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Children and
Youth Education
To provide educational and fellowship experiences
that will support and stimulate our Christian faith.
Nursery Care
Infants
and children up to age 3 experience the love of God
and the care and nurturing from members of our church
family in our child care center during our 9:15 am and
11:00 am worship service. The availability of child care
also makes it possible for parents and caregivers to
spend time in quiet worship.
Sunday School
Programming
is available for preschool through senior high. Our goal
is to provide a meaningful age appropriate experience,
that provides a basis for lifelong learning and a
personal relationship with the church.
Curriculum
varies by age and includes Children and Worship for
preschool through second grade, Walk With Me, a new
denominationally supported program for grades two
through five, “Being There”, a Bible simulation series
for middle school, and a movie/discussion series for our
high school students.
Our second and third graders are invited to a three
session Communion Class in the spring to help prepare
for their participation in the Lord’s Supper.
Confirmation Class
Students
in 9th grade or older are encouraged to confirm their
baptismal vows on Pentecost Sunday near the end of the
school year. These students meet with the Pastor and
Christian Education Director weekly beginning in
September, to study about the church, creeds, the Bible
and other aspects of Reformed Church theology and faith.
Mentored by a church elder of their choice, the students
create their own creed and share it with the
congregation on Pentecost.
Youth Fellowships
Our youth
enjoy gathering in fellowship with a more noble goal –
that of helping their neighbors and those less fortunate
than themselves. Our two mission clubs meet regularly
to gather as young Christians, but also to provide
services or create gifts for others.
Our youth
enjoy gathering in fellowship with a more noble goal –
that of helping their neighbors and those less fortunate
than themselves. Our two mission clubs meet regularly
to gather as young Christians, but also to provide
services or create gifts for others.
Salt Shakers –
This club is for preschoolers through 5th
grade. We meet monthly after school and its aim is to
help our youngest learn that being mission minded can be
a regular part of who they are! At each meeting we
focus on others but sneak in plenty of fun for
ourselves!
Mission Club –
This group is for 6th-12th graders
and offers involvement in a number of different types
of activities. From serving at the City Mission,
picking apples for a local food pantry, to visits to
Adirondack Save-A-Stray, this group of teens works hard
for others and realize the sense of wonder in looking
beyond your own personal situation.
For our very
youngest, we offer two specific events yearly to help
provide a fellowship setting with their church family:
Easter Egg
Hunt is held the Saturday before Palm Sunday and offers
stories (including The Easter Story) , games, snacks,
crafts and of course the Egg Hunt!
In October our
children take part in a Halloween Party. Anyone who is
young at heart is invited to join us as we decorate
pumpkins, play games and enjoy a Halloween Parade, among
other things!
Youth Mission
Our
youth are involved in a variety of mission projects,
including an annual school supply drive for a local
district, Vacation Bible School mission
project that supports the local food pantry,
Confirmation Class mission project and many
short term projects.
Our largest mission project is a relationship with the
youth of a church in Orange Farm, South Africa. We
coordinate a pen pal program with their youth, provide
funding for their schooling and recently forwarded six
boxes of running shoes to them. Sharing what we have
with others and learning from each other is realized on
many levels!
Senior High School Mission Trip occurs during Spring
Break each year. In past years, groups of teens and
chaperones have traveled to Tennessee, Mississippi, New
Jersey and Washington, DC.
Local Mission
Our
middle and high school students work with local
community service organizations. This allows our
children to help others in ways that best fit their
talents and strengths.
Special Events
Each
year students from every grade level lead a portion of
the worship service on Youth Sunday in February. The
sermon is prepared and presented by one or several of
our older teens.
Each year an Easter Egg Hunt is enjoyed by all ages,
with the older students helping the youngest with egg
hunt, games and other activities.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation
Bible School runs for one week each summer during
the month of July. Students enjoy crafts, music and
other activities in a relaxed setting that helps them
focus on God’s love for us all and our mission here in
His name.
The 5:00 pm Christmas Eve
Service
The
5:00 Christmas Eve Service
is conducted by and
for children. Our youth present a recreation of the
nativity and all ages are welcome in the sanctuary for
this service.
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