Vision
The purpose of the Children’s Ministry at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church is more than just giving the children “something” to do, or “somewhere” to be on Sunday morning, while their parents participate in meaningful worship and study. All of our programs for children at St. Paul’s are designed with one goal in mind: to make the glory of the Lord known to the next generation, so that they would set their hope in God. (Psalm 78)
Philosophy
Our deepest desire for our children is that they would call on the Lord Jesus Christ and place their trust in Him alone for their salvation. We believe that leading children to a solid faith in Christ begins by giving them a solid foundation of Biblical Truth. However, merely knowing about God is not enough. We focus on reaching the hearts of our children through an emphasis on application of the Word in their daily lives, while recognizing that only God can make himself known to them. Our humble efforts are made effective only by the grace of God and His transforming power at work in His children. (Romans 10; 2 Corinthians 3; 1 Corinthians 3)
We Welcome Children to Worship
Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God. —Deuteronomy 31:12
The purpose of our corporate Worship Service is to gather together as a church body, including children, to proclaim the Glory of the Lord and to respond to His greatness with authentic worship. Our desire is to provide an environment where all people can come together and worship God. Therefore, we welcome children of any age into our Worship Service and we encourage parents to model for them joyful praise, worship and a hunger for the Word of God.
Sunday Morning Children’s Programs
Nursery
Childcare is available for Infants and Toddlers during the 8:45am and 11:15am worship services and during the Sunday School hour (from 10:05am to 11:00am) . Preschoolers are also welcome in the nursery during the worship services, if needed.
Infants & Toddlers: A Sure Foundation
The best foundation we can lay for these little children is the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. Everything else will crumble. The nursery ministry is just the beginning of leading a child to Jesus. Much of the work is hidden, and the fruits of this ministry may take years to see. But God is faithful. In constructing a building, the labor of digging holes and pouring footings may look unimportant to the untrained eye, but without a sure foundation, the building will not stand the test of time and the stress of adverse conditions.
So it is in the life of a child. The foundation of prayer, blessing, and a godly atmosphere may look unimportant to the untrained eye and may even be forgotten when the child matures, but a sure foundation can be the means of salvation for a child. Isaiah 28:16 speaks of only one sure foundation for these little ones: So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.”
Sunday School
- Sunday School classes for children ages three and older meet between the worship services every Sunday morning from 10:05am to 11:00am.
- Preschool (Ages Three and Four)
He Established a Testimony:Old Testament Stories for Young Children
God has testified of His glorious deeds and mighty power. This curriculum explores God’s greatness by noting key themes found chronologically throughout the Old Testament.- Kindergarten through 1st Grade Class
Jesus, What a Savior!: A Study for Children on Redemption
God’s promises are gifts to the believer. The challenge of the Christian life is not to simply know the promises of God, but to place unshakable confidence in them. This study teaches children that God’s character is trustworthy; therefore, His promises are true and reliable.
- Kindergarten through 1st Grade Class
- 2nd through 3rd Grade Class
In the Beginning…Jesus: A Chronological Study for Children of Redemptive History
The Bible is one complete true story that progressively reveals God’s redemptive plan, which comes to complete fulfillment in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. In the Beginning…Jesus begins with a historical mystery—Jesus’ death on the cross—and asks the questions: “What really happened here?” “Why did Jesus die?” and “Who did it?” To find the answers to these questions, the study goes to the beginning of the Bible narrative in Genesis and then moves chronologically through the Old Testament text as students search for clues that foreshadow the coming of Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross. Special emphasis is given to showing that the Bible is God’s story from beginning to end and that Jesus is the key to understanding the story.
- 4th through 6th Grade Class
The names of God are wonderful revelations of His majestic character. This study presents the Hebrew names of God in the Old Testament and the names of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Each lesson encourages children to see and rejoice in the goodness and greatness of God as they explore the meaning of His glorious names.
Children’s Ministry Contact Information
Ruth Seefeldt
ruthseefeldt@gmail.com
About Our Curriculum
We have chosen to use the Children Desiring God curricula in our Children’s Ministry classes because of it’s God-centered approach to teaching the whole-counsel of God, as well as its emphasis on personal application of the Word. For more information about the Children Desiring God curricula, please visit their website at www.childrendesiringgod.org