FPCThomasville - Christian Education

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

One of the most important things we do as a church is gather around the Word of God. In the Bible we meet and know who God is, and it's through the Bible we better understand who we are and how to live our lives. So we encourage everyone to be in a Sunday School class. We hope you'll find the right one for you!

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Christian Nurture Class - Room 1, Fellowship Hall

Teachers: Fred Bostick, Janet Sheldon, Allen Cone, Amy Smoak

Assistants: Bernice Norwood, Brenda Lee

This class uses the Present Word Bible study which emphasizes mastery of the Bible's content ? understanding Scripture in relation to life experiences and a greater awareness of God's self-disclosure. There is a strong emphasis on God's redeeming love as revealed in Jesus Christ. The fall quarter is a study of the Old Testament from Noah's day through the prophets.

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Independent Bible Class - Rockwell Room, Fellowship Hall

Teacher: Carol Hinson

Assistant: Marj Shaw

This class is studying Genesis and Exodus using Discover Your Bible from the Christian Reformed Church. This class uses an inductive & discussion approach to Bible study that does not just "teach" the answers. It's designed to draw members into the meaning of the Bible by helping them discover biblical truths for themselves, rather than relying only on the expertise of the teacher.

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Adelphoi Class - Room 1, Adult Education Building

Teacher: Larry May

Assistant: Barry McCray

This class is using Dallas Willard and Don Simpson's book, The Revolution of Character, to discover how God works in our lives to transform us into disciples. It is an exploration into the ways that God can take the cry of our hearts, work from the inside out, cause us to experience significant growth, shed sinful habits, and increasingly take on the character of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Open Window Class - Room 2, Adult Education Building

Teacher: Rudy Hehn

This class continues a survey of the New Testament. The class has explored the social world of Jesus' day, how and when the New Testament was written, and how the early church selected the books of the NT. The class is now systematically moving through the four Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. If you always wanted to look at the New Testament as a whole, or you need a "refresher" study of the NT, this class is for you.

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Open Door Class - Room 3, Adult Education Building

Teacher: Mike Bixler (and other class members)

Since the beginning of the year, this class's weekly lessons have focused on individual characters in the Bible ... first from the Old Testament and then from the New Testament. By exploring the faith, the holiness and often the human flaws of these characters, the class is gaining instruction and guidance for living passionate lives of faithfulness to the Lord. The class is finishing the year with a 12-week study that focuses entirely on the Peter, arguably the disciple with whom Christians most readily relate, owing to his humanness.

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Lifetime Commitment Class - Room 4, Adult Education Building

Teachers: Daniel Smoak, Sloan Howard

This class is engaged in a verse-by-verse study of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew is a strong witness to the advancing Kingdom of God ? to the life, death, and resurrection of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The call of Jesus to discipleship is clear and convicting. Each week we take several verses of Matthew, try to understand what the text is saying, and then make appropriate application to our own daily lives.

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The Beacon - The Church Library

Teachers: Tim Grayson, Russell Miller

We will study the Gospel of John. "We all long for a rich, full, satisfying life, but how do we fill up the empty places in our soul? How can we quench our thirst for something deeper, more meaningful, and more lasting? John urges us to take a fresh look at Jesus. He invites us to renew our faith in the One who promises to be the way, the truth, and the life". If you want relevant and Bible-based discussion, this is a class for you.

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YOUTH MINISTRY

The Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Thomasville is committed to Matthew 22:37-39. "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" These words of Christ are our guide as we seek to deepen our relationship with him through worship and deepen our relationship to others through service.

Sunday School

Youth Sunday School classes are offered each Sunday morning for grades 6-12. The sixth grade uses Bible curriculum that nurtures their faith and deepens their growing commitment to Christ. In addition, children in Grade 6 spend the spring quarter learning the church's catechism. The seventh and eighth grade Sunday school is our Confirmation Class where youth learn the doctrine, history, and richness of our faith in order to become full members of the congregation. The ninth through twelfth grade class studies Scripture using the various curriculum in order that they might become better equipped to live as disciples of Christ in the midst of their challenging world.

