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Children/Youth Programs and Activities
Download a "Youth Participation" form here. "A Time for Young Disciples": Sometimes called "Children’s Church" this is the time during the 11:00 service when children come to the front of the church to meet with one of the ministers or leaders of the church for a time of instruction. Parents are always welcome to accompany their children. "A Time for Young Disciples, Part II": Following "A Time for Young Disciples" children leave the sanctuary and move to the 3rd-5th grade classroom where they participate in a craft project and are served a light snack. Designed for children preschool through 1st grade or age 6, the activity is provided by volunteers and parents who sign up to participate on a sheet outside the room. All materials are provided and ready for the parent/adult volunteers as are the snacks for the children. It is an easy volunteer opportunity for any member of FPC. Advent Festival: During Advent, this family event provides children and their families a chance to participate in fun and meaningful crafts and events related to Advent and Christmas and concludes with a sandwich supper. Children's Choir/Youth Bell Choir: FPC sponsors a variety of choir opportunities for children and youth under the direction of Bill Wood. Programs available include a primary choir, an upper elementary choir and a youth bell choir. Contact Bill Wood through the church office for additional information regarding the music program at the church. Church School (Sunday School) is held at 9:45 AM each Sunday: Jean Cahoon is the Superintendent for the Church School Program. A Church School Bulletin Board is located in the Narthex that provides information regarding the location of each of the classes as well as the teachers. Classes are divided as follows: - Preschool children ( age 2 ) - Preschool children (ages 3,4 and pre-Kindergarten 5yo) - Children in Kindergarten through 1st grade - Children in grades 2 and 3 - Children in grades 4 and 5 - Youth in grades 6,7,8 - Youth in grades 9,10,11,12 Church Hour Activities for Children: Children’s Worksheets are available from the ushers. There are plans to expand this program to include a larger number of "quiet" activities for children remaining in the sanctuary during the worship hour. Children’s Sermon-(A Time for Young Disciples Part 1) is held during the 11:00 worship service. A Time for Young Disciples Part 2 is an activity/snack time for children preschool-age 6 that takes place in the 3rd-5th grade classroom during the last portion of the 11:00 worship service. Confirmation: Confirmation classes are held annually for youth who are ready to consider making a profession of faith and assuming full adult responsibility in the congregation. Easter Egg Hunt: The Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored by our youth fellowship for the younger members of FPC and takes place during the Easter Season. Fall Festival: The Fall Festival is one of the favorite activities sponsored annually by our youth fellowship. During this fund-raising event, children come with their friends and families to participate in an evening packed with good food, fun games and even a haunted house. Funds raised during the event are used to sponsor needy families at Christmas. Montreat: Each summer youth from FPC travel to Montreat to participate in various youth conferences that are designed to provide our youth with those "Mountain-top" experiences only possible from camp-type situations. Nursery: Each Sunday morning a nursery is provided for children ages birth to 2 years. Staffing of the nursery is provided by two paid employees. The service is often available during other congregational events (such as congregational dinners). The nursery is located on the first floor in the Sunday School wing. Stay & Play: is a babysitting servie for children ages 6 weeks to young 5 year olds It is available at the church daily from 9:00-1:00 for most weeks of the year. PAT charges an hourly fee for each child attending. Drop-ins are possible only if approved by the director. The program utilizes paid staff members. Director of the program is Susan Congleton who can be reached at 252-758-0322. Rally Day: Rally Day marks the date that the Church School Year begins, typically late August/early September. All of the Church School classes meet together at 9:45 AM. Children and Youth leave with their teachers and go to their classrooms while information about adult classes and information about the church school curriculum is provided. Rosebud: A rosebud is placed in the church to celebrate the birth of children into our church family. Scholarships: Several college scholarship opportunities are available annually through the Presbytery and PW. Application information is available from the church office. Senior Recognition Sunday: Graduating High School seniors are honored at the end of each school year. The church provides each graduate with a Bible during the 11:00 worship service after which they are honored with their families at a luncheon. Ulster Project: The Ulster Project is an exciting peace education project which brings Irish youth from both Catholic and Protestant backgrounds to our area to live in homes of host families representing different Catholic and Protestant churches in our area. Typically the youth are between 14-16 years of age and are matched with youth of similar sex and age from our area. The project takes place during one month each summer. For more information, contact Madeline McGuillicuddy (252-756-6055). Vacation Bible School: During the summer, usually in late July, children age 3 through 6th grade participate in VBS held daily from 9:00 to 12:00 noon. It is a fun-filled week of activities and lessons that focus on themes from the Bible. Volunteers are needed to provide food and supplies and to serve as teachers and assistants. Youth Connection – Youth Fellowship ( grades 6-12 ): Youth Fellowship activities are coordinated through a Youth Council that is composed of youth and adults. FPC youth have an exciting youth fellowship program coordinated through Education Ministry. Each week activities are announced in the Newsletter with information sent to the homes of the youth and their families. Although typically you will see them gather between 5:30 and 7:30 PM on Sunday evening, schedules vary greatly as they participate in church activities, retreats, camps, and volunteer activities. Youth Sunday: Each year our youth plan and conduct a worship service for FPC. Participation is open to all youth of the church and requires weeks of planning and preparation. ****** Information on all activities and programs is available by contacting the church office at 252-758-1901 or fpcstaff@earthlink.net |
