What is our vision?
Teaching children and leaders to know the Good News of Jesus by hearing, reading, exploring, touching, and tasting the Truths of God’s Word in an inviting, relational, and age-appropriate setting SO THAT they can go out and share it with those around them.
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT FIRST PRES
WORSHIP
Our acoustic worship service, with music led by the worship band, begins at 8:30 AM.
FAITH FOUNDATIONS
Faith Foundations for children, youth and adults begin at 10 AM.
WORSHIP
Our traditional worship service, with music led by our organist and choir, begins at 11:00 AM.
FAITH FOUNDATIONS
Sundays | 10:00-10:45 AM | Fall and Spring Semesters* | Education Building (1st and 3rd floors)
Faith Foundations classrooms are all framed around Acts 2:42 and incorporate fellowship, snacks, teaching, and prayer. These classes are offered for all children 3 years old to 6th grade.
Faith Foundations is an excellent opportunity for our kids to grow in a rich community with one another while deepening their faith in and knowledge of Jesus Christ through His Word to us.
Each week, kids are welcome to come to class at 9:50 (please no earlier, as there will not be supervision) to play games, break bread, and fellowship with each other. Following that is a time of teaching, prayer, a related activity, and/or small group discussion.
We will be using The Biggest Story Curriculum by Crossway. Check out all their companion resources and at-home guides here.
NURSERY: Babies to 2 years old are invited to play in our nursery for worship and Faith Foundations.
CHILDREN IN WORSHIP
We encourage parents to begin worshipping with their kids as early as possible, and we are excited to come alongside anyone ready to try. We can help! To start, check out the resources below. With that though, we understand that some kids are just not ready, and that is OK! Nursery is provided for children from birth to 4 years old during both hours of worship.
And we should, in church, welcome the wiggling and the squirming, and we should hope that what is happening is that the Word of God is reaching those hearts in ways those children do not even recognize. They are speaking as children, they are thinking as children, they are reasoning as children but the Word of God can reach where we cannot go. It is one of the ordinary means of grace that our children, in church with us, will hear the Word of God, and sing the songs, sing the hymns, hear the music before they can sing it. In order that they, at the right time, might find their voice.
Why do we want kids in worship?
Family integrated worship is not only Biblical but is a gift to us as one Body of Christ—young and old. Worshipping together is an opportunity for us as parents to lean into our weighty calling as the teachers and disciplers of our children, and for our children to watch and learn what it means to worship corporately and then also to participate as well.
Don't children need age-appropriate learning?
Absolutely! Our Faith Foundations hour is a focused time of age-appropriate learning for all. Corporate worship is intended to be for all, and we believe the Word of God is not limited by understanding and can speak transformative truth to all its hearers.
In addition, don’t be afraid to talk with your kids during worship to help them understand. Walk them through what you are doing when you sing, when you pray the prayer of confession, when you take Communion, and when you receive the benediction, etc.
What if my child can't sit still or be quiet?
It’s OK! It happens. Talk about expectation together and pray with your children before you come. Provide younger ones with snacks and quiet activities, encourage lower elementary children to try and follow along with worship in the children’s bulletin, and have older elementary kids actively listen for things they want to talk about later in the day. BUT if all fails, there is a cry room in the back of the narthex available for those moments. Take a break, pray, and try again.
We encourage you to check out Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman, Pastor Scott’s mom. It’s a great resource with more detailed information about children in worship. Check with the church office and we may have a copy for you!
ESTABLISHED I + II (WEDNESDAY NIGHTS)
3rd & 4th (Established I) and 5th & 6th graders (Established II) are invited to a fun night of games, food, fellowship, and time together in the Word. We aim to teach these kids more about what the Bible is, who it’s for, and how to study and share it with others. This class will help your children deepen their understanding of what their faith is and develop deeper relationships with other kids their age.
GO DEEPER WITH YOUR 6+ YEAR OLD
FPC.FAMILY
This is a resource for parents wanting to dig deeper with their kids about what worship is and our response in communion. There will be an informational meeting annually for kids finishing Kindergarten.