First Church is committed to families. We have an Associate Pastor of Family Life and our church school is growing as we expand our offerings to children and families.
Our Worship
We would love to welcome your family to our worship! If you come with young children, we suggest that you sit toward the front where it is easier to see and hear. They probably get tired of seeing the back of people’s heads. Quietly explain the parts of the service and what the pastors, choir and deacons are up to. Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn about church by copying you. We offer church school classes during the service during the school year. You’re welcome to keep your children with you in the sanctuary or take them to class.
Our Nursery
Our nursery is open each Sunday at 9:45, staffed with a dedicated, paid teacher who grew up at First Church and a volunteer assistant. Parents can drop children 0 - 2 years old in the nursery before heading to worship. The service is piped into the Narthex so our littlest congregants and parents who need to step out of the Sanctuary can still hear the worship.
Church School
From Labor Day to mid - June we offer Sunday morning church school from birth through seventh grade. Children ages 3 and older join in the first part of the church service, leaving for class after a children's message (or heading out after the first hymn on communion Sundays). We are using a modified Godly Play curriculum for the first time this year and we're thrilled!
Register for Church School online here!
We offer a special communion liturgy for children and church school teachers once a month. Children and teachers gather for an interactive communion, learning about the sacrament and feasting together. Parents are welcome to join in!
Family Events
First Church's Board of Christian Education offers monthly (or more frequent) events for families. From our Fat Tuesday Supper to our Mac & Cheese Bake-Off, from our Advent Workshop to our Arts Celebration, we offer events for families to connect with one another and ways for children to celebrate our faith with gusto. Email the office for the scoop on our latest plans!
Youth Group
First Church in Wenham offers a vibrant Middle School Youth Group. Or maybe it's the Middle School Youth Group that helps make us so vibrant? The Youth Group is the dreaming machine behind so many of our family events. We strive to provide a space where youth can collaborate, connect, and make a difference during these important years. Download a YG Permission form.
Confirmation Class
We invite youth to join our confirmation class in the Fall of their 8th grade year. Rev. Mike Duda and Rev. Judy Proctor work with Shelby Thompson to offer a dynamic, interactive program where youth learn about the church, Christianity, and faith in the 21st century while deciding whether or not they'd like to join the church. Classes usually meet twice a month on Tuesday nights from 7-8:30pm.