Children & Their Families Ministry
Learning should be fun. This is why we dedicate so much of our efforts into making an investment in our children’s spiritual development. Each weekend, we offer high-energy, age-appropriate programs with songs, games and creative teaching. All children’s programs teach Bible lessons that are presented in a way that is fun, memorable, and enables your child to learn.
We have a trained staff in place, ready to welcome your child into God's house. Our staff and volunteers will make a special effort to help your child feel safe and loved. We strive to provide a loving environment so children will gain a foundational understanding of God's love for them through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Nursery and Toddlers have a sign-in table outside their classrooms. Pagers may be signed out for your convenience and peace of mind. As you make your way to the classrooms, please let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
It is very important for you to sign your child in and provide any special instructions to our staff. Information concerning your child's special needs help us provide the care your child deserves. The sign-in form is often referred to by our caregivers, and includes your location on the church campus, as well as your cell phone number. We use Nursery Safe stickers to ensure your child's needs are met. When checking in, please be sure to write any special instructions on the sticker and place the sticker on the front of your child's clothing.
At First Presbyterian Church, we want every child to feel welcome, and to know we're glad they are here!
CFM Mission Statement
We strive to supplement the family in nurturing children to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
We desire for each child to know:
• I need to make a wise choice based on the truth of the Bible.
• I can trust God no matter what.
• I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
Children's Worship
The Lord loves when His little children come to worship Him. We give your children the opportunity to express their heartfelt desire for the Lord every Sunday morning.
During the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service
Early Childhood
Infants and Crawlers - Nursery
During worship, our youngest members and guests remain in the nursery for interaction with each other as well as our staff and our volunteer Baby Huggers.
Toddler & Preschool Worship
2 & 3 year-olds meet in Room 107B for:
• Various learning/playing activities.
•Group circle time for a Bible story.
• The curriculum is an extension of the Sunday school themes and topics.
Pre-K & Kindergarten Worship
4 and 5 year-olds meet in Room 104B after the Children's Sermon for:
• Group circle time for a Bible story - including Bible memory words.
• A concept reinforcement activity.
• The curriculum is “My God and Me" (“Little Kid's Time").
Both age divisions come together for a singing/dancing time of worship in the quad area of the first floor.
Elementary
1st - 5th Grades
After the children's message, children will be escorted to Fellowship Hall for praise & worship, games, and activities in the Big City Studio. They’ll enjoy a variety of lessons, crafts, games and activities. They’ll learn about prayer, find out how to remember the order of the books in the Bible and other good things!
Nursery
We strive to create a safe haven for your children, in which the child care staff:
- Maintains a clean, safe, secure , healthy, warm and loving environment
- Communicates with parents about each child's individual needs
- Demonstrates commitment to this vision through continuing education in early childhood development
Our nursery has a caring staff, and is available for all church-sponsored events. On Sundays, our volunteer Baby Huggers provide extra loving arms to hold our little ones.
Sign-in Table
It is VERY IMPORTANT for you to sign your child in and provide any special instructions to our staff. Information concerning your child's special needs help us provide the care your child deserves. The sign-in form is often referred to by our caregivers, and includes your location on the church campus, as well as your cell phone number. After you have signed in, you will be issued a vibrating pager if your child is under 24 months old. This numbered pager corresponds to the number on the sign-in sheet. A caregiver will use the pager to alert you if your child needs you. We use Nursery Safe Stickers to ensure your child's needs are met. When checking in, please be sure to write any special instructions on the sticker and place the sticker on the front of your child's clothing. Age-appropriate snacks are provided for all children. Please bring a labeled bottle and/or sippy cup for your child's use. All diaper bags and their contents should be labeled with your child's name.
We recommend they include the following labeled contents:
A Pacifier
A bottle and/or sippy cup
3-4 diapers
A change of clothing
For the health and protection of all our children, we are only able to accept well children. Please refrain from bringing your child to the nursery if he or she requires medication or has displayed signs of illness within the past 24 hours:
Fever or rashVomiting or Diarrhea
Coughing, sneezing or runny nose
Unusual fatigue or irritability
”Train a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not turn away from it.” Proverbs 22:6(NIRV)
Early Childhood Sunday School
The nursery and classrooms are located on the first floor of the CE Building. Early Childhood Sunday School is divided up into the following five divisions:
1. Nursery – Infant
2. Nursery – Crawler
3. Toddler – (2 year olds)
4. Preschool – (3 year olds)
5. Pre-K - (4 & 5 year olds)
6. Kindergarten - (5-6 year olds)
Your little ones are special to us, and we want them to experience the love of Jesus Christ as they spend time in our Nursery and classrooms.
