Children
The mission of Children's Ministries is to encourage and support the spiritual formation of children so that they may come to know, love, and serve the Lord all their lives. This mission involves age appropriate and interactive activities that are enjoyable and includes the use of a variety of teaching and learning methods. Children will have an opportunity to grow spiritually through worship, instruction, fellowship, and evangelism so they may "taste and see that the Lord is good."
There is no higher calling than caring for the little ones God has entrusted to us. We promise to love and encourage your children as they begin their journey of faith. You entrust your children to our care, and we want you to know that we receive them as a gift. (Psalm 127:3) Children are a gift from God. We welcome you to visit us at any time and we encourage you to become involved in our area of ministry.
Susan Hammond Director of Children's Ministries
Molly Secrest Associate Director of Children's Ministries
Infant-4 year olds
8:00 Worship: Childcare is available in the nursery (Room 101) for infants, and for children up to four years of age in the preschool (Room 103) from 7:45 am until 9:30 am.
Kingdom Kids Sunday School: This is Sunday School for children from birth through four years of age (pre-Kindergarten). Loving volunteers and paid assistants staff our Sunday School program. Sunday School is available at 9:30 and 11:00 am. The curriculum during the 9:30 hour coordinates and compliments the curriculum at 11:00. During Sunday School time the children also enjoy a special music time and a story time.
Babies' Bible: This fun, lively and interactive program is focused on children 2 years old and younger. Even infants love this program! They are participants in the lesson and songs, and at a tender age they begin to "taste and see that the Lord is good."
<top>
Kindergarten – 5th grade
Sunday Activities
Great Adventure: This is Sunday School for Kindergarten through fifth grade, which takes place September through May on a rotation model. The children meet in Wiseman Hall (in the basement) at 9:30 am for a time of worship and then go to separate classes around 9:50 am. See below for more detailed information.
Summer Splash: This is the Sunday School program for kindergarten through fifth grade, which takes place June through August. The children meet in Wiseman Hall (in the basement) from 9:30 am until 12:00 pm.
Kids' Time: Kids' Time takes place in the Living Water Library from 11:20 am until 12:00 pm, September through May. Beginning January 2007, the children will begin reading The Picture Bible. Kids' Time is led by Molly Secrest.
Bible Blast: This is a high-energy, Bible-centered, family-oriented program! We meet on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30 pm. Dinner is at 5:30 pm. If you are interested in journeying through the Bible with your children in a school year and having a blast doing it, then Bible Blast is for you! This reward-based program is created for families with children age 4 through 4th grade. It will provide you with the incentives, motivation, and mutual parent encouragement needed to realize your goals of bringing your family together in God's Word. Come and join us Sunday evenings. It's never too late to get started! For more information call Molly Secreast at 918-584-4701, ext. 242.
Bible Biz: This is a fast-paced, faith-based, fun-filled 5th grade program. Come and dive deeply into Scripture and find the treasures waiting for you! We are currently studying the Gospel of John. Jump in any Sunday evening at 5:30 pm in the West Parlour. For more information, call Susan Hammond at 584.4701, ext. 245.
Wednesday Evening Activities
Kid's Club: Kid's Club is a program for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade that begins in January and follows the Wednesday Night Downtown program. For more information, please call Susan Hammond, ext. 245 or Molly Secrest, ext. 242.
Activities Through The Year
Vacation Bible School: Always a special summer treat, Vacation Bible School is a week long camp (Monday-Friday mornings) that will be held June 9-13 at Camp Loughridge. VBS is for children ages 4 through 5th grade. It begins at 9:00 am in the chapel as the entire group meets for songs and skits. After chapel, children rotate throughout the camp for crafts, games, and snacks. Parents pick their children up at the circular drive at 12:00 pm. Registration packets go out in April!
Mark your calendars for Spring Festival on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. until noon at Camp Loughridge. Join us for a journey through the last week of Jesus’ life. At each stop, an egg of remembrance will be given. At the end of the journey each child will have their own set of “Remembrance Eggs”. Please join us for this journey and stay for a picnic style lunch. For information or reservations please contact Susan Hammond at 584-4701, ext/ 245.
Great Adventure Rotation Information: Children's Ministries invite all interested Kindergarten through Fifth Grade students on "The Great Adventure", First Presbyterian's nationally award winning Children's Christian Education program.
Every Sunday morning from September through May, beginning at 9:30 am, a tour group is waiting to welcome travelers both old and new on an exciting journey in Christian learning. Wiseman Hall is the departure point where everyone can meet for a brief time of fellowship and devotion before embarking to each grade's designated destination for that morning.
Destinations include:
- Egypt (The Agape Cinema): audiovisual presentations and lessons
- Promised Paradise: arts and crafts activities
- Global Village: mission activities
- Temple Jerusalem: Biblical stories are told by characters from the time period
- HeavenQuest.com: use computers to explore the Biblical text
- Living Water Library: FPC's new children's library
- Wiseman Hall: children experience Biblical stories in a variety of both competitive and cooperative games, active learning at its best
Following an hour of fun and learning, tour groups return to Wiseman Hall by 10:45 am, where children can wait for their families.
The quality of programming (and resulting quantity of fun and learning for the children!) provided by "The Great Adventure" is such that Union Theological Seminary has awarded First Presbyterian Church with its own "Tolly" Thompson Award for Excellence in Children's Christian Education Programming for 2001.
<top>
Calendar | Boards | Tidings | DoPoint | Scholarships | Foundation | Staff Contacts

