Blessings Along the Way
Celebrating the important milestones on the journey of faith

• Birth - each new baby receives a Spiritual Safe from the congregation to store mementos of faith
• Baptism - parents meet with one of the pastors to discuss the promises made during the Service of Holy Baptism
• Baptism Brunch - children who have been baptized during the previous year are invited, along with their families, to a baptism brunch in January to reaffirm the promises made at baptism and to receive a special token from the congregation
• Parents receive a CD and a monthly newsletter during the child's first year that contains parenting and child development information, along with ideas for growing the faith
• Age 2 - each child receives a "My Church" book with pictures of Family of Christ
• Age 3 - children are invited to a "Noah's Ark" party at the beginning of the school year to welcome them to participation in the Church School program
• Age 4 (To be announced)
• Age 5 - "Send-off to Kindergarten" brunch is held during the early fall for those children beginning kindergarten
• Early First Communion - parents are encouraged to bring their child to one of several Early First Communion classes offered throughout the year when they feel that their child is "faith-ready" to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion
• 1st grade - (To be announced)
• 2nd grade - 2nd graders receive a Bible in the spring from their parents and the congregation in preparation for studying the Bible in 3rd grade
• 3rd grade - 3rd graders are welcomed to the Christos program, a special Church School program for 3rd-5th graders.
• 4th grade - (To be announced)
• 5th grade - "Remembering Communion" a special program in the spring to remember their 1st Communion or to prepare for their 1st Communion
• 6th grade - 6th graders mark a special point in their faith journey as they begin the Confirmation program
• 7th grade - (To be announced)
• 8th grade - (To be announced)
• 9th grade - Focus during this year of Confirmation is on the promises made at the Affirmation of Baptism service in the spring
• 10th grade - 10th graders receive a special keychain and a "Behind the Wheel" blessing from the congregation as they receive the privilege of a driver's license
• 11th grade - (To be announced)
• 12th grade - Graduates are recognized as they embark on a new part of their faith journey
• College - (To be announced)
• New Job - (To be announced)
• Marriage - (To be announced)
• Birth of a child - (To be announced)