Details
Category: Youth

Christian Education

Our mission:  Christian education is a ministry that nurtures children’s love for God and one another through study, prayer, music, fellowship and outreach.  First Church strives to provide a sanctuary where children are encouraged to explore their faith and to see God and Jesus in their daily lives.  First Church offers the following for the youth of the church, and visiting families are always welcome to participate in all activities:

Nursery Care:  (Sunday mornings during worship) Tender loving care will be provided for children under the age of three in our nursery.  This program is run by caring, experienced staff in conjunction with parent volunteers from the church community.

 

Sunday School: (Sunday mornings children are excused from worship after the Children’s Message until 11:15am) Sunday school starts in September with Rally Sunday and ends in June with Youth Sunday.  Sunday school is offered for preschool through eighth grade.  A great deal of effort is put into planning so that Sunday School is an opportunity for creative expression and fun while modeling the teachings of Jesus.  Each week the children encounter a bible story through interactive activities like games, projects, crafts and pantomime.  Children pre-school through fifth grade participate in music ministry as part of Sunday School, encompassing the cherub and Kid’s choir.  They share their music selections with the congregation periodically throughout the year.  Children may also participate in Sacred Dance, where children present  meaningful songs into dance during services throughout the year.

 

Confirmation:  Is open to all 9th graders and other interested high school students and runs from January through mid-May.  Confirmation is an extended period of time for young people to contemplate their Christian Faith and their commitment to Christian community, specifically First Congregational Church.  The purpose of confirmation is to help familiarize the youth with a basic understanding of the Christian faith and the United Church of Christ, as well as with the role of a responsible member in the First Church Community.  The decision to be confirmed is the decision to remain connected to Christianity and to be a member of First Church.  To help with this decision, students attend several classes, are connected to an adult mentor, participate in a service project and attend the worship services of several different faiths and denominations.

 

 

Youth Groups:  Youth groups provide a safe and friendly place for the youth of the church to have fun, grow in their faith and serve God and their community.  Mission trips, game nights, community clean up days, assisting the local food pantry, hikes and community suppers are only a few of the activities that the youth groups organize and participate in.  First Church currently offers two separate youth groups including a Junior High Youth Group and a Senior High Youth Group. 

 

Special Days in the Church School Year:

September:  Rally Sunday                                                February:  Family communion Sunday                   

October:  World Communion Sunday                          March:  Service Project Sunday

                   Bible Sunday (Kindergarten and third     April:  Easter Egg Hunt

                        grade are presented with Bibles)                                 

November:  Service Project Sunday                            May:  Confirmation Sunday

December:  Advent Workshop                                     Service Project Sunday

                        Christmas pageant                                  June:  Graduation Sunday

            Youth Sunday