Youth Fellowship

Youth Fellowship is offered every Sunday night from 4:30 - 7:50 p.m. in the Edwards Youth Building. Our goal at Youth Fellowship is to create an open environment where the love Christ is at the forefront of all we do. Through relationship-based ministry, we desire to cultivate opportunities for developing lives that will be lived in faithful obedience to the Lord. Both the Junior High group (grades 6-8) and the Senior High group (grades 9-12) engage in Scripture-based discussions that are intended to deepen their faith, increase their understanding of and appreciation of the Bible, and strengthen their relationship with God. Other activities that are looked forward to are the weekly suppers, a variety of games, service and outreach opportunities, and small groups.

Monday and Wednesday Night Bible Study

On Monday night and on Wednesday night after Church Family Night supper, the youth gather for Bible Study. Our study centers on a particular book of the Old or New Testament, and in addition to being immersed in God's Word, the youth are encouraged to develop skills necessary for serious Bible study. Integral to these studies is a time of prayer where youth pray for each other, the church, and other concerns or joys that are presented to the group.

Youth Mission Trip

Every summer our youth are invited to participate in Youth mission trips. The purpose of these trips both within and outside of the United States is to expose our youth to the needs of others, as well as give them a chance to put their faith into action by serving their 'neighbors'. During past trips our youth have worked with our sister congregation on Ticul, Mexico and spent a week working on local outreach projects in Thomasville.

Special Activities

Other special activities are planned throughout the year to enrich the faith and life of our youth. There are many mission activities, such as the Souper Bowl, local mission trips, and our biannual international Senior High Mission Trip. We deepen our faith through fun and fellowship activities like the Montreat Youth Conference, retreats, trips to Wild Adventures Theme Park, a ski trip, whitewater rafting the Ocoee River, tubing on the Ichetucknee, attending Christian Artist concerts, the annual progressive dinner at Christmas and the annual Pumpkin Festival sponsored by the youth for the children of our church.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

The Children's Ministry of First Presbyterian Church is committed to nurturing children in the Christian faith, with the assurance of God's love. It is our prayer that children may come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through the teaching of God's Word and the experience of God's presence as they participate as members of our church family.

Sunday School

Our church offers a structured Sunday School program for children ages two through Grade 5 during the regular 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Hour. There is a separate class for each grade or age. The curriculum for all classes is Bible-based, teacher-friendly, and age-appropriate. Children in Grades 1-5 participate in exciting BIBLEVILLE.

Bibleville uses the Rotation Sunday School Method, where children focus on a single Bible Story for several weeks, using a variety of lab-style workshops which include computer (Heaven Wide Web), Video (Gateway to Heaven Cinema), Drama (Troupe de Acts Theatre), Cooking (Loaves and Fishes Diner), Crafts (Creation Station), Bible Skills and Games (Solomon Says Corner) and Music (Joyful Noise Temple ). Students rotate by grade each week through the designated workshops. Children in these grades also begin the Sunday School hour with a General Assembly.

Children's Church

Children's Church is held on Sunday mornings during the 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. Children from age three through second grade leave the sanctuary following the Children's Sermon for age-appropriate instruction during the rest of the worship hour. Parents of the children in our church lead the Children's Church on a rotating basis. There is also a special "Children's Bulletin" available.

Church Nursery

A well-staffed and well-maintained church nursery is available for children aged two and under at all church events. Our nursery workers are experienced staff members who provide nurturing care for your child. All nursery workers are trained in Pediatric CPR.

First Presbyterian Church Preschool

Our church offers a Preschool Program for children ages two, three and four during the regular school year. The Preschool, which has been in operation for nearly fifty years, offers a warm, accepting Christian atmosphere in which a child can grow intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Classes are limited in size, and staffed by experienced and qualified teachers.

Mother's Morning Out

First Presbyterian Church offers a Mother's Morning Out Program for preschool-aged children from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each Friday. Loving care is provided for the children during this playtime with their church friends. During the summer, the Mother's Morning Out program expands to twice weekly.

Children's Clubs

Following the Church Family Night Supper each Wednesday, the children are involved in age-graded Children's Clubs. A variety of activities using the Biblical themes are planned by the Director of Children's Ministries. These activities provide a learning and happy experience for the children while their parents participate in the adult Bible Study led by the pastor.

Vacation Bible School

A weeklong Vacation Bible School is offered each year for children age three through fifth grade. This is an exciting week of Bible Learning activities. The Vacation Bible School is directed by a church volunteer, and is staffed by adults within the church, with assistance of Youth Fellowship volunteers. A grand finale to V.B.S. week is planned for the entire family.