Program Details during COVID-19

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” – Hebrews 13:8.
We hope your child will be encouraged to know that in a world full of changes, Jesus doesn’t change. His love for us never stops, his grace is constant, and his presence is always there to guide us. Because Jesus is who he is, we can build our lives on his teaching which is rock solid. We hope that this is a year that your child’s faith will grow and blossom.

This time of covid has reminded us that faith formation starts at home. The church is always here to support you but when you take ownership of growing your child’s faith at home, your child will start to take ownership of their faith and internalize it at a much deeper level. That in turn makes what we do as the church much more effective. It’s a partnership and we’re so happy to be in it with you. We are rooting for you and here to support you with whatever you may need.

We have a number of opportunities for your family to grow in faith together so keep reading. Please Text FPKids to 94090 to stay up to date on all First Pres Kids news, and text SPARK to 94090 for the latest Spark information.

With Sunday morning Inspire and Ignite for children on hiatus, Church@Home resources are being sent by email each weekend with links to teaching videos and songs. Discussion questions and bonus materials will be available to guide your child through a short, faith-building experience. If you don’t yet receive these emails, check your junk folder, or email David Profitt and we’ll add you to the list.

Spark for 1st-5th graders will run in a modified format Wednesdays, September 23 – November 18, 3:45-5:30pm. In-person group sizes will be limited: masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing and temperature checks are some of the many procedures planned.

This year, an “at home” online format is also available. Videos of the teaching and small group materials will be emailed to those who sign up for this option. It’s not too late to register for Online Spark.

This fall, the theme of Spark is GROW. Just like a flower grows in dirt, we grow our roots into God’s love. Ephesians 3:17 says “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” This is the type of growth that God has planned for all of us, and we are excited for the opportunity to partner with parents as they raise kids who GROW in God’s love.

We are excited this fall for Spark! The volunteer team is phenomenal. The children are so lucky to have these individuals teaching and leading them. Please pray for the program as we kick off Wednesday, September 23 with covid safety strategies in place.

Westminster Preschool has joyfully re-opened for learning following all covid guidelines. Classes are for children, almost age 3 through Kindergarten. Even in this unusual time, the children are learning, playing and growing – while appropriately distanced and wearing masks.

We prepare students to succeed in kindergarten and beyond through a daily balance of “free-play” and interactive structured learning time. We learn about the world around us while building a strong foundation for reading and math skills. We also practice cognitive skills, fine motor skills, healthy self-concepts, socialization, and negotiation so kids graduate with a strong foundation for school.

Select enrollment openings are still available. Please contact Sue Clary, Director of Westminster Preschool, if you need more information. Or call the preschool office at 630-469-2090.

In Student Ministry at First Pres, we hope to give students an onramp to adulthood, preparing them to participate fully in life. We want them to be socially and emotionally engaged, able to identify how God is at work in their lives. Middle School and High School programs encourage students and point them to Christ. Our mission in Student Ministry this season is to provide opportunities for in-person gatherings that protect our young people while still growing their faith.

Keep reading for details and registration links; new students are welcome to join us throughout the year. Questions about any Student Ministry program? Contact Blake Riboli or Michel Curth.

At First Pres we are very excited to offer a mid-week program for your Middle Schooler! Some significant changes for the fall include wearing facemasks, social distancing, registration limits, no dinner, and a new time! Please register online.

• TNT for 8^th Grade students will meet on Tuesdays, 7-8pm. Register now!
• TNT for 6^th and 7^th Grade students will meet on Wednesdays, 7-8pm. Register now!

TNT will take place every Tuesday and Wednesday from September 8 & 9 through November 10 & 11.

With all these changes, we still believe that young people will benefit from gathering in person – outside – under the tent; we’ll play games and check-in with your student. Middle school is hard enough! We hope to partner with you this year to provide a place for your teenager to process the world around them and to grow closer to Jesus.

Middle School students, brown bag it under the tent on Thursdays!
Are you looking for ways to help your Middle School student connect with friends during the day? TNT is sponsoring a lunchtime gathering on Thursdays, beginning September 10, 11:30-12:30. Register now for TNT lunch! We can only have 20 students each Thursday (weather permitting). Students will eat at a safe social distance. After they eat they will hear a short message and play a safe, distanced game. Bring a mask and your lunch.

Confirmation at First Pres follows the academic year calendar. Usually we meet in person and work through the hard and challenging questions that define the faith of a young person. This year, despite the restraints of Covid-19, we will focus on challenging questions, and we’ll provide a rich environment for connecting through faith. Every gathering will have an emphasis on fun and joy in the community. 2020-2021 Confirmation will be an excellent opportunity for your 8th grade student to find belonging and to grow in his/her faith.

Confirmation will take place on Sunday each week, 4-5pm beginning September 20, 2020 and ending May 16, 2021. We will begin the year meeting in the tent on the Northeast parking lot. As the class has started, please contact Blake to enroll your student.

Inferno, our High School youth group, offers a welcoming environment specifically designed for a high school student—it’s a place they can belong while trying on who they are. Here, participants have an opportunity to try on what it means to be a Jesus follower. Students hear about and discuss the person and character of Jesus reflective of the Biblical narrative, and they see how it applies to their lives today.

Inferno meets on Sundays, September through May, 7-8:30pm. This year, due to Covid, we will start the year meeting under the parking lot tent. Register for Inferno.

