Children, Youth,and Educational Ministries
Children, Youth and Education are important to the life of our church.
Our youth and children are active and present in our worship time. We set aside a time for our children in each service,
focusing on an age-appropriate biblical truth. Our young people are active as acolytes, ushers, musicians and actors
in dramas.
Children
Sunday School
During the school year, First Congregational
provides a personal and exciting Sunday School program. The Sunday School classes are divided into groups according
to age and the number of students attending classes. Classes are held at 10:00-10:45 A.M. so that students and teachers may
join us in worship. We currently use a biblically-based, comprehensive and loving curriculum by Gospel Light.
Special Events
Our children’s Sunday School plans quarterly events, such as water
sliding, sledding, hay rides and various other outings that are sponsored by the church.
Our children also have opportunities to participate in other
special events such as singing during the Worship Service, sponsoring a “Welcome Back” pancake breakfast in the
fall, and the “Feed My Sheep” food drive for a local pantry. Our young people are also becoming involved
with the youth events sponsored by our state and national associations. In 2004, seven students attended a summer Bible
camp in Jackson, Michigan, and another student attended a Christian camp in Evart, Michigan.
Youth
Our seventh - twelfth graders meet during the last half of the worship service to discuss topics relevant to teen spirituality.
During Worship, they are active as actors in dramas and as acolytes. They assist in collecting contributions for "Souper
Bowl Sunday" (http://www.souperbowl.org/). They have also attended the evangelistic youth rally, “Acquire
the Fire.”
Educational Ministries
Our spiritual journeys are more than attending weekly worship services. We have an
innate need to feed our minds as well as our souls. Adult education and Bible studies at First Congregational are designed
to deepen our faith and broaden our knowledge as we venture our spiritual journeys together.
Women’s
Study Group
Our women’s study group
has been meeting since the fall of 1996. The group has explored such topics as women of the Bible and the prophets.
Also studied have been several books of the Bible and C. S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and several books
of the Bible. All women are invited. Please contact the church about meeting times as the group takes time off
during the winter months.
Other Study Groups
We often have an evening study group that also explores various subjects. Previous topics include spiritual
gifts, world religions, church denominations, and the life and times of Jesus Christ. This group is nearing the end of a three-year
study on the book of Matthew. As with the women’s Bible study, please contact the church office for meeting times.
Visitors to our area are encouraged
to join us as most all our classes are non-sequential.
