Faith@Home | June 2021

Living Together | Acts 2:42-47

Click Here to get suggested Faith Formation activities for your family for the month of June. Options for different age groups to do at home with your family as well as community events to attend in-person.

Joyfully Engaging Children with Scripture

Verse-of-the-Month

Each month, a foundational Scripture verse will be communicated to families in the Thursday E-Letter.  Families are encouraged to weave the Scripture verse into their families prayers, conversations, and life in general.  Other ideas include posting the Verse-of-the-Month in obvious places, like the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, or the family dinner table.  Memorizing the Scripture verse may be appealing to your family also.

For the past several years, we have integrated music into each Sunday School group’s time with Jerry Monds, Brianna Meler, and Tina Rose singing with the children and their leaders.  The Verse-of-the-Month will be sung each week during music time.  Putting Scripture to music is an additional way to move it into memory because research indicates that music has a powerful effect on brain activity and memory.

September Verse-of-the-Month

“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.  So shall I be saved from my enemies, I will call upon the Lord.  ”  

Psalm 18:3

Families with older children may wish to include Psalm 18:46, which included in the song.

“The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock;

and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”

Great Resources for Summer

Here’s a few resources and book suggestions for Parents/Caregivers and for Families.

  • God Loves Me is a series of 52 Bible storybooks designed for children ages 2 to 3. Each book includes a prayer and suggestions for learning-through-play activities. The books can be ordered as a full set or individually. #babyshower #birthdaypresent #baptismgift
  • The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family: Over 100 Practical and Tested Ideas to Build Lasting Faith is grounded in research from the Fuller Youth Institute and empowers parents to nurture family faith.  The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family addresses one of the top current concerns about youth and the church: the reality that nearly half of all young people raised in Christian families walk away from their faith when they graduate from high school. That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news: research also shows that parents are one of the primary influences on their child’s faith.

March 10 and 17 are special days in Sunday School

March 10 will be our second Buddy Sunday in this school year. Buddy Sunday is a time when older and younger children get to meet each other and begin to build recognition and  community through prayer and sharing a Bible story together. Our goal for this day is for older children to act as mentors to the younger children and for younger children to meet older children to include in their faith community.

We invite  the children to pray for each other during the week following Buddy Sunday. Children will bring home a Buddy Book which names their new church friend.

March 17 will be a Day of Service. Children will gather in age-level groups to learn what the Kingdom of Heaven is like and do service projects for others.

  • Faith, Love and Grace will meet together in CW 115
  • Grades 1-3 will meet in Grundy Hall
  • Grades 4-6 will gather in Courtenay Lounge for Donuts and Dialogue with the Confirmation journey leaders then do their service project

All God’s Children Sing

On Sunday, January 20, Sunday School children will participate in worship to present Pastor Todd with the gift of their song for his retirement. They will be singing the Introit together. The Psalmist said, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”  That’s what All God’s Children Sing is about; all children making a joyful sound to praise and worship God.

Logistics:

  • Sunday School leaders will walk children (groups Moon to 6th grade) directly to the Sanctuary at 10:45 (the end of  Sunday School).
  • After the children sing, they will join their parents in the pews for worship.  If you have already worshiped, you may exit the sanctuary after the song.
  • Front rows will be reserved for families with children in the Moon, Faith, Love and Grace groups so children can find parents easily.
  • Families with children in the Moon group (our 3’s) — you are welcome to remain on or near the risers if needed.

If it is not possible for your child to participate, please meet her/him in the Sanctuary before the 11:00 service begins and let their Sunday School leader know prior to leaving.  Thank you.

It will be a joyful day of praising God.

Hygiene Kits Collection

You are invited to bring items to help us create hygiene kits for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  The collection will run through Sunday, October 14 when children will be assembling these items into gallon-size Ziploc bags during our Day of Service in Sunday School.

These kits offer a way to reach disaster survivors and those in need with the hope of Christ. As parents help children process images of devastation from natural disasters, purchasing and offering these gifts can be a tangible way for children to put their faith and empathy into action.

