Welcome back to Sunday School, nursery, youth groups and our new program year. We look forward to seeing you all on Rally Sunday, September 11th!
Rally Day September 11:
Christian Formation enthusiastically opens its classrooms and nursery anew. We are excited to make new memories and celebrate our history together as we reunite. Sunday schools begins again on Rally Sunday, September 12. Children ages 3 through Grade 12 are invited to attend worship at 10AM in the sanctuary with their parents. The nursery opens for infants, toddlers and two-year-olds at 9:45 and is available throughout the worship service.
We ask that you re-register your child for our new year. Maintaining your accurate contact information is vital for communication and safety.
Following the re-covenanting ceremony, children 3 years old through 8th grade and teachers will leave for their classes. All parents are asked to meet their children at their classrooms after the service. See related articles for information on specific classes.
Rally Day Cookout
We are Family and everyone is invited to the table to join in the fun at the annual Rally Day cookout after the 10 AM service on Sunday September 11 Side dishes provided. Please do not bring a dish to share. Stewardship generously gifts us with an ice cream truck for dessert. Choose your favorite flavor. The Christian Formation Board will provide hot dogs, burgers and beverages.
Rally day is a homecoming for all of our educational programming child through adult, boards, youth groups and choirs begin anew and kick off the program year. The barbecue is a chance to connect with old friends and make new friends as we grow together in Christ. We are Family!
Nursery News
The nursery resumes its regular schedule on Sunday September 11h with Sambo Downs, Allison Dillman and Heather Nault at the helm. These nursery coordinators along with a team of dedicated caregivers, are ready to nurture and lavish attention on the youngest members of our First Church family.
If you are new to First Church, you will find the nursery directly under the sanctuary. Parents are asked to stop at the sign-in counter where you will be greeted by one of the coordinators and asked to sign your name. You and your child will receive bracelets with matching numbers which will be matched up when you return for your child at the end of worship. You are asked to leave a cell phone number, so that you may be notified immediately if your child needs you. You are welcome to stay with your child as long as you like. Be sure to tell the adult volunteer anything they should know about your child (allergies, special signs or words, comfort tools) and mark all possessions and your child with the child’s name.
We ask that you register your child to integrate as part of the Christian formation program, progressing from the nursery to Sunday School, Confirmation and youth activities as your child grows.
Sunday School Registration
If you are new to First Church, you will find Sunday school registration forms online, at the Christian Formation Center, Welcome Desk or by calling the church office, (603)882-4861. Please register each child online confirming that your most recent email, cell phone and address are current even if you think we have them.
Sunday School Schedule
Sunday school classes for children age 3-grade 8 meet each Sunday, September 11th through June 12th with the exception of December 18-January 1, Easter Sunday and Memorial Day weekend when there is NO Sunday School.
11:15 AM
- All classes end.
- Children in Grade 2 and under are dismissed when a parent picks them up at their classrooms.
- Children in Grades 3-8 should know exactly where to meet their parents after class.
- Worship ends before 11:15, please enjoy coffee and fellowship before coming to the Walker Building so that classes are not disturbed.
After 11:15 AM
- If parents are unavoidably delayed after worship, teachers may bring children to the Sunday school office. If your children are not in the classroom, come to the Pat Harris, Christian Education Office on the second floor of the Walker Building.
- If you know you will be late, please arrange for another responsible adult to meet your child and let the teacher know who that person is.
A diagram of the classrooms is included in the worship bulletin on Rally Day.
Any questions of comments may be directed to LeeAnne Steenhoek, Director of Christian Formation.
Sunday School Staff Orientation Thursday, September 9
Orientation for all Sunday school lead and assistant teachers takes place on Thursday September 9th from 6-8PM starting in room 15 for finger food and fellowship progressing to Shaw Chapel for Worship and Welcome Orientation and finally on to decorate classrooms and determine a schedule.
The session includes planning with teammates. It is vital that all Sunday school teaching staff attend this meeting. If you absolutely cannot attend this meeting, be sure to contact LeeAnne Steenhoek ahead of time. The schedule for the evening includes:
6:00: Room 15 Finger Foods
6:30: Worship and Welcome Orientation
7:15 Team Meetings
Sunday School for Age 3 through Grade 2
The younger Sunday school classes work with an innovative curriculum called Worship Center. Worship Center is a Montessori-derived program of worship and Bible stories that encourages children to explore their faith and Grow with God at their own pace. Each room is a worship center that children learn to cherish and recognize as sacred. Over time, they not only learn the stories of the Bible, but also the rhythm and meaning of worship. The children have worship in their rooms. They have music, stories, offering, prayer and snack (called “feast”) in their worship center. On the first and third Sundays of each month, they spend some of their class time in the Shaw Chapel singing with Steve Blunt.
