12 - 14 February
7:15 am - 12:15 pm
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Children
Children belong at First Presbyterian Church. Not only are children the future of the Church, but they are the Church right now. From the nursery through fifth grade, children are woven into the worship and community life of FPC. They are known by name, welcomed as they are, and given space to grow in faith alongside adults who take that responsibility seriously.
Children in Worship
Children are welcome in Sunday morning worship, and the service is designed with them in mind. Worship bags with a children’s bulletin, activity pages, and colored pencils are available at the door. A small library of faith-based books sits at the back of the sanctuary for children to browse during the service.
Each week, at the 11:00 a.m. service, all children are invited forward for the Moment for Children, where the morning’s scripture is shared in an age-appropriate way.
Following the Moment for Children, children ages 4 through second grade are invited to Children’s Church in the Kate C. Sprunt Library in the Edge Lobby. There they experience a child-sized worship service and grow familiar with the rhythms and meaning of worship. They return to the sanctuary during the hymn following the sermon.
Children third grade and older are invited to serve as acolytes, carrying the Light of Christ into worship at the beginning of the service and out again at the close. Contact Beth Thaxton, our Director of Children’s Ministry, to learn about acolyte training.
Nursery Infants through Age 4
Stock Building
For many children, the nursery is their first experience of church. The goal is simple: that every child feels safe and genuinely welcome. The nursery is staffed by caring adults and is located in the Stock Building. On Sundays, look for the door near the playground marked “Child Development Center.” A Deacon will be there to greet you.
The nursery opens fifteen minutes before worship and Sunday school begin and closes fifteen minutes after worship ends. Care is also offered for most special services throughout the year. When you arrive, you will check your child in at a staffed station. If your child has allergies or other needs, reach out to Beth Thaxton ahead of time and she will make sure the team is prepared.
If your child is older than four but would benefit from nursery care, speak with Beth. The team is happy to work with families as needs emerge.
Sunday School Sundays, 9:45 to 10:40 a.m.
Stock Building
Children’s Sunday school meets each week during the program year. Classes follow a curriculum that covers the whole Bible over three years.
Classes are organized by grade and meet in the Stock Building. Pre-K through third grade meet on the first floor. Fourth and fifth grade meet on the second floor near the youth classrooms. A Deacon at the door is always happy to point you in the right direction.
Each week, the nursery, preschool, and early elementary children have time for music and song. During the summer, children gather for a combined class that explores scripture through hands-on creative learning.
Space for Babies & Toddlers
Lisa Ham Gathering Space
Babies and children are welcome in any and every space at FPC! We also have an incredible nursery team that cares for babies and children up to age 4 in our nursery.
We have created a little nook in the Lisa Ham Gathering Space where families can hear and SEE the service through a very small monitor while children play.
We hope for this space to give families another flexible space to both worship and play.
Sunday Nights: Pathfinders and R.O.C.K. Stars Sundays, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Kindergarten through Fifth Grade
Sunday evenings bring children together for open gym, dinner with the full youth community, program, and music. Pathfinders serves children in kindergarten through second grade. R.O.C.K. Stars serves children in third through fifth grade, with programming built around a service theme that invites children to discover and use their gifts for others. R.O.C.K. stands for Reaching Out in Christian Kindness.
Each week both groups share dinner with the youth in Memorial Hall at 5:30 before separating for program and music from 6:00 to 7:00. Music is led by Lindsay Anne McCall, our Director of Children and Youth Music. Special events including the Christmas Pageant, Advent Festival, and Trunk or Treat take place on select Sunday evenings throughout the year and are announced through the weekly children and family email.
Milestones
FPC marks several moments in a child’s growing life of faith with a Bible presentation. Children receive a Bible at kindergarten, third grade, and confirmation. These are small, unhurried ways the congregation acknowledges that a child belongs to this community and that their formation matters.
Each fall children bring their backpacks to church for a blessing before the school year begins. On Palm Sunday they process into the sanctuary with palm branches, taking their place in the story the congregation is telling together.
Upcoming Children's Events
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Safe Sanctuaries Policy
FPC is committed to providing a safe environment for every child in our care. All adults who have direct and regular contact with children are required to complete Safe Sanctuaries training annually, submit to a background check every three years, and sign an annual affirmation of the policy.
Forms
Stay Connected
A weekly children and family email goes out with everything families need to know about upcoming programming. Contact Beth Thaxton at bthaxton@fpcraleigh.org to be added to the list.