Youth Education

Sunday Morning services are relaxing, inspiring, and creative for kids!
Nursery Care, Youth Sermon, Sunday School, and the Goat Bank

We love kids! Children of all ages are truly welcome on Sunday mornings at FPCP: The Church of the Open Door. Children are an essential part of the joy we feel in our congregation every Sunday.

At every Sunday service, Rev. Dr. Doris Chandler shares a Youth Sermon with the younger members of our congregation. Children sit on the floor of the sanctuary with Rev. Doris to listen, learn, ask questions, and share insights.

Rev. Doris was a public school teacher for more than 20 years and she gets kids! The Youth Sermon is a wonderful, warm, and thoughtful introduction to some pretty big ideas about how to care for each other, to stand up for what's right, and to do a little good in the world every day. (Grown-ups can learn a thing or two from these Youth Sermons, too!)

Every Sunday morning, right after the Youth Sermon, it's time for our offering, and while beautiful music plays, older children pass the collection plates. Meanwhile, the younger children are walking (or skipping, or hopping!) up and down the center aisle, collecting quarters for our Children's Mission. Then they drop these quarters one at a time into a tall, transparent tube -- that's the Goat Bank!

Whenever the Goat Bank is full, our congregation uses those quarters to buy a goat through Heifer International. This farm animal is donated to a grateful family in need somewhere in the world. To date, we've purchased nine goats for families all over the world! Visit the page on Heifer International in the "Mission" section of this website for more information on our Children's Mission project!

After the "Goat Bank" collection, children from pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 usually leave the sanctuary and head off to Sunday School! Our cozy classroom is down the hall and just steps away from the sanctuary, where the service continues for the rest of the congregation.

Our Sunday School is a bit like an old fashioned one-room schoolhouse. Children of all ages learn together, but explorations and activities in our lesson plans are always tailored according to ages and abilities. Middle school students often take leadership roles, assisting our volunteer teachers as well as the younger students.

All Sunday School teachers are volunteers from the congregation who take turns teaching in the classroom. You don't have to be a parent to teach -- everyone has special gifts and wisdom to share! For more information, email Youth Education Coordinator Carolyn Llewellyn at pchamsia@gmail.com.

Parents of babies and toddlers sometimes worry if their littlest ones cry or get "the squirmies" during Sunday morning services.

We love crying babies and squirmy toddlers! But if it makes attending services a little bit easier, you can always bring your little ones to our Nursery Care. We offer baby and toddler care in our peaceful church library, just steps from the sanctuary. Care is available throughout the service. Parents can come and go with babies and toddlers as many times as you like.

So remember: Our Nursery Caregiver is available every Sunday to watch over our "Littlest Congregation."

Teen Programs

Opportunities for Teens:
Community Service Through Mission Projects

Teens play important roles in our mission projects to help people and families in need in our community. Teens can collect food donations or they can volunteer to help on Saturday mornings at the Philipstown Food Pantry.

Teens also sort clothes and make lunches for our Midnight Run missions that provide food, comfort, and conversation to homeless people in New York City. Students ages 16 and up can sign up for our PresbyBuild Work Days to help build and renovate homes for families in Newburgh, in partnership with other churches and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh.

Teens can also volunteer to help prepare PAPA Meals on the first Tuesday of the month. We provide a hearty and nutritious hot meal for up to 80 people at the Salvation Army's soup kitchen in Peekskill.

Teens can participate in mission projects with their families, or on their own (with parental permission), or through youth organizations such as school groups or scout troops. You will find more detailed information about projects our Mission Page. To volunteer or donate, please contact the organizer listed for each mission project on our Mission Page, or contact the church office at 1presbyterian@gmail.com or (845) 265-3220.

Youth Group for Teens
Teens meet on select Sundays from 5:30 - 7 pm

All teens are welcome at our Youth Group meetings! Your family does not need to be a member of our congregation, or any congregation, to participate.

On select Sunday afternoons throughout the year, our teens meet over pizza or potluck dinners to talk about timely issues; share opinions, concerns, and experiences; and to collaborate on projects that help people in need in our community. Youth Group members often contribute to Sunday services and other events and activities.

Teens also have the option to take confirmation classes. Eight teens took classes in spring 2019 (see photo at left).

For more info, contact the church office at 1presbyterian@gmail.com or (845) 265-3220.

To receive important updates about our Youth Group, teen mission projects, and other adventures in faith for teens:
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