Christian Education of the
First Presbyterian Church
Waterloo, Iowa
Life-long learning is the key to a meaningful Christian life. A team of dedicated, skilled volunteers offer comprehensive programming for children and teens. Our Christian education program includes multiple offerings and Bible study on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. If you have questions regarding any of the following programs, please contact our Minister of Christian Nurture, Jan Schwab, at 319-233-6145 or e-mail her at jan@1stpresby.org
Sunday School
Every Sunday the children, Kindergarten through 5th grade, meet in the Discovery Room for Sunday morning Church School. At 10:00 a.m. the children gather with their parents in the Sanctuary for worship; after the Children's Time (about 10:20) they are dismissed to go with their teacher to the Discovery Room. There they delve into the Bible using the Bible Quest curriculum.
Childcare
Childcare is available from 9:45-11:15 a.m. for infants to 4 year old children. Our volunteer caregivers have many fun and creative things for them to do in our Little Tykes Room.
First Friends Wednesday Night
This after-school program meets on the First and Third Wednesdays of the month and is offered from September through April. Wednesdays at First is a fun time that involves music, laughter, Bible study, crafts, recreation, mission projects, and an evening meal for children Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Wednesdays at First Goes Bowling
Middle School Fellowship
The Middle School program is for youth from sixth-eighth grades and gather on the First and Third Wednesdays at 5:00 for a simple supper, and conclude their fellowship at 7:00 p.m. Our Youth Fellowship Coordinator plans a special program each week.
Summer 2009 Vacation Bible School (VBS)
First Church offers a one-week summer vacation Bible school for youth from Kindergarten through 100 years old! The theme for VBS 2009 was "Then and Now", from August 3-6.
The concept was to take participants from the time of Jesus through the present in areas of worship, school and family life, and promote interaction between the different generations. There was a time for supper, music, crafts, recreation and Bible stories.
The 2008 summer's theme was: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". From August 4-7 children ages 5 years to 5th grade came for Bible lessons, crafts, games, an evening meal and music. They took a chartered bus ride and explored the wonders of Fontana Nature Center, learned about Dairy Farming and enjoyed ice cream at Hansen's, and learned about the solar system and stars in the traveling Planetarium from the Grout Museum. This all added up to lots of fun in God's Wonder-Filled World!
Youth First Program
The "Youth First Program" is for young adults in 7th-12th grades. It is made up of members from the First Baptist, First Congregational, First Methodist and First Presbyterian Churches. The youth groups gather together for fellowship events, Bible study, mission projects, field trips, games and faith sharing. Contact Jan at 233-6145 for more information on upcoming events.
Passport's Devotional Site
The Passport's Devotional Site www.d365.org was created and is produced by Passport, Inc., a student ministry organization focused on creating meaningful experiences and resources for students. From youth and children’s camps to mission trips to online devotional sites to Faith in 3D, Passport, Inc. gives students a chance to see their world in new ways. This site is sponsored by three denominational partners: the Congregational Life office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Youth Ministries of the Episcopal Church in America.
Adult Education
Our adult education includes multiple offerings on Sunday mornings, including a Bible Study with the Pastor at 8:50 a.m., and Over the Coffee Christian Fellowship at 9:00 a.m. We offer other small group study programs through the Presbyterian Women Circles and Seekers groups.