Parents are encouraged to be involved by signing up to be the “Parent of the Day” who provides a simple snack and drink and helps in the class that one day. Each child has a turn to be the “Child of the Day” when parents are “Parent of the Day”. Look for sign-up sheets outside of each room. By taking your turn two or three times throughout the year, you will learn more about this program. Grandparents, aunts or uncles can also be Parent of the Day.
Sunday School for Grades 3-5
Students and teachers in grades 3-5 use the Chronicle Curriculum. Chronicle follows a 3-year cycle through the Bible, with an emphasis on learning to read, interpret and understand the Bible. Some of the Bible lessons for the 2021-2022 include Bible Heroes, Faith in Action and the Miracles of Jesus.
Youth Group-Make A Difference Grades 7&8
Sunday school for grades 7-8 is planned as a pre-confirmation experience, providing a format to discuss and act upon lessons learned in Sunday School as well as time to prepare for the intensive confirmation class. Make a Difference focuses on mission and service to one another, with intentional reflection on Christian service. Activities include apple picking, projects for the Front Door Agency and the Nashua Soup Kitchen. The class may create a mission based on current events.
- Make a Difference meets during the regular Sunday school time each Sunday, except the first Sunday of the month when they remain in church for communion.
Hot Apple Crisp Sales: September 25! The MAKE A DIFFERENCE Youth group will be selling freshly made (in our kitchen) apple crisp on September 25th following the 10AM worship service.
Send in Those New College and new Graduate Addresses
The Christian Education Board likes to keep in touch with First Church young people who have gone away to college or are newly independent in the Armed Service, an International Exchange Program or other work. Please call the church office or email [email protected] with any change of address for your children.
On October 23th, the Make a Difference service group will pack and mail Halloween care packages to all young people who have gone away to college, the Armed Forces, an International Exchange program or work. We minister to those who need Tender Loving Care TLC.
Remember! Packages need an address; you MUST call or email your graduate or college student’s address before each mailing in October and February.
Pretzel Sunday: March 12, 2023 Save the Date! The Sunday School students will be making pretzels on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Youth Programs for 2022-2023
The First Church has an active Senior High fellowship group and a team of energetic, caring, well-trained adults from the congregation. Fellowship, worship, outreach, and educational activities and programs are designed to encourage the development and deepen connections between youth and God, one another, adults and children in the congregation and the world around them.
Confirmation is a year-long program for those in grade nine and over who wish to explore their faith, learn more about God, the Bible the church and Christian traditions; and become full members of First Church. The group meets in the Fireside Room from 11:40AM-1:00PM on one or two Sundays each month. Please see LeeAnne Steenhoek for paperwork to register for Confirmation. The Confirmation Calendar is in your Confirmation Packets and on our church website.
Activity Dates and Missions For First Church Youth and Family
- Water Walk September 10th from 8:30AM-12PM at Greeley Park
- Rally Day is September 11th
- Christmas Pageant December 11th
- Youth Sunday March 26th
- Senior Recognition Sunday May 8th
- Children’s Day is June 4th
Intergenerational Worship, Programs and Missions are encouraged at First Church. While youth are encouraged to participate in programs specifically designed for them, our greatest hope is that our youth will join with their families and friends in participating in church-wide worship, missions and fellowship events.
We encourage all youth:
- to serve in our Christian Formation programs by assisting teachers in our children’s classes, work in the nursery, and lead Vacation Bible School activities.
- to join or assist with our choirs and various musical ensembles.
Once Confirmed, we encourage youth to teach Sunday School, join and serve First Church’s various boards, committees and ministry teams.
Hot Apple Crisp Sales: September 25!
The MAKE A DIFFERENCE Youth group will be selling freshly made (in our kitchen) apple crisp on September 25th following the 10AM worship service.
Thomas W. Mann writes, “Whoever will not welcome the realm of God as a little child welcomes it will not enter into it. My father was once walking on the beach with his three-year-old grandson when the little boy stopped, picked up a tiny fragment of a seashell, and began to examine it. My father bent down and, looking at the tiny fragment, he asked the boy, “How could you see such a little shell?” Because,” said the boy, “I have little eyes.”
Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4