For Families
Families at
Pray's Mill
At Pray’s Mill we believe families are the primary classroom of the Christian faith. The Bible commits the spiritual formation of children, first of all, to fathers and mothers (Deut. 6:7; Eph. 6:4) — and the church’s role is to come alongside that work, not to replace it. We are not built around age-segregated programs. We are built around the gathered worship of the whole household of God, week after week.
On the Lord’s Day
Children worship with their parents.
We do not have a separate youth ministry, and we do not send our older children out of the main service. From the time they can sit and pay attention (and even before), children worship alongside their parents in the 10:45 am gathering. They sing the hymns we sing, hear the Scripture we read, watch the Lord’s Supper as it is observed, and learn — by imitation — what it means to be a worshiper of the Living God.
This is the historic Christian pattern. It is harder some Sundays than others. They will wiggle. They will whisper. But there is no better place for a child to be than under the preaching of the Word, in the company of the saints. See our article: Should children stay in the worship service?
Sunday Morning (9:30 am)
A class for the children, and an option for the family.
During the Sunday School hour, we offer a children’s Sunday School class taught by faithful members of our congregation — walking the children through the storyline of the Bible and the core truths of the faith.
Parents are also welcome to bring their children to the adult class with them, and many of our families do exactly that. We are glad either way.
For the Very Young
Nursing room and self-serve nursery.
For families with infants and toddlers, we provide a nursing room and a self-serve nursery, both available during worship services. Use them freely as you need. They are easy to find — a greeter will be glad to show you the way.
Wednesday Evenings (6:30 pm)
Children’s choir and catechism.
On Wednesday evenings, while the adults gather for Bible study and prayer, the children gather for children’s choir and catechism class. They sing the hymns and psalms they will sing on Sunday, and they work through the Tune My Heart catechism one question at a time. The aim is simple: that our children would grow up able to say what they believe, and why.
Through the Week
The home is the primary classroom.
Christian formation of our children doesn’t just happen in the church building on the Lord’s Day. It happens at the dinner table, in the car, on knees by the bed at night. We resource and encourage Christian families to gather daily for family worship — a simple rhythm of Read, Sing, Pray that has shaped Christian households for centuries.
To support this work, we print a catechism question each week in the bulletin, preach expositionally so families can read ahead in Scripture, and sing hymns the household can carry into the week. See our Family Worship page for a practical starting point.
If You’re New
We are glad to walk with you.
If you are a parent bringing your family to Pray’s Mill for the first time, you are especially welcome. If you have questions about Sunday morning, family worship, or how to disciple your children well, please speak with one of our pastors. We would count it a joy.