It is our tradition at the Congregational Church in Killingworth to allocate 10% of the church's operating budget each year to do the Lord's work; to promote justice and peace in our community and our world by supporting various mission and outreach projects locally, nationally, and abroad. The Missions Committee has the task of dividing this money each year between domestic and international projects. The Missions budget provides financial support to three children sponsored through World Vision, and donates to a number of charitable organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Connecticut Hospice, the Children's Home in Cromwell, Connecticut Special Olympics, the Community Soup Kitchen in New Haven, Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantry, the Missionary Society of Connecticut, and Haddam Killingworth Youth and Family Services. Additionally, the Missions Committee hosts an annual spring Wellness Retreat and picnic for HIV+ persons and caregivers, sponsors participation in the local Church World Service CROP Walk every fall to help fight hunger and poverty in third world countries, sponsors food drives for Killingworth Helping Hands, and participates each Christmas season in A Sacred Place's "Christmas Toy Project" to collect toys for the children of women incarcerated at York Correctional Institution in Niantic. In recent years Missions and Outreach has hosted a visiting UCC missionary serving in Turkey, sponsored and assisted in the relocation of a refugee family from Afghanistan, and much more.

In addition to this direct support to local and global organizations, Missions and Outreach at the Congregational Church in Killingworth includes support of Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM), which is the name that is used to describe the work that the United Church of Christ does beyond the local church; through its Conferences, national ministries, and other UCC-related institutions. This support is given through an annual contribution by the church to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support, as well as through participation in the four Special Mission Offerings of the UCC that occur during the year (namely, One Great Hour of Sharing, Neighbors in Need, Strengthen the Church, and the Christmas Fund.) Information on how these contributions are used in the local, national, and international settings is available on the United Church of Christ website; go to the OCWM link on our Links page.

Inspirational music, both instrumental selections and hymns sung by the choir and the congregation, is an essential component of our worship here at the Congregational Church in Killingworth. Our hymns are selected from the Pilgrim Hymnal and the New Century Hymnal, as well as the CFO Hymnal (Camps Farthest Out.)

Organist/Choir Director
Carolyn Engle has served the Congregational Church in Killingworth as Minister of Music since the summer of 2006. She is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music, and earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Connecticut. In addition to her service as the church Organist and Choir Director, Carolyn is a choral and general music teacher at a local public elementary school. In this role, she enjoys producing and directing musical programs for young children (Grades K to 3) intended to help promote unity and global understanding. Carolyn is also the principal cellist for the New Britain Symphony, of which she has been a member since the late 1980s, and gives private piano and cello lessons in her home.

Carolyn lives in Clinton with her husband Tim, also a musician, and her twelve year old son, Cameron. In addition to her musical endeavors, Carolyn has been studying martial arts for eight years, and writes children's books in her spare time. She can be reached through the church office at (860)663-1789.

Senior Choir
The choir sings weekly during the 10:00 AM worship service, as well as at special services, holidays and events. The choir is always open to new voices so, if you enjoy good fellowship, music, and spiritual singing, please feel free to join in. Everyone is welcome, from high school age on up, regardless of musical experience. We have a place here for you! Sunday morning choir practice begins at 9:20 in the sanctuary. Or, just go up to the choir loft (the area in the balcony near the organ) any Sunday morning before the 10:00 service and sing with us. The choir also rehearses on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from 6:45 to 8:45, in the sanctuary. There are no evening rehearsals in the summer. Please contact Choir Director Carolyn Engle or any choir member for more information.

Youth Choir
The church does not have an active youth choir at the present time, but the younger children do sing special musical pieces, from time to time, in worship as well as in Sunday School. There are hopes to get an active Youth Choir going in the near future. Anyone who is interested in participating in a youth or children's choir, as a singer or as an accompanist or an adult volunteer, is asked to speak with the Choir Director or the Minister.