Children's Education
Nurturing our children in the Faith takes first priority at First Church.  We have a dedicated and trained staff to facilitate learning for children of all ages and abilities.  All of the Children's Education programs are outlined below.

Childcare
A nursery is provided during Sunday worship services, Eventide, Wonderful Wednesdays and during special events.  The room is equipped for infants through age two. Our loving caregivers staff this room with the help of parent volunteers.  The nursery is located on the first floor of the Education Wing, in Rooms 101 & 102, to the left of the Market Street entrance.  Pagers are available for your convenience and peace of mind while you are in worship.

Childcare is also provided for preschool children in Rooms 1 & 2 during Sunday worship services and Wonderful Wednesdays.  The preschool rooms are downstairs in the lower level of the Education Wing.

We love having children in worship.  We see Sunday morning worship as a community activity to be shared by all of God's children -- both young and old.  But we know that for the very young, sitting through an entire worship service can be difficult; to say the least.  In order for our children to have a positive worship experience, children ages 3 through 1st grade may be dismissed from the sanctuary following the Children's Blessing.  The preschoolers will be accompanied by a parent volunteer to Room 002 and the older children to Room 202.  Parent volunteers will stay with the children until they are picked up by their parents following the worship service.  These parents volunteer on a rotating schedule.  If you would like to share in this time with the children please call the church office and we can make it happen.

Welcome to Worship
Each fall for eight weeks, children second grade and older are invited to participate in the Welcome to Worship class.  Following the Children's Blessing at the 11:00 worship service children will receive instructions on the meaning of worship, prayer, praise and the sacraments.  It is a time to introduce children to our worship service and create an understanding that will strengthen their participation.  Classes begin on September 10 and run through October 29.  Participants will be recognized and presented with a Bible during the 11:00 worship service on November 5.  If your child would like to participate in this class, please contact the church office at 252-1919.  

Sunday Morning Church School
Our Sunday morning program is based on the Workshop Rotation Model of teaching Church School and helps our children begin their journey of faith.  Our children's wing is a colorful and exciting environment designed to encourage and enhance learning. 

Each month we concentrate on a different Bible story. The children are broken into age-related groups which move to a different workshop every week that teaches the same story but using a different method.   Workshops are designed to teach the Bible story by using different learning styles and engaging your child's multiple intelligences.   The repetition helps the children remember the story and also provides an opportunity for in-depth exploration.

Opportunities abound for sharing your gifts with our children.  Volunteers are welcome in any of the following areas: Nursery workers, preschool teachers, Shepherds (no teaching responsibilities- but a nurturing presence) as well as STEPS workshop leaders (in your area of interest: storytelling, cooking, computers, arts & crafts, drama, building, and more), Music and Arts Camp or becoming a member of the Children's Ministry Team.  Please contact Susan Combs if you would like to volunteer.