Children, Youth & Family Ministry
Children of all ages have their own time during our worship service and are then invited to sit together during the sermon in a supervised, kid-friendly area of the sanctuary for special, quiet, worship time activities.
Our Christian Education programs depend on your child’s age. (Use this form to register your children for the year.)
Infants through age 2
Children of all ages are welcome in worship any time. But childcare is available from 9:30am to 12:30pm for infants and toddlers before and during worship so parents who choose can participate fully in worship knowing their babies are safe and secure in our professionally-staffed Nursery and Toddler rooms. Tracy Long, our Nursery Supervisor & Caregiver will greet, soothe, and care for your children.
Ages 3, 4 & Kindergartners
We offer a Children’s Worship program for younger children during the 11:00am Sunday worship service. Children experience a short worship service and are encouraged to respond to Bible stories through songs, art, questions and active retelling of the stories.
Grades 1 – 5
Children in these grades can attend our Pathways to the Promise Land classes from 10:10-11:00. Pathways is a kid-friendly, teacher-friendly way of teaching Bible stories and truths. It’s active, engaging, thought-provoking, and just plain fun.
YOUTH
Grades 6 and Up
In addition to their Sunday School program, book groups, small groups, retreats, mission trips, and fellowship, they’re involved in service to the church family, local outreach and mission, and take part in Sunday worship through Sine Nomine (Youth) Choir, reading Scripture, greeting, ushering, and more.
Youth in grades 6-12 meet on Sunday mornings from 10:10 to 10:55am to consider Biblical stories and current social issues through discussion, study, and fellowship.
Outings: The group often gathers for dinners out, games, movies, and places like the trampoline-filled Sky-Zone or the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Chalk Fest.
Summer Mission Trips
Each summer, the Senior Highs (rising 9th – 12th graders) engage in a week of mission or study. In 2017 and 2018, they traveled to the Montreat Conference Center. Previously, they’ve gone to Washington D.C., Harlan, KY; Leon, Nicaragua; the Presbyterian Triennium in Indiana; Cherokee, North Carolina; and Juarez, Mexico.
Confirmation Classes
Confirmation classes bridge the gap between parental pressure to join a church and youthful desire to choose their own faith journey. Youths are paired with Covenant Partners – a spiritually mature member of the congregation – as they explore questions about Christianity.
Confirmation is offered every other year and provide a comprehensive overview of our faith, along with opportunities to grow closer to adult mentors and youth friends.
FHC Youth Permission Form: REQUIRED for all off-site youth activities.
Many thanks to our volunteers for the hours they spend teaching our children. Each is a well-known participant in our congregation who has received annual training in our Child Protection Policy requirements.
Curious about the paintings on the walls of our Christian Education wing? The first floor evokes a New Testament town in the style of ancient Jerusalem. Classrooms include:
Temple Square – a replica of an ancient temple courtyard with a giant Bedouin tent, fire pit and lounging pillows.
Art in Heaven – space for children to create real art.
Mary and Martha’s Kitchen – in the small kitchen adjacent to the Bodwell Hall meeting room.
Also on this level are the Christian Education offices.
The second floor has an Old Testament theme with camels, a desert oasis, and children listening to stories. It includes the Chapel, Nursery and Childcare rooms, and Children in Worship (ages 3-5) classroom, along with a new small group classroom for adults.
