Children
Ages 3 - 5th Grade
LITTLE DISCIPLES
The purpose of Little Disciples is to teach the children how to worship. They learn that we praise God through singing, prayer, and our activities. They learn that they can participate in the same worshipful actions as the adults in the sanctuary.
Children learn to worship by worshiping; therefore, Little Disciples provides a setting for young children to learn about and worship God. It makes learning the Bible fun and exciting while at the same time equipping the children with the necessary tools and preparing them to be active participants in First Presbyterian Church’s worship services.
Each Sunday our preschool children (ages 3, 4, & 5 years) leave the worship service following the Time With Children and go upstairs to the Little Disciples' room. There is approximately 35 minutes of class time, and then the children return to the sanctuary before the end of the worship service.
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Circle of Friends is for children ages 3 years old – 2nd grade. This group meets monthly throughout the school year to participate in activities together, which are coordinated and planned by parents along with the Director of Christian Education. Each event usually consists of a Bible story or lesson, snack, craft, and/or game. The purposes of Circle of Friends are:
• To help children learn and know that they are beloved children of God;
• To help children learn and know about Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord;
• To help them grow in their faith as Christ’s followers;
• To help them go out into the world to represent Christ.
• To create opportunities for fun and fellowship with one another!
FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
Fellowship With Christ (FWC) is an after school program sponsored jointly by First Presbyterian Church and Trinity United Methodist Church for 3rd and 4th graders. FWC begins in September and follows the York County school calendar. It meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Family Life Center of First Presbyterian from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Students have a snack (furnished by parents), a Bible lesson/activity, recreation, and a mission project.
KIDS FOR CHRIST
KFC is the 5th and 6th grade equivalent to FWC. It meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month across the street at Trinity UMC.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES - 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
Parenting children is a big job. Your spiritual formation is as important as your children's, so please enjoy your own Sunday School class or small group on Sunday mornings.
Nursery (ages 2 and under) - The nursery is located in the breezeway behind the sanctuary. Caregivers and volunteers are delighted to rock and play with your children while you are here. Newborns are welcome. During worship services and other church-sponsored events, the nursery is available for our youngest children.
Preschool (ages 3-5 years) - Your child will hear Bible stories, make music or a craft, and enjoy plenty of movement. Curriculum used is the PC(USA)'s Growing in Grace and Gratitude. This class meets in Room 207 of the McNeel Building.
K - 2nd Grade - This class meets in Room 201 of the McNeel Building and uses Growing in Grace and Gratitude by the PC(USA).
3rd - 5th Grades - Growing in Grace and Gratitude is the curriculum for this age group. These children meet in Room 211 in the McNeel Building.
Worship Readiness - First Presbyterian Church offers this class each fall for children who have aged out of Little Disciples. The purpose is to help prepare them for full participation in Sunday worship. Instruction includes Sanctuary Education, Worship as our Response to God’s Love, Order of Worship, Prayer, Sacraments, and Acolyte Training.
For children the sacraments are times to remember Jesus. While younger children will not completely understand the complex theology of Baptism or the Lord’s Supper, they can easily grasp the basic meanings. Although each child reaches this stage of faith development at a different age, generally by 6 or 7 years old, most of them are able to understand the symbolism.
When children have completed the Worship Readiness class, they will be added into the acolyte rotation.