If you have questions about the children’s ministries below or other family and children’s ministries of Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, please email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministries Committee Chair.
Special Events
Our New Mural - A Warm and Welcoming Change
The Children and Family Ministries Committee wanted to do something to make the hallway leading to the Sunday School classrooms special and inviting. Two gifted artists in our congregation, Sally Edmondson and Becky Pearce, agreed to paint a mural on the wall outside the Choir Room. They put hours into thoughtful planning and painting to create the mural showing a loving Jesus welcoming children in a peaceful wooded setting.
Our Earth Day worship service on April 27 included a litany for the new mural. Later that morning, during our Kids Can Do God’s Work event, the children added their finishing touches to the garden area of the mural.
Initially, the plan was for the mural to be for the children, but it’s easy to see the mural has become a warm and welcoming place for all.
Sunday School
Nursery
Loving care is provided for our infants and toddlers during both the 9:00 a.m. hour and 10:15 a.m. worship services. Preschoolers are also welcome in the nursery during these times, but are encouraged to attend Sunday School classes and worship. The nursery is overseen by paid staff and church volunteers who have been reviewed and instructed on best practices for interacting with young children. This space is located just outside the sanctuary, and parents are welcome to check-in/check-out or stay with their children as needed.
Preschool
Our Sunday School preschool curriculum leverages best practices in early childhood education to encourage preschoolers to explore faith concepts the way they know best—through play! This class meets during the worship service after the Children’s Time in the Chapel Room.
Kindergarten through Fifth Grade
The Sunday School curriculum for our kindergarten through fifth grade students has us following the same scripture pieces that are being preached on each Sunday. We hope this inspires greater dialogue in the home about what is experienced in church each Sunday. This class meets during the worship service after the Children’s Time in Rooms 2 & 3.
Summer Sunday School
Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.
Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.
Kids Can Do God’s Work
In February, we launched our extended Sunday School class, Kids Can Do God’s Work, where children enjoy lunch and participate in a variety of activities to serve others. Our February 9th event focused on service activities, including creating inspirational treat bags for South Shore Drill Team members, making bookmarks for the patients at Delnor Hopsital, and creating Valentine’s gifts for FVPC members and friends who are senior citizens.
Our next Kids Can event took place on April 27, from 10:30 am-1:00 pm. Our theme was “How Can We Take Care of God’s World?” - tying into Earth Day. To learn more about other Earth Month activities at FVPC, click here.
On August 17, the Kids Can event will be centered on the theme, “Knowing God Is Always with Us.” From 10:30 am to 1:00 pm, children will enjoy lunch together and will play games, do crafts, and enjoy music in Rooms 2 and 3.
Questions? Email Dorene Tieche.
Worship, Music & Service
Summer Tutoring Program
Children in Worship
We believe that if children are to come to understand the importance of a lifetime of attending worship, they must participate in worship with their family. We love the sounds and the curiosity of our youngest disciples as we praise God together. To aid parents with this practice, we have busy bags to keep busy hands occupied. Beyond that, we will provide tips for engaging in worship while also creating rituals for our youngest folks. The nursery space is always available during the 10:15 am worship service, and if you need to step out for a moment, audio is pumped out into the Upper Gathering Space.
Children’s Choir
Our children’s music and worship leadership components are now wrapped into our Sunday School program. These components are led by Bridget Wachter, our Children’s Ministry Committee Chair and Chancel Choir member. You will see children leading music (or other parts of worship) at least once each month.
Mission and Service
Also wrapped into our Sunday School program are projects which challenge children to think about their faith beyond the walls of the church and their family. We will regularly engage in projects with the wider church, or even encourage the adults in the congregation to join our children in various efforts to show God’s love in our local community and around the globe.
This is the fourth summer the Children and Family Ministries Committee is hosting a free tutoring program at FVPC. We look forward to partnering with families and schools to support the development of confident and capable learners in our community. We are excited to share the good news that so far, 40 children have been signed up for this program.
The summer tutoring program will meet at church on Wednesdays from June 4 to July 30. (We will not meet on July 2.) Tutors will meet with students for a 50-minute one-on-one session to review reading, writing, and math skills. Sessions will run from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
As part of our summer tutoring program, the Mission Committee will be assembling 8 grocery bags available for families each week. The groceries are being funded by a grant received from Blackhawk Presbytery.
We extend our thanks to our 16 volunteer tutors. We still need:
A person to greet families coming in and leaving from 8:50 am-12:00 pm. This person also reminds the adults to sign their students in and out.
A tutor from 11:00-11:55 am to work with a wonderful 4th grader.
To volunteer as a greeter or tutor or if you have questions, please email Dorene Tieche.
Come and be a part of this wonderful ministry!