Family Ministry
Making Every Sunday Precious
We know that your family faces more demands than ever before. Family time is your most precious time. If you’ve chosen to spend your Sunday morning at church, we need to meet you with an offering just as precious. In all of our programs for children and youth, we try to meet each child where they are with opportunities to encounter God’s love for them first hand.
Where Wonder Begins
Nurturing Faith in Young Children
In 2023 First Church launched our new and growing children’s program: The Wonder Garden. This is where we do the sacred work of supporting our youngest children as they grow to know themselves and God. We trust each family to choose the program elements that are right for them and their child(ren.) We are always happy to help you talk through ideas and options.
Our programs
Pray Ground
All ages welcome, parent supervision necessary
The front and back corners of the sanctuary on the left hand side are set up with your family in mind. At the front you’ll find a play mat and children’s table with quiet toys, books, and coloring supplies. From here you and your child have a front row view of the action on the chancel and all the play tools your child needs to explore the faith story and worship liturgy. At the back, in a more private corner there is a rocking chair for nursing and cuddling and a smaller collection of quiet toys.
Sprouts Nursery
ages 6 months – 4years
Located on the second floor, the Sprout Nursery provides childcare for children 6mos – 4 years from 9:30am-11:30am every Sunday. The nursery is anchored by a lead teacher who is the same all year long, and supported by church volunteers who rotate weekly. A nursing glider, stocked changing table, and pack-n-play are all available in the nursery for your family’s convenience.
On a typical Sunday, the Sprouts participate in circle time with a song and an age appropriate version of the day’s scripture, read from the Spark Story Bible. Depending on the needs of the group they may do a related activity or simply enjoy free play.
Seedling Space
kindergarten – 2nd grade
Our Seedlings are just a bit older than the Sprouts and they’re ready for more! The Seedling Space is staffed by 2 or more church volunteers and is based on the Spark! Curriculum.
On a typical Sunday, the Seedlings begin with a welcome circle where they pray, sing a song, and hear the scripture of the day read from the Spark Story Bible. Then the fun begins with an activity. Activities include: Art, Bible Skills & Games, Cooking, Drama, Digital Media, Music, or Science! Seedlings end their time with clean up and a closing circle.
Faith Patch – Coming Soon Fall of 2026
3rd grade – 5th grade
The Faith Patch is germinating but hasn’t sprouted yet! We expect this new room to launch as our program and children grow up together; likely in the fall of 2026. If you have children currently in this age range and would like to see the space open sooner, please contact the Religious Education Committee to talk about options. They can be reached at: firstchurchwondergarden@gmail.com.
Mustard seeds grow into mighty trees! A couple committed families could jumpstart this space.
Picnic Club
for the whole family!
Did you grow up in a community where the grownups talked and the kids played as the afternoon stretched on and the fireflies came out? Where all the parents parented all kids, and the kids made up their own games, and the grownup conversations mattered and it was all kind of magic? That’s Picnic Club.
From June – Sept, First Church families get together on Sunday evenings twice a month for potluck picnics. Sometimes we meet at a local park or pool, and sometimes in our own backyards. Sometimes there’s reflection prompted for the grownups and sometimes not. Always, there is beloved community and the presence of the loving God.
Your safety is our priority,
Safe Church Policy.
At First Church, our highest priority is the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of all who enter our doors. Therefore we have created and implemented our Safe Church Policy. The policy is periodically updated and renewed.
In accordance with the policy, ALL volunteers working with children, youth, and vulnerable adults are CORI checked and the policy is reviewed annually during volunteer training.