Christian education for children and youth takes place each Sunday morning in the Education wing and youth rooms of the church from 8:45 - 9:50 a.m.

Two year olds:
Our program for two-year-olds begins on January 7.  Each session includes a Bible story, songs, learning games, and learning/play activities.  Four different activity centers will be offered simultaneously throughout the classroom.  Activities will include:  art, blocks, picture identification, music, body movement, worship, pretend play.  Each activity repeats and reinforces a simple theme.

Ages 3 through Grade 2:

“Godly Play” is  a multi-sensory program based on a theology of blessing.  It is  set in  a safe and secure environment of sacred time and sacred space.  It  honors the natural avenues of soul knowing which  include but are not limited to: sacred story,  stillness, creative expression (art, drama, music), symbol and ritual.  It respects and encourages a child’s natural capacity for awe, wonder, spontaneity and joy, the spiritual gifts which so delighted Jesus as he gathered the little children around him.  It’s intention is to give children an intimate experience of the presence of God through the re-enactment of the  biblical stories.  This re-enactment is made possible with a trained storyteller who moves a  variety of three-dimensional story pieces as the stories are told.  The storyteller uses an economy of words and movement to stir the imagination of children.  Each session is complete in itself, so you are welcome to join on any Sunday.

Third-Fifth Grades:

We follow the popular workshop rotation model with an emphasis on the creative spirit. For January - March 2007 our unit is "Teach Us To Pray" and includes "Stringing our Prayers", "Beaded Prayer Bracelets", "Baking Prayer Pretzels", "Prayer Posters", "Walking the Labyrinth", "Dances of Universal Peace", "Prayer in Art", "Writing Our Prayers" and more. This unit will culminate in an event on Prayer for the entire congregation on March 25. With parent support students will focus on learning "The 23rd Psalm" and "The Lord's Prayer".

Junior High
 

Sixth grade youth  We are studying the life of Paul and the Early Church. Students meet in their classroom tent to learn about all aspects of Paul's life, his transformation of spirit, his journeys, letters and the birth of the Church.

Seventh, eight and ninth grade students meet for confirmation class, led by the pastors and a team of other adults.

Confirmation class  meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 11:30 a.m.

 In addition to morning classes, Middle school/junior high youth meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 11:30 a.m.

Senior High

Tenth through twelfth grade students meet with adult leaders for discussion and fellowship with each other around a variety of topics.

In addition to Sunday morning classes, senior high youth meet  Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for Sr. High Fellowship which is led by four energetic young adults: Libby Ribar, Joe Huettl, Erin Prall, Aaron Reykdal who warmly welcome the youth into exciting fellowship events every Sunday night which includes team-building activities, visiting the Minnesota Swarm, Lock-Ins, the Corn Maze, Movie Nights, Scavenger Hunts, Talent Night, Dating Game and much more. Gathering in circle for candlelight devotions follows specific themes with reflection questions, small group discussions, and a spiritual exercise to carry into the week. Students also are active both mission and fund-raising events which include: Cheese Curd Booth, Christmas Wreath Sales, Adopt-A-Family, Souper Bowl Sunday. 

Two to three Special Sunday Morning Events for mixed ages are held throughout the year.

The most recent was "Christmas Around the World" for students age 5 - high school. Over five Sunday mornings, we celebrated the traditional music, decorations, crafts, stories and food from Sweden, Germany, South Indian, Mexico and the Ukraine led by knowledgeable and imaginative members of our congregation.

In March, we will celebrate an all-church event on Prayer. On Palm Sunday, all grades will experience a "Holy Week Walk-Through" of the final events of Jesus' life.

Clearwater Forest camping experiences are offered for all youth from third grade through senior high. Scholarships are available for summer camps and all special events.

A mission trip is which is planned every summer for senior high youth. This year Our Summer Mission Trip will be to Southwest Colorado where we will work at the La Puente Home Shelter in Alamosa.

We also have many of our Sr. High Youth attending the National Presbyterian Youth Triennium this year. 

  First Presbyterian Church of South St. Paul, Minnesota
535 20th Avenue North  °  South Saint Paul, Minnesota 55075
651-451-6223   °  FAX 651-451- 3866

History