Children’s Education
We have many wonderful and excited elementary children who come to learn and stretch in their Christian faith every Sunday morning. The littlest members of our church family are very important to us!
The goal of FPC church school is to provide a special and meaningful lesson that focuses on building each child’s connection to God through a unique and personal relationship with Jesus Christ that will lead to lifelong faith.
Birth – Preschool Children
At the 9:30 – 10:30 hour, childcare is provided for birth – preschool children in the basement, Room 18-20. During worship, the nursery (located near the church office, on the first floor of the Parish House) is open and our staff of volunteer providers will lovingly watch over your infant as you attend service.
Also during service, your preschool children (walking – age 5) in Room 18-20 will be receiving an age-appropriate bible lesson, craft & snack – lead by classroom teachers, Ann Snodderly & Megan Padilla.
We are always looking for more volunteer child care providers, so email children@firstpresportland.org to sign up for one Sunday a month.
Sunday Morning Programming: 9:30 – 10:30 – Children’s Fellowship Hour
Drop your K – 5th grade child off (during the Adult Education Hour) for activities in music, art & drama! Childrens Ministries Director, Pam Redman, leads this hour of fun and fellowship for your energized child. This class is an enjoyable time of learning through creative expression – in a one-room schoolhouse style. If you have wanted to get involved with children’s programming on Sunday mornings, but don’t want to miss worship – this is the opportunity for you! Email children@firstpresportland.org and volunteer as a helper.
11:00 – 12:15 – K-3rd Grade Children’s Chapel
Bring your energetic K-3rd graders to the new Children’s Worship Area, Room 203 (second floor of the Parrish House) at 11:00 a.m. to participate in a kids’ worship service – targeted especially towards them! This special class is designed upon a lectionary-based curriculum set up to mirror that of the adult service, taught by Children’s Education Director, Pam Redman, a gifted leader and teacher. After the worship portion of class, the second-half of Children’s Chapel is an extension activity – lead by volunteers. Sometimes this will be a craft or event (within the church) – and other times the extension will lead back to the sanctuary.
Our hopes in creating a specialized worship service for the children is to teach them the aspects of the adult worship so they will be able to better participate once they integrate into the adult service. The children will be coming into the sanctuary for worship on a regular basis for communion, baptisms, family Sundays (parents – make sure your kids know where you sit!) and will be able to use the “skills” they have learned and practiced in Children’s Chapel.
This is an exciting format that is fun for everyone involved! Everyone is invited to drop in to see what it’s all about, and contact Tymberly at children@firstpresportland.org to become a part of this exciting program.
THE FISH TANK – A Special Class for our 4th – 5th grade “tweens!”
According to our 4th and 5th graders, we are all little fish in God’s big fish tank! These 9-12 year olds now have their own special class, The Fish Tank, which uses a curriculum called “Grapple.” Each week’s lesson focuses on situations and questions youth face in today’s world. For example – Why do I have to go to church? Why are there different churches? Who should I listen to? How do I know God’s voice?
Grapple also includes a special website for our class. Each child will be given his or her own password-protected access to an online community used ONLY by kids in OUR church. The Fish Tank is taught by a team of six teachers and meets at 11 a.m. in the Youth Room (Room 305) on the 3rd floor of the Parish House, September through June
Parents of 4th and 5th graders: an important part of the FISH TANK is not only attending class on Sunday mornings, but also online interaction during the week! Remind your kids to logon during the week and get involved! The more connected they are, the more they’ll gain from this great class. Also – don’t forget to encourage them to bring their bibles to class on Sundays.