First Presbyterian Church - Clarksville, Tennessee

Educational Opportunities

Sunday School classes begin at 9:45 a.m.	Adult Sunday School Classes Children's Sunday School Classes Confirmation Classes Senior High Youth Group (9-12 grade) Middle School Youth Group (6-8 grade) Congregational Life Activities Choir (all ages) Presbyterian Women NaCoMe Summer Camp
Adult Sunday School Classes
First Presbyterian offers five adult Sunday school classes. Each class has its own distinctive personality, so look for the one that fits your personality and style of learning. The Friendship class, a women's group, studies The Present Word, and meets on the third floor. It is taught by Rhonda Banasiak, Tracy Jackson, Tom Presler, Nancy Borders, and Nancy Askew. The Brotherhood class, a men's group, studies The Present Word, and meets on the third floor. It is taught by Tom Coffman, Jack Brooks, Mark Banasiak, Steve Griffey, and Leon Sitter. The Gospel class, a men's and women's class, studies The Present Word, and meets in the Library on the third floor. It is taught by Bill McCormick, Bill Hutton, David Kanervo, Jim Duttweiler, and Shep Gibson. The Explorers class, a men's and women's class, studies Interpretations on the Bible, and meets on the second floor. It is taught by Don Beck, Ellen Kanervo, Jane Olson, Karen Goggin, Janet Hudson, Linda Barnes, Liz Thomas, and Minoa Uffelman. The Young Adults and Seekers classes are joining together. These classes are men's and women's contemporary classes that study various books and meets on the second floor. Classes are taught by Rhonda Banasiak, Kelly and Marshall Duncan, Lynn Green, and Jill Black.

Children's Sunday School Classes
Children's Sunday School classes are available for children from the age of two through 12th grade. Children ages two & three and ages four & five meet in their own classrooms. Children in kindergarten through fourth grade enjoy a rotation model Sunday school that offers them the chance to explore each story through art, computers, science, games, music, cooking and storytelling. Children in the fifth & sixth grade meet in the AOC in their own classroom. Confirmation class is offered for children in the seventh grade at the AOC. Eighth grade through twelfth grade meet for their class in the AOC also and study a variety of topics.

Confirmation Commissioning Classes
The Confirmation class begins in the fall and the youth are confirmed (join the church) usually in April. Parent/Student Orientation Day is in September. This day gives parents and students an overview of the year ahead. The student will receive a calendar and learn the responsibilities and commitments for the year. Also in September, each student is presented their own Bible in 11:00 worship. Anyone interested in joining the confirmation class for this fall should call the church office at 645-6551. The class is primarily seventh graders, but anyone seventh grade and above is welcome.

Senior High Youth Group (grades 9-12)
The Senior High Sunday School class meets in the AOC Youth Lounge each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Topics vary hroughout the year. Our Senior High youth meet on Sunday nights, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, at our Activities and Outreach Center (behind the church across Third Street). We meet for fellowship, snacks, and fun activities. We have weekly discussions on topics picked by the youth (such as stress, dating, peer pressure, etc.). We also meet each Wednesday night from 6:30 to 7:30. This is a youth-lead Bible devotion and we go out to eat at a local restaurant. We have a major Youth Group kickoff event in the fall. Also in the fall, we go to the NaCoMe Church Camp Fall Youth Retreat where we meet youth from all over middle Tennessee. Some of our trips include snow skiing, sports events in Nashville, and white-water rafting. In the summer, we go on a Mission Trip and a youth conference in Montreat, NC. [visit website]

Middle School Youth Group (grades 6-8)
Our group meets on Sunday nights, 4:00 to 6:00, at our Activities and Outreach Center (behind the church across Third Street). A special program is designed just for this age group with snacks, discussion, and fun activities. Our yearly activities include lock-ins, pool parties, putt-putt, bowling, etc. In the fall, we have a big kickoff where we make plans for the entire year. Also in the fall, we attend the NaCoMe Church Camp Fall Retreat (along with 150 youth from middle Tennessee). [visit website]

Congregational Life Activities
The Congregational Life Committee plans one or two family events each month. Some of these events include: Roxy Theatre plays, picnics, special occasion Church dinners, Family Game Night, Easter Egg Hunts , Grand Ole Opry trips, a special Ladies Brunch, Pancake Breakfast, Golf Scramble, Supper Club and much more! These activities are excellent opportunities for getting to know other members of our congregation.

Choirs of All Ages
First Presbyterian Church has music activities and opportunities for all ages and all levels of talent and interest! Our Adult Choir is a shining gem in our worship services! We are composed of dedicated and talented musicians, under the direction of Lydia Schoonover. We sing a wide variety of music, and are always looking for new members. We rehearse on Wednesday nights from 7:00 until 8:00, and on Sunday mornings from 10:30 until 10:50. Please consider joining us in our ministry! Our Adult Handbell Choir, under the direction of Carolyn Riggins, plays regularly during the worship services, and add much to the worship experience. We rehearse each Wednesday night from 6:00 until 7:00, and no experience is necessary to join! Youth ages 9th through 12th grades are strongly encouraged to join us in Adult Choir and Adult Handbell Choir! Children's Choirs sing often during church, both with their own anthems and in conjunction with the adult choir. The Harmony Choir is for children ages 3rd through 6th grade, and is under the direction of Kathy Beach. The Melody Choir is for children ages Kindergarten through 2nd grade, and is under the direction of Jane Wallace and Liz Thomas. Both choirs meet from 9:00 until 9:45 on Sunday mornings. Please consider enriching your children's lives by including them in this important work and experience! Choir rehearsals for all the choirs are held on the fourth floor of the educational building. For more information about our music program at First Presbyterian Church, please call Lydia Schoonover at 645-6551 or 645-8423.

Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian Women enjoy a luncheon on the fourth Monday of each month at 12:45 pm in Fellowship Hall. We have a brief program with a guest speaker. The meal is catered at a cost of seven dollars. All women are welcome to attend. First Presbyterian offers several opprtunities for Bible study in our Circle meeting: The Morning Circle meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am in the church library. The Mothers and Others Circle meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 12:15 pm in the church library with childcare in the second floor playroom. The Night Circle meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in the church library.

NaCoMe Summer Camp
One of the traditions of First Presbyterian Church is to encourage youth and children to participate in summer camp. Our Presbytery owns a wonderful and beautiful camp facility outside of Centerville, TN, about two hours away. We support the children and youth of our membership who participate by paying one-half the cost of a week for members' children. The weeks of camp are broken down by school grade as well as a fairly unique opportunity in what is called "You and Me Camp". This is where a child of any age goes to camp with a parent or grandparent for four days. During all camps, there are opportunities for Bible study, swimming, drama, crafts, archery, fun-yakking on the lake, campfires, evening worship, sponge wars in the creek, hiking and more. Camp registration forms are available in February, with sign-up deadlines on the first of May. For years, we have sent more children and youth to camp than any other congregation in the presbytery. This accredited camping facility is one of the best around, so we hope you will also become a regular at Camp NaCoMe!