Children are an important part of the Hope Church family. They join their parents in the 9:30 service, sharing in the Praise Team songs by joining in with rhythm instruments. After a Children’s Time with the Pastor, they proceed downstairs with their teachers for their Church School time. Students and teachers gather together in song and prayer, sharing an activity that motivates interest in the lesson theme of the day. Then we move to two multi- age classes, one for toddlers through kindergarten, and the other for students in grades 1 - 6. Using the Presbyterian We Believe curriculum, the children interact with each other under the guidance of experienced church school teachers, many of whom are certified elementary teachers. Recent units have covered the parables of Jesus, and God’s Covenants with His people through the Old and New Testaments. Biblically based lessons lead the children into applying what they’ve learned into their own daily lives.

Our Church School actively supports mission work at home and abroad through weekly offering and special events. We want the children to understand how they are working in the name of Jesus Christ. We have contributed money to One Great hour of Sharing, Church World Service, Habitat for Humanity, The Heifer Project, and Presbyterian Camps, missionaries in Austria and the Crossroads School in Panama.
In addition, we participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring, raising funds for our local Monmouth-Ocean Food Bank. This past year, Church School organized our first experience with Franklin Graham’s Operation Christmas Child. With enthusiastic support from the congregation, we sent 50 gift boxes to be distributed where needed in the world.