Children


Children at HPC are growing in Christian faith through involvement in congregational life, worship, church school, mission, service, stewardship and fellowship.

Our ministries with and for children strive to:

  • Ensure the safe care of all children
  • Show God's love for all children
  • Respect the value of children
  • Nurture children's spirits, thoughts, emotions, and development
  • Build a Christian faith community for children
  • Engage children in individual and corporate relationship with God, the Bible, one another, and others
  • Involve children in service to others and in stewardship to the church and world.
Church School -- 9:30 to 10:30 am. (year round, but ending at 10:15 in the summer)
  • Age defined and graded classes for Twos through Fifth Graders (Combined classes in the summer)
  • Led by teaching teams of two to four adults in each class
  • Using Live Big curriculum which is written for an ecumenical audience
  • Covering a broad range of stories from the Bible by the time a child completes 5th grade while incorporating people of faith from around the world, music, and Reformed theology
  • Engaging children in a variety of ways by learning through art, music, movement, reading, sharing, thinking, and wondering about Bible stories.

2009-2010 Sunday School locations for classes:

In the Walker-Nevin Building:

Twos - Main level, first right
Threes - Main level, first left
Fours - Upstairs, first right
K's - Upstairs, last left
1st graders - Upstairs, first left

In the Main Building:

2nd and 3rd graders - Upstairs, second left (across from Chapel)
4th and 5th graders - Upstairs, at the end of hallway

Sunday Infant and Toddler Care -- 9:15 to 12:15 -- September through May
9:15 to 11:45 -- June, July, and August.

  • Provided for infants in our "Budding Babies" Nursery with our Nursery Nanny, Mara Thomas.

    Nursery – Walker-Nevin Bldg, Main level, second right

  • Provided for toddlers in our "Toddler Buds" Room with Gretta Ashbacher, our Toddler Care Provider, and volunteer assistants.

    Toddlers -- Walker-Nevin Bldg, Lower level, second right

Worship -- 11:00 a.m. (September through May) is:
  • Where all children are welcome to worship with the entire congregation
  • Where our children can participate in leadership through ushering, greeting, reading scripture, and singing in choir
  • Where our children learn about faith and are a part of a church family

During worship we provide

  • For our youngest children, Nursery and Toddler care with our Twos joining the Toddlers after Church school for the 11:00 hour.
  • Threes can go directly to "Bible Buddies." (See directions below)
  • Fours and Kindergartners have the opportunity to go to worship for the first fifteen minutes and enjoy a conversation with the pastor, and then join the other children in "Bible Buddies." They leave worship when we sing "Jesus Loves Me."
  • A table in the back of the sanctuary with items for elementary children remaining in worship that involve the scripture and topic of the service.

"Bible Buddies" is a class for threes, fours, and K's to have an alternative during worship. It is mostly an hour of childcare with some stories, songs, prayers, playtime, snacks, and crafts.

Service and Mission (ongoing all year) includes:
  • Back to School Supplies in August for Kentucky Refugee Ministries and Highlands Community Ministries
  • Thanksgiving Baskets in November for Highlands Community Ministries
  • Christmas Angel Tree in December for Highlands Community Ministries
  • Valentine's Bags in February for Kentucky Refugee Ministries
  • A class adopting a child in need through an international program
  • A class adopting a family in need through Highlands Community Ministries
  • Going to a nearby nursing home to visit and take cards
Wednesday Evening Supper, Children’s Choirs, and Education Opportunities:
  • Supper is provided (children are offered pizza, dessert and fruit for $3 per child).
  • Children’s Choirs meet on Wed. nights. See the Music Ministries for more information.
  • After dinner, there are 2 paid childcare workers here on Wed. evenings for Toddlers-Threes.
  • Adult Educational programs and fellowship are also offered. See the Adult Ministries.

Fellowship and Community (ongoing all year) includes:
See the calendar for complete and current opportunities.

  • Church school parties
  • Family Fellowships once a month
  • Church-wide Fellowship events
  • Intentional Intergenerational events

Notice: Vacation Bible School information will be posted by the end of February.

For more information contact Melissa Head, Associate Pastor for Christian Education.

Visit our Fellowship Page for more intergenerational programs.