First Church’s Youth and Children’s Programs

First day of Sunday School is September 21, 2025 at 10 a.m.  CLICK HERE to Register! Bring your bags for The Blessing of the Backpacks Ceremony during the worship service on the 21st, and then children will be excused to their Sunday School classrooms.

We celebrated our children and teachers in our Children’s Sunday, June 8, 2025:

At First Church West Hartford, we walk together on our faith journeys, and God’s spirit shines out through prayer and discussion. Here, children are cherished, and parents find an understanding nod and smile.

Dear Parents,

Our children are “fearfully and wonderfully made!” They are lively and talented, funny and compassionate and smart.

But where do they nurture their spirits, or their faith? Places and events that nourish our spirits are hard to find. Where can they interact with people who will share the wisdom they’ve gained through years of living, conflict, sorrow — people who welcome them and love them just for who they are?

Sports teach strategy, strength and confidence. Music teaches collaboration and self-confidence. Academics stretch our minds. All of these are good and necessary for the growth of any human being, but they don’t nurture our spiritual life – and that is not their goal.

Where can you stretch your soul? Where can children build inner faith and confidence that will carry them through times of sadness or conflict? What places or programs exist only to nurture the spirit?

We offer church school programming that reaches each of our children at their developmental levels and appeals to a variety of learning styles. Interwoven into our shared time together are discussions around practicing generosity, seeking justice, and radical hospitality. During the academic year, the first Sunday of each month is set aside for an All-Ages Worship service in place of church school to engage the sacraments and traditions of our church in new ways together.

Join Our Sunday School Team

As we continue to nurture the spiritual growth of our children, we are excited to invite you to contribute your unique talents and gifts to our Sunday School team. Whether you have a passion for teaching, storytelling, arts and crafts, or simply a love for working with children, your involvement can significantly shape their faith and understanding of the world. If you’re interested in joining us or would like to learn more, please contact Amanda Bethune, faith.formation@whfirstchurch.org. We would love to hear from you!