Adults at First Pres have opportunities to live out their faith anywhere, all the time. Adults of all ages can participate in engaging activities within the First Pres community. If you want more — more opportunity for personal growth, more connection with others and with God, and more ways to expand your knowledge and deepen the foundation of your faith — you’ve come to the right place.

The teaching ministry of the church is vital for a dynamic and growing life in Christ. Our classes are designed to help deepen your faith, engage your heart and mind, and encourage you to love and serve God and each other. We would love to have you join us for Adult Education. Classes are typically held September – May on Sunday mornings but are currently offered as videos that you can watch from home on your schedule. View the current class offering.

First Pres offers six-week grief support groups which meet via Zoom. The group’s intent is to provide a place for those who grieve, and specifically for those who have lost a loved one. We each experience loss and we do so in a way that is unique to each of us. This setting will allow you to talk honestly about what grieving is like for you, enable you to learn about issues and stages of grief, and be encouraged and cared for by others. Jonathan Hancock will facilitate the group. Contact Jonathan for more information or to let him know you would like to participate in a future grief group.

Lunch Bunch normally meets for lunch, fellowship and a special program on the third Wednesday of the month, 12noon-2:00. While the weather remains pleasant, we will brown-bag it under the tent in the NE parking lot. Call the church office (630-469-2007) to reserve your space at the next gathering of Lunch Bunch, or to add your name and address to the Lunch Bunch mailing list. Bring your lunch and mask.

Are you looking for a place to pray with others? Are you perhaps uncomfortable praying with others? Are you well-seasoned in approaches to prayer? Do you want to learn more about how people pray with each other? You can jump in any time. Bring the things that weigh on your heart and join us as we seek God together. Midweek Prayer is each Wednesday, 7-7:45pm on Zoom, and is facilitated by Jonathan Hancock and David Profitt. Please register to join us so we can send you the Zoom login information. If you have questions or things you want to lift before our God with others, contact Pastor Jonathan Hancock.

At First Pres, we live our faith through service. We love and serve in response to Christ’s call and the needs around us. We share God’s love with the world by partnering with local, national, and global organizations, diverse in their missions and locations. They share a common goal of Christ’s love in action. We send our members into these partnerships in fun, creative ways. Read more about the current needs of our mission partners. The Missions Council continues to update the church on the ways we can respond as the hands and feet of Christ as we move through this crisis. Questions? Contact the Missions Council by way of Lou Simon or Erik Peterson, Missions Elders.

Mothers of Preschoolers is an International Organization dedicated to hosting women’s gatherings that welcome moms to share life, motherhood and Jesus. Whether you are a first time mom, mom of 5, or grandmother caring for children, this time will be for you to receive refreshment, encouragement, inspiration and affirmation for the important job you hold of MOTHERHOOD.  Bring a friend, share with a neighbor you know.  MOPS is for everyone. Learn about upcoming MOPS gatherings.

Are you new to First Pres? We offer New Member classes twice each year. The two-session classes meet in-person on Sundays, early evenings, at First Pres with social distancing, hand sanitizer, and masks available. Pastor Chris leads the informative classes. You will learn more about following Jesus, and about the programs and ministry of First Pres. The class provides a great opportunity to meet other folks who, like you, are new to First Pres. If you would like to attend a future class, contact Cinda Siligmueller. We look forward to meeting you!

God can uniquely work in our lives every day through relationships. We know everyone craves close, meaningful connection, and we believe in the impact these relationships can have on faith. We work intentionally to cultivate Christ-centered relationships, strong marriages, healthy families, and transformative friendships. First Pres offers a variety of Small Groups: Mens, Womens, Co-ed, Couples and Family Groups; some groups even meet via Zoom during this time. The Small Group leadership team would love to help you find or build a group that is a great fit for you. Contact Cinda about joining a small group.

We take joy in worshipping the God of the universe, despite being unable to gather together physically. Even during hard times, we know we can experience God’s presence no matter where we are and who we are with. While “sheltering in place” we worship God each Sunday morning at 10:00. All people are welcome to join us for a time of community prayer and the opportunity to participate in worship from your home. Join us for worship online shortly before 10:00 each Sunday morning.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how difficult is it for you to be loving towards others right now? How about to be patient and self-controlled? Joyful? In a place of peace? Kind? My guess is that exhibiting these kinds of behaviors is a much greater challenge now than it was in a pre-pandemic, pre-recession, pre-homeschooling world. And, my guess is, that living this way is going to become even more challenging for us over the coming months of this election year. Here’s the good news; living the fruit of the Spirit is not dependent upon your ability to will these things into your life. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are what flows out of us when we allow the Spirit of God to work deep within us.

On Sunday mornings this fall at First Pres we will look at how we can invite the Holy Spirit to be at work in us to exhibit this fruit in our lives. We will study in depth each of the elements of the Fruit of the Spirit and find ways to live completely counter to the way the world lives in these challenging days. Right now, the world needs Christians to live by the Spirit and to share the fruit of the Spirit in our lives with a haggard, tired, divided and troubled people. Come discover how you can allow the Spirit to be a blessing through you to your family, your church, and your community in these strange days.

In case you’ve missed a previous service, you can view past online worship services.

To read the most recent First Pres news, return to the First Pres home page and scroll to the bottom of the page.