Integrity in Christian Education…

…begins at 9:30 on Sunday mornings during the school year, with classes for all ages:

♦ Nursery care is available from 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. The Nursery is located on the second floor, near the Commerce Street stairs.
♦ Classes are offered for children ages two years through fifth grade. All are held upstairs on the second floor.

Children at Park Church

Children's Ministry Opportunities
As we are called to be a people of God seeking to know Christ and to make Him known, Park desires to minister to and nurture even the youngest among us. The Children’s Ministries of Park Presbyterian Church prayerfully exist to provide children, both those that have grown up in the church and those new to the Christian faith, with a variety of opportunities to meet Christ face to face, to know of His unceasing love for them, to learn to live lives devoted to Him and to desire to share Him with others. Fellowship, fun, study, service and worship activities give the kids a place to go and a place to grow as they learn about God and about his faithfulness to all generations.

Children's Sunday School
Our Children’s Sunday School provides a loving, caring and safe place for children from age one to those in the fifth grade to dig into the Bible and serves to help establish a firm foundation upon which children may build a lifelong relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This year we’ll be launching a new curriculum for our K – 5th grade students from David C. Cook called RIO. RIO shares the Scriptures with students through a variety of activities designed to reach children where they are, recognizing that they learn in different ways. Each lesson focuses the learner on God. It is highly relational and focuses the students on how God is alive and at work in his Word. Reaching into the Bible and Reaching Out in ways that honor God and serve to build His kingdom is all a part of RIO.

Our Preschoolers will be learning about God using Cook’s Teach Me, Show Me, Grow Me lessons. These lessons offer a lively introduction to God’s Word and focus our precious little ones on who God is and how much he loves and cares for them.

Classes meet at 9:30 am from September through May. Preschoolers (Ages 1-4 years) gather in Room 209, five year olds – Grade 2 in Room 215 and 3rd – 5th graders in Room 208. Pick-up/Dismissal is at 10:40am.

Make, Bake and Take
Once a month Park children and youth and their friends gather to make and bake a meal or other goodies, share a simple lunch, then take the items made out to members and friends of Park.

Vacation Bible School
Please join us for Park’s 2011 VBS titled “Shake it Up Café”. In this kid-friendly café full of chef’s hats and aprons, pots and pans, checkered tablecloths, and chalkboard menus, kids explore the Bible as a cookbook filled with recipes for living out God’s word. Through interactive lessons, that are easy for kids to apply to their lives today, boys and girls will celebrate biblical festivals that reveal ingredients for being a follower of God. Shake it Up is for children age 3 through 8th grade (in Fall of 2011). Please complete the registration form and mail it to or drop it off at the church. We look forward to cooking up some fun with you in August!!

Preschool
Preschool is a morning program for 4 and 5 year olds held three mornings a week during the school year. Children are encouraged to develop in social/emotional growth, spiritual growth, cognitive skills, and motor skills. Our program is designed to encourage the total development of each child. It aims to help each child grow into a more confident, competent, responsible, faithful human being, eager and enthusiastic for learning and life. Please see our Preschool page to find out more.

Scout Troops

Park Presbyterian Church serves as the Chartered Organization for Troop, Pack, and Venture Crew 495. Boy Scout Troop 495 meets each Monday at 7 pm. Along with its regular meetings, this active group participates in a variety of activities including, but not limited to, camping, hiking and other outdoor adventures and serves the church and community in a number of ways including leaf raking, assisting with church projects and participating in the Scouting for Food program and other community events. Cub Pack 495 holds its Pack meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 6 pm. Individual Dens meet at various times during the week at Park. These younger boys also serve the church and community as they begin their exploration of the scouting program and move toward the troop level. Venture Crew 495 meets, as needed, to plan out events and service endeavors throughout the year.

Park also plays host to Senior Girl Scout Troop 21. Some of the troop has been in scouting since kindergarten and are now working toward their Gold Awards, the highest award level in Girl Scouts. The troop participates in a number of service and other activities as well.

Adult Christian Programs

Sunday mornings classes for adults are offered on a variety of topics and formats. These classes change throughout the education year. Information on Sunday classes is publicized several weeks before each term in the Park Branches newsletter and the weekly bulletin. No need to sign up ahead of time, just drop in and be a part of the fellowship and learning. Classes are held on several levels of the building. An elevator is available in the back corner of the Gathering Area (adjacent to the church office on the 1st floor).

♦ CONNECTIONS SUNDAY SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP: This fellowship gathers together over coffee, conversation and the Word of God in Guild Hall. We discuss and discover together the complexities and joys of living a Christ Centered Life. We learn and laugh together and have covered a variety of topics such as parenting, love languages, and praying for your spouse and children. We will be “Opening the Book” this coming year, with a Bible overview, Biblical character study and review of the Spiritual gifts. Join us for Connections as we grow together.

♦ FAITH FOR A LIFETIME CLASS: looks at different subjects and applies them to life now. This fall we will start with a study of The Lord’s Prayer. This class is appropriate for those new to Park, new to Adult Sunday School, or new to the Faith, and at the same time delves deeply enough to find new meaning in Scriptures we have read before for those familiar to Adult Sunday School. In other words this class is appropriate for everybody. Each lesson stands alone, so drop in and try a week.

♦ BIBLE STUDY CLASS: The focus of this class is the study of the various books of the Bible. Starting in the fall of 2008, the class will be using the “Genesis to Revelation” series from Abingdon Press to begin a cover-to-cover study of God’s Holy Word. The first thirteen-week session will look at the book of Genesis, a book that deals with relationships—those between God and his creation, between God and humankind, and between God and His chosen people Israel. Class members will engage Scripture on three levels: What does the Bible say? What does a particular passage mean? How does the Scripture relate to my life? An underlying theme in the class’s study is how the Bible informs our Presbyterian/Reformed worldview.

♦ G.R.O.W CLASS: meets in the Memorial Room, on the First floor. This circle of faithful women has been providing support and encouragement to its members for many years. The Men’s Bible Class will be joining the women’s class for a joint study of "no such thing as over the hill: making the most of life after 60" by James R. Kok.

♦ MEN’S BIBLE CLASS: meets in Room 207, on the second floor. Following the opening exercises, the men will join the G.R.O.W. class in the Memorial Room.