We have a have a check-in counter and a trained staff ready to welcome your child into God's house. Our staff and volunteers will make a special effort to help your child feel safe and loved. We strive to provide a loving environment so children will gain an understanding of God's love for them.
Click HERE for more information about Early Childhood Sunday School.
Elementary Sunday School
Organized by current grade levels, 1st - 5th grade classrooms are located on the second floor of the CE building.
Elementary children enjoy rotational model Sunday school classes during the regular school year. For the 2009-2010 school year, our rotational curriculum is PowerXpress by Cokesbury.
Each rotation consists of a variety of lessons that approach the Bible story through different activities that celebrate the different ways kids learn. A five-week rotation may include cooking, storytelling, video, games, or art.
Each class has a Shepherd. Shepherds lead one class for the school year, and accompany their class to a different classroom each week. They offer continuity, develop a warm relationship with their class, and lead prayer time with the children.
Teachers teach a lesson that comes from their area of giftedness. They prepare just one lesson, and teach it to a different group each week. This hands-on approach to teaching allows children to explore a variety of media and helps them understand and remember Bible concepts.
Wednesday Night Programs
Our Wednesday night programs happen each Wednesday during the school year.
Wednesday Nights at First Presbyterian Church provide fun for all ages! Children gather for food and exciting activities beginning with dinner at 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Children enjoy a special kid-friendly menu in their own areas, while parents and older siblings enjoy an adult-friendly meal in the Great Hall.
After dinner, children are divided into the following groups:
Critter Land - Early Childhood
Critter Land's central emphasis is the goodness of God. Children need to know that God is on their side. He loves them and wants good in their lives. Critter Land brings an understanding of a personal God into a child's world.
Big City: 1st - 3rd Grade
Fun activities, games and a curriculum that helps children build a lasting, personal faith by learning who God is and what He did for them through Christ.
Merge: 4th - 5th Grade
Merge is a specifially designed Bible study, focusing on individuality, character and attitude for this group of tweens.
About Children and their Families Ministries
At First Presbyterian Church, we want every family to feel welcome, and to know we are glad you are here! Please let us know if this is your first visit. If you have questions, we're happy to answer them for you. Children's classrooms are located in the Christian Education Building on the west side of the church. You can enter at the west entrance or from the south entrance. The nursery and Early Childhood classrooms are on the first floor, and the Elementary classrooms are on the second floor. There is no dress code. You'll see our members dressed from very casual to traditional "Sunday" clothing. Summers are usually even more casual!
A Typical Sunday Morning Schedule
8:30 a.m. Service
A nursery is provided for young children. Families worship in the sanctuary until around 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. Sunday School (All Ages)
Early Childhood (classrooms are located on the first floor) is divided by development and age. Groups include: Infants, Crawlers, Toddlers, Preschool, Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten. While children begin in groups appropriate to their developmental age, as they grow, they move into the same age groups they'll be with as a student in the public school system.
Elementary (classrooms are located on the second floor) is divided by grade level from 1st through 5th grade. Elementary students enjoy a rotational curriculum model during the school year, and an alternative during the summer months.
11:00 a.m. Service
Worship begins with music and announcements, then there is a children's message. During the children's message, children are invited to go to the front of the church and sit on the steps. If it would make your child feel more comfortable, you may go up front or they may sit with you. After the children's message, younger children are escorted to their own special Children's Worship in Big City Studio.
12:00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m. Worship Ends
Parents pick up children from Fellowship Hall and from the Nursery.
Volunteering
Children's Ministries works because of the faithful service of a variety of volunteers! We have many opportunities to serve at FPC:
Baby Huggers
Sunday School Teachers for Early Childhood
Sunday School Teachers for one 5-week Rotation
Shepherds for Rotational Sunday School
Substitute Teachers
Wednesday Night's Big City Studio - for game time
We also have many short-term opportunities for people who have skills and talents in: carpentry, sewing, photography, music, art, computers, teaching, drama/storytelling - your choice! One of the most important qualities in a volunteer is just knowing how to say “I will" and showing up. We have a distinct advantage working with children; they don't expect perfection. They forget mistakes quickly, if they notice them at all. If you've been looking for a place to volunteer, you'll find Children's Ministries to be a fun and happy experience. You'll also be fulfilling a promise you make every time a child is baptized. And who knows, a child might just remember a morning spent with you for the rest of their life!
