Our relationship with the church
First English Lutheran Preschool began in 1964 when a congregation member had the inspiration to offer quality child care in the neighborhood. The program began under the supervision of the Christian Education committee of the congregation. From its beginning, the school has welcomed people of all faith traditions.
The school cooperates with the church to offer values that are in alignment with Christian Education in that we teach respect for all individuals, and ensure that lessons are developmentally appropriate for various age levels.
Chapel services are optional each Friday. First English Pastor, Sandy Carlson Alexis, leads a 10 minute service that includes songs, a Bible-related story, poems, and a prayer. The chapel service takes place during the last part of the day so that parents have the option of staying for chapel themselves or picking up their children early if they do not wish their children to participate in the service. (We request that parents let the school know about any arrangements for early pick-up on Fridays.)
Each month, the pastor visits the 2s, 3s, 4s and Kindergarten classrooms for a short story or lesson related to God’s love. The stories are simple and sweet. Parents know ahead of time when the stories will be offered. The stories take place at the beginning of the day; therefore, parents may come and observe or they may choose to come in late if they do not wish the children to participate in these stories.
The congregation welcomes the school community to be part of service projects reaching out to the community, the Fair Trade fair, and fun events like movie nights and holiday parties. By combining our efforts for projects such as collecting for the needy, we come together with our common interests and concerns. Additionally, the school has invited congregational participation in fundraisers, and in special events like the Strawberry Festival.
The congregation always offers an invitation to preschool families to become better acquainted with the church and its resources. Together, the school and the church are building a relationship of trust, cooperation, and respect.
A Special Invitation from Pastor Sandy
The congregation is happy to provide the setting for the FELP program. Feel free to join our friendly people at Sunday worship services and weekly Christian education for children and adults. We are glad you have decided to join the preschool family. And if you don’t already have a church home, we hope you will visit with us on Sunday. We’d love to see you.