Programs for Young People – from Infants to College-Age Men and Women

2009-2010 City of God Registration Form, PDF

Upcoming Junior High and Senior High Youth Activities, click here for more info.

If you are looking for a loving, nurturing, interesting and fun place where your child can learn about the Bible and Christian faith, please look here.

The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor provides an active and enthusiastic Christian education program for young people from tots to college men and women. From September to June, kids at all levels have a place to learn.

Each Sunday morning, we have a nursery for infants through two-year-olds.

Church School

Children from three years old through seventh grade learn through an innovative approach we call The City of God. In an open atmosphere, kids experience the major Bible themes and concepts through kid-friendly multimedia workshop stations:
Arts and Crafts (God’s Gallery)
Scripture and Drama (Scripture School),
Music and Movement (M & M with Faith),
Computers and Ancient Maps (Dot God).

The City of God works like this: Every four weeks, a new Bible story takes the stage. The classes rotate to a different station each week. So the story remains the same, but children encounter it in different ways at each station. The educational philosophy recognizes that children love repetition, and they need it to develop a lasting memory and understanding of the stories and their meaning. Over time, a student can learn and explore most of the major Bible themes and stories.  

The Teacher, an adult volunteer, commits to teaching four weeks or longer in one station of special interest to the teacher. The teacher teaches the same lesson, adjusting for age level, for the length of the rotation. 

A Shepherd, also an adult volunteer, stays with each church-school class for the whole year, rotating along with the children. 

The variety of experiences keeps the children’s interest high throughout their church school time. And because the Bible story is read at the start of each class, children who attend irregularly get the background information they need and fit in easily whenever they come. 

If you have any questions please contact Holly Porter, our Director of Christian Education, at (734) 662-1679, ext. 9, or .

Confirmation

Eighth graders have an exciting time of learning and contemplation as they prepare themselves for the decision to join The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor. In the Confirmation program, each student is paired with an adult member of the church (their mentor). Together they take steps on the student’s faith journey using a curriculum as a guide.

Beginning in January, the confirmands and their mentors meet together and as a group with the minister to explore faith. In the culmination of the process, each student writes a Statement of Faith. In May, the confirmands are invited to join the church in a moving service with the congregation.