Children

The Children’s Ministries at First Presbyterian Church are dedicated to providing a safe and loving environment for the children of our community. We strive to do this through a variety of programs and events, all of which are committed to bringing these children, from birth through 5th Grade, into a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.

For more information on any of these programs, please contact Dan Oedy in the church office at (239) 992-3233 or . Also, specific times and details for weekly programs can be found under Family Ministries, in the Ministry News section of the website.

Sunday Morning

The hub of activity for our Children’s Ministry happens on Sunday mornings. All of our children are invited to join us for the beginning of worship. A few minutes into the service the younger members of our church family are invited to gather on the Chancel for the Children’s Message. This is a special time in our service where the worship theme is relayed in an interactive way, designed especially for this age group. Following the Children’s Message, children 5th grade and younger have the opportunity to attend one of our Sunday school classes, or stay for the rest of the worship service with their parents.

Our Sunday school ministry is divided into three age groups. The Preschool Class is for 3 – 5 year olds, the Early Elementary Class for Kindergarten – 2nd Grade students, and the Upper Elementary Class for 3rd – 5th Grade students. Each class is led by a committed team of volunteers who seek to build relationships with the students and to model the love of Christ as they share the Gospel through a Bible-based curriculum.

Children are also welcome to remain in the worship service. For those children ready to stay for the entire service, we do offer Activity Bags in the Narthex, which you can pick up on your way into worship. These bags develop the theme of worship in an interactive and exciting way. Another option for families with young (and, particularly, nursing) children is our Family Lounge. It is located at the back of the sanctuary, and entered via the narthex. A video feed allows parents to participate in the worship service from a private room where they can also attend to the needs of their children.

For children two and under we have a Nursery which is open fifteen minutes before the start of all Sunday and Wednesday programs. If you are involved in another program or small group, please talk with your facilitator to request nursery care for your study. On Sunday mornings, the Children’s Welcome Desk is open in McClure Hall. This is where children can check in to the nursery. At this time parents will provide vital information to our Childcare Staff, and will also be assigned a pager that can be used at any time to notify parents if needed. We have a well-trained and experienced Childcare Staff, all of whom have been highly recommended, have excellent references, and have passed background and drug tests.

Wednesday Nights

In six week segments throughout the year we meet for Wednesday night small group studies. During this time there is a program for the whole family. While adults have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of studies, discussion groups, parenting classes and more, children take part in an interactive rotation program that uses a variety of teaching mediums to communicate the faith based curriculum. Before the programs begin, an optional dinner is served in McClure Hall (reservations required; family maximum $21).

Vacation Bible School

Each summer Vacation Bible School serves as the culmination of one school year and the exciting preparation for the next. Children in PK - 5th grade gather at the church for a week of activities in arts and crafts, recreation, drama, music and much more! This annual event is put together by the Children’s Ministry Team and run by a staff of volunteers, providing everyone with wonderful memories of great times together, as we all grow in our faith! For the dates of the next Vacation Bible School, check under Upcoming Events.

For the Youngest Children: Nursery Care

At First Presbyterian Church we provide a safe nursery environment by hiring a professional childcare staff to run our nursery. All members of the childcare staff are highly-recommended, show a special love and care for young children, and pass a thorough background check and drug test. Nursery care is also available for small group meetings and Bible studies. Please contact your study leader for childcare details if your questions about childcare are not answered by our church publications.