Children & Youth

Many families discover at Overbrook Presbyterian Church a safe, nurturing environment where their children and youth can learn about God and grow in their Christian faith.

Sunday School

Sunday School is offered on Sunday mornings. Children and youth worship with the whole community for the first part of the worship service, then leave for Sunday School after the Time with Children. Several different classes are offered:

Nursery:

Infants and toddlers are cared for by paid, professional caregivers, in addition to volunteers from the church. Children play, color pictures, and have a snack.

Pre-K:

Three and four year-olds are taught by a paid caregiver and volunteer teachers. The curriculum is called "Live Big," and includes a story, snack, activity, and DVD component.

Grades K-5:

Elementary-aged children participate in a workshop rotation model of Sunday School, moving each week through different activities that engage the whole child in learning stories from the Bible. Teachers volunteer for a specific workshop for each five-week rotation.

Youth:

Middle school and high school students remain in worship through the sermon, then leave for Sunday School, which involves discussion of the service and the sermon.

Youth Group

The youth group meets regularly for fellowship, service, and faith building. For seventh and eighth graders, Confirmation classes are offered in the Spring, giving them a chance to explore their faith and prepare to become active members of the church.

Mission & Service Opportunities

Both children and youth begin to learn at an early age that serving others is an important way of living out the Christian faith. Children are invited to donate school supplies to needy kids in the annual Pencil Project, and they collect pennies for the Cents-Ability offering to fight hunger. Youth help out in receiving the annual Souper Bowl of Caring offering, and sometimes go on mission trips or service projects.

Other Activities

On Christmas Eve, the children and youth participate in a Christmas pageant in the Sanctuary. Another beloved Christmas Eve tradition at Overbrook is the decoration of gingerbread houses. In the Spring, children enjoy an Easter egg hunt in the playground.

Child Protection Policy

Overbrook Presbyterian Church is determined to provide a safe and secure environment for all children and youth entrusted to our care. This determination reflects a spiritual commitment to nurture children and their families in their relationships with God and one another. The Session of Overbrook Presbyterian Church has adopted a formal policy for the protection of our children and youth, and to provide guidance for our employees and volunteers. In accordance with this policy, all those volunteering to work with children are subject to a screening process, which includes a check of criminal records and child abuse records.

Children and Youth in Worship

Worship is for all of God’s people, so children of any age are always welcome in the worship service. Children and youth participate in the service in a variety of ways. Older children and youth serve each week as acolytes, lighting the candles at the beginning of the service. Each Sunday, there is a “Time with Children” during the service, when children are invited to sit on the chancel steps for a short lesson led by the Director of Christian Education or Pastor. The Overbrook Junior Choir sings in the worship service about once a month during the school year. Throughout the year, special services and events for children and youth include a “Blessing of the Backpacks” at the beginning of the school year, a “Children’s Sabbath” in October, a Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve, a children’s musical in the Spring, and Confirmation for youth also in the Spring. Special worship kits are also available each week at the entrance to the Sanctuary, to help children better engage in worship.

Overbrook Junior Choir

The Overbrook Junior Choir, directed by Margene Biedermann, is a choir for children ages 7-12. During the school year, it sings approximately once a month in worship, and often presents a musical or cantata in the Spring. The emphasis of the choir is not just on performance, but is intended to be a growth experience that blends music, the Bible, the history of the church, multiculturalism, and fun. Rehearsals are on Sunday mornings, September to May, from 9:15 to 10:15 AM in the Choral Room on the first floor.