Children and Youth Ministries

Growing and Engaging in Faith

COVID-19 UPDATE: Some of these groups or activities are meeting online or have been temporarily suspended.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the opportunities below, please contact the church office.

Fostering faith in God's children

First Congregational United Church of Christ (FCUCC) has a robust children and youth ministry with Sunday morning activities that follow the Learning Center Rotation Model and in-person and virtual programming that engage children of all ages and abilities.

Children and Youth Programming Fall 2022

Infants and Toddlers

The First Congregational nursery is open on Sunday mornings from 9:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. providing parents an opportunity to participate in worship and fellowship.


The nursery is staffed by a team dedicated to the care and safety of our youngest members. Staff is certified in CPR and First Aid. In addition, the nursery is secured during worship; parents or guardians are required to sign their children “in” and “out.”

Due to COVID-19 the Nursery is closed.

A respite space, where the live broadcast of worship is available, is located near the Sanctuary for those who may need to, temporarily, step out of worship.

Kids reading books on the floor

Involvement opportunities for children

A moment during worship each Sunday when the focus of the service is explored from a child’s perspective.

At FCUCC, we use a Learning Center Rotation Model designed to reach different learning styles. Each month is dedicated to a specific subject such as Jesus or John the Baptist, for example, and classes rotate through the learning centers: Studio/Art; Cinema/Movies; and Lab, a traditional classroom with Kinetic learning.

Wee Worship introduces children, pre-k through first grade, to worship and offers lessons and adventures from the Bible.

At the discretion of parents, children are invited to the Communion Table on the first Sunday of each month. A communion preparation class is offered each fall.

African drum choir for children.

Involvement opportunities for youth

Group meetings, team-building activities, and fun trips help youth build community and develop relationships.

Youth learn the value of giving back through summer mission trips, volunteering at local food banks, and hosting special events, like the jack-o-lantern sale that raises funds for local nonprofits.

Through confirmation class, youth in the 8th grade and older study the basics of the Christian faith: God, the Bible, the role of worship and the Sacraments, the purpose of the Church, and the formation of the United Church of Christ. They are encouraged to listen, ask questions, and form their own beliefs.

Drum choir for youth

youth at an Escape Room outing

Opportunities for children and youth

Time with Children, Science + Faith, youth musicals, and more, are available to view anytime on First Cong’s YouTube channel. 

Each summer, the children and youth at First Congregational put on a musical during worship.

The yearly Christmas pageant offers an opportunity for the children and youth to work together on a production of the traditional Christmas story. Since COVID-19, the pageants have been virtual.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Program

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Program logoOur Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education program created by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Participants learn how to make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, health, and behavior in the context of their faith. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. The program not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills and understand the social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of sexuality.