60 different Bible studies built into 10 different categories.
Confirmation class
The pastor offers confirmation classes leading to church membership when a group of children reach the appropriate age, usually 12-13 years.
Vacation Bible School
Chatham Community Church often joins with other local churches to present a Vacation Bible School. Sometimes the Christian Education Committee plans a full-day of Christian-based, themed activities to enrich the children’s Bible knowledge. VBS is open to all children of the community.
Camperships
Chatham Community Church extends encouragement for children to attend a summer church camp. The Apple Butter Festival Committee has in the past made a 10% tithe on the profits from the annual event to put in a Campership Fund. The available funds are divided among the children who attend a camp sponsored by either denomination. Parents should contact the church treasurer about the availability of the funds. For more information about the camp schedule, see the pastor.
The United Methodist denomination offers three different camps:
- Aldersgate in Carrollton
- Asbury in Hiram
- Wanake in Beach City
For full event descriptions, photos, online registration and information on camper scholarships, go to www.EastOhioCamps.org or call 1-800-831-3972 ext. 108.
The UCC denomination offers two camps:
- Temple Hills in Bellville
- Pilgrim Hills in Brinkhaven
For full details or camper registration, go to www.ocucc.org or call 1-800-282-0740.
See fellowship opportunities for children and teens: Kids Nite Out and the Youth Group in the Fellowship section.
Although Chatham Community Church was federated by the merging of two denominations less than 20 years ago, it carries a proud tradition of the two congregations who combined as one.
In 2009 Chatham Community Church celebrated the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Chatham Congregational Church. In 2013, we will celebrate the founding of the original Chatham Methodist Church.
The 2009 anniversary celebration kicked off on May 17 with a musical event featuring the bell choir of the South Haven United Church of Christ of Bedford. On September 27, we held a special worship service incorporating the elements of worship used by the church’s ancestors, including a “love feast” of snickerdoodle cookies and water. A potluck buffet lunch followed at the Fellowship Hall, where representatives of the Plainfield, Massachusetts church presented a painting of the original “mother church.” The church historian and the Historical Society prepared displays of early church artifacts.
The Chatham Congregational Church was started on May 1, 1834 with some stalwart faithful pioneers. The church worship was held in homes and other places until the church building (the present South Building or Worship Center) was built in 1844. The original members were Gideon Gardner, Phillip Packard, Gaylord Warner, Orrin Shaw, Sarah P. Shaw, Joel Lyon, Amasa Packard, Abigail Packard, Barney Daniels, Mehitable Lincoln Daniels, Iram Packard, Ebenezer Shaw, Nancy Shaw, George Packard, Eleanor Joline, Celia Richards, Martha Warner, Mehitable Lyon, Sara Packard, and Vesta Richards. The first minister was Joel Goodell, who served part-time in Chatham and part-time in Lodi.
Four years later, a group of Methodists to the south of the community joined a group to the north and the Chatham Methodist Church was founded. Their building — remodeled through the years — is now the Fellowship Hall or North Building.
In 1966, the two groups decided to share a pastor and conduct joint worship services.
The two churches legally merged in April 1991 in order to combine their efforts and resources in service to God and the community. Chatham Community Church maintains ties to both denominations. We are part of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist denomination, as well as members of the Eastern Ohio Assocation of the United Church of Christ. We support the missions of both denominations equally. For instance, see our Special Offerings schedule under the Missions section.
New members are given the opportunity to declare for either denomination.