Faith Formation for Children & Youth

Children are a vital part of our community. Just as Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,” we at First Church strive to welcome the youngest into our midst in worship, fellowship, formation, and service. In addition to multigenerational worship, we offer specific programs and supervision for children of all ages during the morning worship hour when we are gathered in person.

Program year 2024-2025:

Godly Play and Bible 101 classes begins on Regathering Sunday, September 8, and meet on most middle Sundays of the month.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) begins with an Orientation Meeting for students and parents on Regathering Sunday, September 8, at 12:30 p.m. The first class for students takes place on Sunday, September 15, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Youth Group plans are evolving, with the help of input from parents and teens. Stay tuned for details!

Register your children for this year’s programs

View and/or Download
the FCC Church School Calendar 2024-25

boy reading in a book corner

Descriptions of children & youth programming may be found below. Week-to-week details are shared via our “News for First Church Families” e-newsletter. If you want to receive this email every Thursday afternoon, contact Sarah Higginbotham to get on the list.

You can find our Safe Church Policies & Procedures and our Covenant for a Safe & Welcoming Community under “Governance and Leadership” on our Members and Friends page.

Opportunities for Children and Youth Formation

Nursery (0-3 year olds)

Our Nursery Staff provide care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers during the worship hour, either in Sage Hall (our basement playspace) or on the outdoor playground. The Nursery is open every Sunday of the year except for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Nursery Staff also supervise elementary-school-aged children during some pre- and post-worship programs and meetings.

woman sitting on the floor with little girl

Godly Play

Godly Play is a Montessori-based sacred time and space for Biblical storytelling and wondering that can be found in churches around the world. The Godly Play Foundation provides teacher training and curriculum support for this engaging program. Godly Play for PreK-4th graders begins on September 8, 2024.

young girl and teacher at a table

Middlers (5th graders)

Every other year, 5th graders explore themes of difference, hospitality, justice, friendship, and forgiveness in the context of our Christian faith. Bible-based lessons are supplemented by middle reader novels, including R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again, Sharon Draper’s Stella by Starlight, and Jacqueline Woodson’s Harbor Me. The Middler Class will be offered next in 2025-26.

binder on a table

Bible 101 (5th-7th graders)

Bible 101 is First Church’s home-grown curriculum for recent Godly Play “graduates.” It’s a two-year introduction to navigating, reading, and interpreting the Bible. Students explore the Hebrew Bible in Year A, revisiting stories they may have heard told when younger, as well as exploring new sections of biblical poetry and prophecy. In Year B, the class digs into the New Testament, with a culminating project of producing a “Gospel Play” for Children’s Sunday. Bible 101 begins a new cycle with Year A for 5/6th graders on September 8, 2024.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) (8/9th graders)

Every other year, our 7th & 8th graders collaborate with other congregations in Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive sexuality education program with a strong faith component. OWL begins with an Orientation meeting for parents and students on Sunday, September 8, at 12:30 p.m.

Confirmation Class (8th-9th graders)

Our year-long confirmation class runs every other year and meets twice monthly on Sunday mornings before worship, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.. They also gather with the Youth Group for various service and fellowship projects throughout the year. Our confirmation process is guided by our use of Affirming Faith, a multi-faceted resource for youth faith formation and confirmation produced by the United Church of Christ, along with other resources. Students are invited to affirm their baptisms and to join the Church on or near Pentecost Sunday in late May/early June. Confirmation Class will be offered next in 2025-26.

Youth Group

Our Youth Group includes high schoolers, and it extends a welcome to Confirmands in alternating years. Stay tuned for information about our 2024-25 Youth Group schedule of events!