Church School General Info

Sunday Schedule

Children and youth from age 4 through Grade 8 are invited to attend the beginning of worship with their families at 10 am every Sunday to experience and enjoy worship. A special time for children is offered by the Pastor in the children's message. After the children’s message, the children will be shepherded by church volunteers to their church school classes. Church School lasts until the church service adjourns, approximately 11:15 am.

Professional childcare is provided every Sunday from 9:30-11:30 am for children ages infant through age three. The extended hours before and after church school enable our volunteers to offer their ministries of music education and hospitality and provide parents with an opportunity for fellowship and service.

Registration
Parents are asked to enroll their children by filling out a registration form. Forms are available at First Church or online here.

Once you have completed the form, you are welcome to return it however it is most convenient:
E-mail: KLaberge@FirstChurch1652.org (please attach the form)
Fax: (860) 674-8264
Enroll on a Sunday: Give the form to your child's teacher.
Mail: First Church of Christ, Congregational, 1652
75 Main Street
Farmington, CT 06032

This information helps us to plan an effective church school program, to ensure the safety of your child and to communicate with your family. Thank you!

Attendance
We ask you to establish a pattern of regular attendance by bringing your child to church school every week. The child who consistently attends church school feels more a part of our church community and receives a more thorough Christian education.

Curriculum
The curriculum that we use at every age level is age-appropriate, engaging and tailored to the learning goals that we have adopted for our church.

Volunteering
We ask your support by sharing your gifts for ministry in the church school program. This is one way to better understand the child's learning experience. Parents and other adults are asked to assist in the classroom or to volunteer their time and talents for special events. Even if you do not have a child participating in our Church School, please plan to help our program in some way.

Safe Church
First Church has adopted a Safe Church policy which is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for the blessed children who are entrusted to the church’s care, in order to foster a positive Christian Education experience. This policy ensures that all children will be treated respectfully, courteously and kindly. One of the highlights of this policy is that there will be two adults with the children at all times. To view First Church's Safe Church policy, click here.

Keep Informed
Become acquainted with your child's teachers. Stop in the classrooms and let the teachers know that you appreciate their work. Our dedicated Pastor, Director of Christian Education, teachers, shepherds and Christian Education Committee members are always eager to listen to your comments and concerns. During the year, families are always welcome to drop into church school classes to be with their children and experience what they are learning firsthand.

Baptism Education/Communion Education
Children learn best by doing. Therefore, the education they receive about the sacraments of baptism and communion happens first through participation. Children are present in worship for services of baptism. They participate bi-monthly in a children's communion service called Kidsown Worship. In addition, the church school program supports this learning through periodic exploration of the biblical, historical, and contemporary understandings of one of these sacraments at a level appropriate for children.

Stewardship Education
At First Church we teach that one's offering of time, talents or treasure is a response of one's spirit to the love and grace of God for each of us. Envelopes are available for each child or youth not yet confirmed to give their weekly offering. Those youth who are members have the opportunity to pledge their offering and receive regular envelopes. The church school offering supports special mission outreach projects involving children or youth of the church.

Reaching Out
Each year the Church School children and youth participate in several projects. In the past the kids have participated in Global Child Sponsorships, Farmington Food Pantry, UNICEF, Heifer Project International, Hope Day School in Sierra Leone, One Great Hour of Sharing, UCC projects, local service days and our Share the Love offering of stuffed animals.

Bibles for Our Children
Bibles are presented to our third grade children. If your child is in fourth through eighth grade and does not have their very own Bible, please contact us so that we may present them with one.