In this next ministry year, we’re excited about grace abounding at McLean Pres as we grow in grace together! View our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. Our vision for Sunday mornings is to equip our church family for corporate and individual spiritual growth as we gather for worship and discipleship.

Beginning on September 7th, our Sunday morning schedule will shift to support all ages participating in both a worship service and the Discipleship Hour.

GRACE ABOUNDS AS WE GROW IN GRACE TOGETHER

New Schedule

Starts Sunday, Sept. 7

8:45am | Worship Service
10:15am | Discipleship Hour
11:15am | Worship Service

Nursery for birth–Pre-K is available all morning.
During worship services, optional Children’s Worship for K–3rd graders during the sermon through the benediction.

Worship Services | 8:45am & 11:15am

Our Sunday worship services are opportunities for all ages to meet with God.

  • Beginning on September 7, our intergenerational corporate worship services will be held at 8:45am and 11:15am in the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall.
  • Nursery (for ages birth–Pre-K) will be available during services.
  • Children aged K–3rd grade are encouraged to participate in the entire worship service alongside their parent/guardian, but will have the option to attend Children’s Worship in another room (before the sermon and through the closing benediction).

BACKGROUND PAPER | Why Intergenerational Worship? by Jeff Vogan, Director of Worship

Discipleship Hour | 10:15am

This teaching/training hour is a core ministry for all ages and one of the primary opportunities to grow as Christian disciples through community and biblical education as part of our church family.

  • Adult Christian Education (ACE), trainings, and workshops
  • Grades K–12 Sunday School
  • Birth–Pre-K Nursery available

Before and after the Discipleship Hour, gather at the Community Coffee Table for coffee/tea, snacks, and fellowship!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you tell me more about Children's Worship?

  • Can you tell me more about Children's Worship?

  • What will be offered during the Discipleship Hour?

  • How can I get equipped for the changes this fall?

  • Can my child aged 0–Pre-K remain in the nursery for a service and the Discipleship Hour?

  • I'm facing a unique challenge; can you help support my child in worship?

Children of all ages are encouraged to participate in the worship service, whether that’s for the whole service, a couple of songs, or participating in Children’s Worship (for Kindergarten through 3rd grade). 

WHAT IS CHILDREN’S WORSHIP?

Children’s Worship is an optional time designed for K–3rd graders that takes place in a separate room from the corporate worship service during the sermon through the closing benediction.

During this time, we will teach children about the different elements of worship (i.e., what they are and why we do them) — we plan to adapt our denomination’s Teach Me To Worship Curriculum.

If resources permit, we’ll sing together — helping our children learn the songs we sing in the corporate worship service. With additional time, we’ll work on memorizing and understanding key doctrines of our faith, like the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, the Doxology, and the New City Catechism.

GOALS OF CHILDREN’S WORSHIP

  • Give children the opportunity to both participate in the corporate worship service with their families and engage in a service designed especially for them.
  • Prepare children to fully participate in corporate worship by helping them understand the different elements of worship — what they are and why we do them.
  • Most importantly, we want to raise up a generation of true worshippers! We want to help our children grow in their relationship with the Lord and their desire to worship him.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD PARENTs/GUARDIANS KNOW?

  • Prior to heading into the Sunday worship service with their child, parents should check their K–3rd grader into Children’s Worship via our secure check-in system.
  • During our worship services, we sing a Song of Preparation before the sermon; at this time, children will be invited to head to the back of the room to join the Children’s Ministry staff member who will take them to their Children’s Worship classroom. If a child does not already have a check-in nametag, their parent/guardian must walk out with their child and check him/her in at a nearby station.
  • After the service, parents will head to the Children’s Worship classroom to pick up their child(ren). Any children who are staying for the Discipleship Hour should be picked up from Children’s Worship and then checked into their Sunday School class.

HAVE Additional Questions?

Contact Mary Palekas ([email protected]), Director of Children’s Ministry.

We’re praying for all ages to participate in the 10:15am Discipleship Hour — through serving or learning. Stay tuned for details on teaching and other service opportunities.

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (ACE), Trainings, Workshops

In addition to ACE classes, we plan to offer trainings and workshops during the Discipleship Hour.

This fall, four ACE classes will be offered:​

  1. Gospel DNA: Knowing Who You Are in Christ and as Part of Our Church (with Horace Lamb & Joe Palekas)​
  2. Worship: Engaging with the Living God — What is Worship, Why it Matters, and How We Practice It (with Jeff Vogan)
  3. How to Read the Psalms (with Bill Fullilove)
  4. Parenting (details to come)

Youth Ministries Sunday School (Rising 7th–12th GradeRs)

We’re partnering with parents to see the gospel transform teens, equipping 7th–12th graders to know what it means to follow Jesus in an ever-evolving cultural context.

At Sunday School, we worship and study Scripture as teens learn about living with a Christian worldview.

Contact Director of Youth Ministries, Jake Jenkins ([email protected]), for more info.

Children’s Ministry Sunday School (RISING K–6th GradeRs)

Ages 2–6th grade is a formative time for kids: they’re developing critical thinking skills and establishing the knowledge that will guide their faith and their spiritual lives for years to come.

In Sunday School, through age-appropriate study, activities, and community gatherings, we help your children not just gain knowledge, but experience gospel grace and build friendships as a foundation for their young lives.

Contact Director of Children’s Ministry, Mary Palekas ([email protected]), for more info.

NURsery (Birth–Pre-K)

Your young children will experience Jesus’ love in a safe and engaging environment. Through age-appropriate activities, stories, and songs, children learn that God loves them and that his grace has the power to change everything.

We recognize that our new Sunday schedule may be a significant change for you and your household — our staff and leaders are making this change alongside you!

Engage with us this August as our church family prepares to grow in grace together this upcoming ministry year (details to come):

  • Sunday, Aug. 3 | Connect & Serve Fair
  • Sunday, Aug. 10 | Exploring Your Gifts: Understanding How God Made You & What To Do with It​
  • Sunday, Aug. 17 | Growing in Grace Together: Why Worship & Christian Education Matters + How to Engage at All Stages of Life​

Also… stay tuned for new community-building opportunities coming in August!

Yes, nursery-aged children (ages birth–Pre-K) can remain in the nursery for both a worship service and the Discipleship Hour.

If a parent/guardian is participating in…

  • The 8:45am worship service and the 10:15am Discipleship Hour, they may check in their birth–Pre-K child to the nursery beginning at 8:30am and pick up after their class has ended.
  • The 10:15am Discipleship Hour and the 11:15am worship service, they may check in their birth–Pre-K child to the nursery beginning at 10am and pick up after the worship service has ended.

We recognize that there are families with various circumstances, such as a family with a special needs child or a single parent facing the demands of parenting without a partner.

Please reach out to any of our Children’s Ministry or Youth Ministries staff to let us know how we as a church body can come alongside you to offer support as your family worships together.

Gather & Grow at MPC

Our goals for Sunday morning:

  • Engage in intergenerational corporate worship,
  • Be equipped through deeper instruction as part of a biblical community, and
  • