Learning
We work as a faith community together to provide lifelong Christian education to support growth in the love, knowledge and service of God.
Our Sunday Christian education program for children is called "Bible Tracks." It meets concurrent with our 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service. Children are with their parents in worship through the Children's Message. They then leave to attend their classes. Classes end at 11:35, approximately five minutes after worship concludes. This allows parents a few minutes to gather with other adults for coffee and conversation before children return to the coffee fellowship area. Children remain in worship for the full service on first Sundays of each month so they may receive commuion.
Sunday Christian education for youth and adults is at 9:30 a.m.
Lenten Adult Study
Our Lenten Adult Study will repeat on Sundays and Wednesday. The Sunday session will be at 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. On Wednesday, the same study will repeat at 7:00 p.m. (immediately after our midweek Lenten worship.
We will be watching Rob Bell's short, reflective DVD mediations in the Nooma series and discussing them.
Sunday Morning Christian Education for Children (10:30-11:35)
Nursery- From birth to age four, our children are cared for by an experienced staff member, Sarah Mims. Our nursery offers age-appropriate toys and activities to enhance the enjoyment of each child’s time there. Parents can rest easy by signing their child in and taking a pager with them into worship. Parents or older siblings are also welcome to stay with the child to ease the transition into a new place.
Our space is safe for children to jump and climb and get that restless energy out. We offer blocks and Lego table, as well as dolls and dollhouses. The nursery has musical toys as well as puzzles, books, crayons, and paper. We have diapering facilities and even a child-sized bathroom. Infants may be rocked or allowed to sleep in a crib.
Soothing music is played while children are free to choose what they want to experience around the room. It is a child-centered environment for the youngest members and visitors of the church.
Preschool - 2nd Grade - We invite children from 4 years old through 2nd grade to learn together in one classroom with age appropriate activities including crafts, games, cooking, etc. Bible stories are presented through reading, active interpretation, and puppets.
3rd Grade - 6th Grade - At this level of Christian learning, we begin to encourage ideas of fellowship and mission. Quarterly activities for children have included summer swim parties, apple orchard trips, and movie and pizza party night. Mission study has included collecting money for Heifer International. Children also help set up and make decorations for Church dinners and breakfasts.
Youth and Adult Sunday school (9:30 - 10:15 a.m.) We hunger for a meaningful way of life and how to "live well." We want a faith that makes a difference in our homes, communities, and world. Youth and Adult education at First Presbyterian Church occurs in a variety of settings and contexts to foster faith formation. These include Sunday morning short-term youth/adult studies during the Sunday school (9:30-10:10 a.m.) Midweek short-term studies and special seasonal learning experiences in Lent and Advent. Topics range from in-depth study of biblical books to parenting skills, from reflecting theologically on contemporary films to environmental and social witness issues.
Our current Sunday morning and midweek short-term study is called "Who you are is how you pray." Sunday morning sessions(9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.) begin on January 10 and conclude on January 31. The midweek session begins on January 13 and concludes on February 3. All sessions are at 7:00 p.m. We will explore how no single way of praying fits all people. Different forms of prayer and spiritual practice speak to different temperments and personality types. We'll be helping to name our own temperment and spiritual practices with the help of the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (MBTI). Pastor Thomas is the facilitator.
Other Youth and Children's Ministries
Youth Group - A youth group for 7th-12th graders focuses on service projects in the community where youth experience community and learn the importance of serving others.
Confirmation - Confirmation occurs when youth are in seventh or eighth grade. After a period of several months study, led by the co-pastors, young people affirm the work of God's grace in their lives and embrace being a disciple of Jesus Christ in the church. The confirmation process may include baptism for those youth not baptized as infants. At First Presbyterian Church, our youth write a statement of faith that is shared with the Session and read before the congregation on the Sunday of their confirmation.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) - The Christian Education Committee organizes Vacation Bible School each year. We enjoy an evening format from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m. for five nights for children age four through 6th grade.
This past summer in Discovery Canyon, children learned about our majestic canyons out west and animals that live there. We sang new songs and listened to Bible stories. A science lab helped us apply what we learned from the stories. Gully games involved playing and running. Each evening we ended with a craft time where children explored their creative side. Our VBS is all about bringing glory to God and having fun with one another.
Sunday School Outings - In addition to the activities listed above, we aim to provide a great deal of fellowship opportunities for younger children and their families. We have attended theatre performances at Sullivan, Illinois' Theatre on the Square, the pastors have hosted cookouts at their country home, and various parishoners have been generous enough to share their talents both in their homes and at the church. Come learn about everything from weaving, to pottery, to shepherding!