You may bring any quantity of any of these items  and drop them off in our white bin by the church’s covered drop-off entrance.

hand towels (approximately 16” x 28”, no finger tip or bath towels)
washclothes
wide-tooth combs (not regular combs)
nail clippers
bars of soap (unscented, bath size in wrapper)
toothbrushes (individually packaged)

ONLY the items listed above will be accepted by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Please do not donate toothpaste for the Hygiene Kits. Toothpaste which has an extended expiration date will be added to international Hygiene Kit shipments just prior to shipment.

Nursery Care for Our Youngest

As the families of First Presbyterian Church enjoy the fun days of summer, we know we will welcome new babies into our Nursery!   We have two rooms set aside for infant care, our Wee Angels and Baby Doves.   Babies who are at least 6 weeks old are welcomed and cared for by our loving Nursery Staff, while parents can enjoy worship and Sunday School classes throughout the summer.

Our toddlers are in the Little Lambs group, two’s are in the Sun group, and three’s are in the Moon group. A reminder that we do not age-up our youngest children until Kick-Off on August 18, 2019.

Nursery Care is available during the 8:30 worship service in the Sanctuary, 9:45 to coincide with Sunday School (for all ages),  and both the 11:00 worship services, Sanctuary and The Table in the Gathering Place.

Visit the Children’s Welcome Desk for a warm welcome.   We use a computerized check-in system and the children are cared for in secured space; safety is a top priority.

Read More about our ministry with the youngest!

Sunday School Kick-Off for 2018-2019

Sunday, August 19, will begin another 10-month season of Sunday School, a community of belonging for our children.  Prior to the 19th, you will receive an e-mail with details about your child(ren)’s leader, small group & room assignment, etc.   Leaders are already praying for your child(ren)!   We encourage you to escort your child(ren) to their rooms and greet their leaders.

Once your child(ren) are settled, parents are invited to Courtenay Hall where a breakfast will be hosted by Pastor Josh Rodriguez.   A great time for fellowship, food, and some spiritual uplifting through Josh’s message.

Questions about the start of the new season?    Contact Deb O’Brien

All God’s Children Sing – Mother’s Day, May 13th

On Mother’s Day Sunday, May 13th, Sunday School children will participate in worship, singing the Introit together. The Psalmist said, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”  That’s what All God’s Children Sing is about; all children making a joyful sound to praise and worship God.

Logistics:

  • Sunday School leaders will walk children (groups Moon to 6th grade) directly to the Sanctuary at 10:45 (the end of  Sunday School).
  • After the children sing, they will join their parents in the pews for worship.
  • Front rows will be reserved for families with children in the Moon, Faith, Love and Grace groups so children can find parents easily.
  • Families with children in the Moon group (our 3’s); We will bring your children with the rest of the groups.  In the Sanctuary, you are welcome to remain on or near the risers if needed.

If it is not possible for your child to participate, please meet her/him in the Sanctuary before the 11:00 service begins and let their Sunday School leader know prior to leaving.  Thank you.

It will be a joyful day of praising God.

All God’s Children Sing – Palm Sunday, March 25

On Palm Sunday, March 25th, Sunday School children will participate in worship, singing the Introit together. The Psalmist said, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”  That’s what All God’s Children Sing is about; all children making a joyful sound to praise and worship God.

Logistics:

  • Sunday School leaders will walk children (groups Moon to 6th grade) directly to the Sanctuary at 10:45 (the end of  Sunday School).
  • After the children sing, they will join their parents in the pews for worship.
  • Front rows will be reserved for families with children in the Moon, Faith, Love and Grace groups so children can find parents easily.
  • Families with children in the Moon group (our 3’s); We will bring your children with the rest of the groups.  In the Sanctuary, you are welcome to remain on or near the risers if needed.

If it is not possible for your child to participate, please meet her/him in the Sanctuary before the 11:00 service begins and let their Sunday School leader know prior to leaving.  Thank you.

It will be a joyful day of praising God.

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