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Sunday morning classes for children of all ages is held in our fellowship hall Children’s Church for children through grade 5 during Sunday worship Wednesday evening Family Night activities and classes for all children (nursery care is also provided) Various special children’s activities and events throughout the year (annual “Harvest Festival,” annual Children’s Christmas Musical, etc.) Children’s summer camping program through New Life Camp, Rose City, MI Daily (evening) Vacation Bible School is held in late July (25-29, 2011) each year.
Sunday morning classes for Middle and High School youth each week Weekly Wednesday night youth group meetings and activities Scheduled youth activities, including larger gatherings with other local evangelical churches or organizations Summer camping program for Middle and High School youth through New Life Camp in Rose City, Michigan. Opportunities for involvement in larger events in Michigan or beyond, including rallies, youth conferences, training events, mission trips, etc. Our youth have attended the “Dare to Share” and “Acquire the Fire” conferences over the past few years.
- Sunday morning adult class (studies through books of the Bible or topical studies)
- Mid-week Bible Study (studies through books of the Bible or topical studies).
- Eighteen-month discipleship program, “Equipping the Saints.” This program not only disciples the believer, but also trains one to lead others to Christ, and disciple them.
- Annual Women's Christmas Luncheon and outreach is held every year on the second Saturday of December at White Lake Oaks in Waterford.
- Specialized training is offered in sharing the Christian faith through Evangelism Explosion International. There are both 7 and 13 week courses available.
- Other specialized classes are offered. For instance, (beginning in February of 2012), we will begin offering "Financial Peace University" classes (Dave Ramsey).
- Activities, events, and retreats throughout the year. We have men’s and women’s softball teams, and a men's basketball team, in local church leagues. We also have weekly bowling and golf for seniors, canoe trips, picnics, annual Labor Day weekend retreats at our church camp, and much more.
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Our outreach to missions is made primarily through our SMILE program (Sound Missionary Investments Launch Evangelism), though not limited to it. The SMILE program is funded through non-budgeted freewill giving. The amount given in 2012 will be distributed as follows: Foreign Missions - 70% to Chuck Baldwin (Rwanda Evangelism Explosion Coordinator), 20% to Crossroads Pregnancy Center (Auburn Hills), and 10% to a new food pantry / spiritual outreach ministry in Waterford, run and supported by the One Heart Network of evangelical churches. Our Children’s Church currently supports a child (Joshua Salandron) in the Philippines through Compassion International. Short-term Mission trips have been made by those from our congregation (both adults and youth).
Soloist or group sings, or an instrumental solo is played most Sundays. Congregational singing blends hymns and choruses. We also utilize video projection for some songs (as well as some PowerPoint presentations, film clips, etc.)
We host annual luncheons for local nursing home residents, and volunteers transport residents to our church for Sunday worship once per month. We take part in “Christmas in Action,” (each April), a project which helps repair and refurbish the homes of seniors or others in need in our community. Volunteers from our congregation have taken part in training and ministry at Crossroads Pregnancy Center, Auburn Hills. Volunteers from our congregation are involved in outreach to nursing home residents, hosting special meal events and transporting residents to worship here at FCB. We take part in "Operation Christmas Child" each year. Individuals from our congregation bring in small daily needs items or gifts which are then packed into shoeboxes and mailed to Samaritan's Purse ministries. They then add Christian literature to the boxes and deliver them to needy children around the world. Our church has “adopted” families in need in our community during the Christmas season, providing gifts for children and their parent(s). We have a monthly "Pantry Sunday" in which our children bring canned goods and non-perishables forward during worship. These are donated to a local food pantry.
These are just some of the activities and opportunities for growth, fellowship, service, and outreach available here at First Church of the Brethren. A statement of faith is also available upon request.
We invite you to join us, and discover what has drawn us to this warm and vital local congregation.
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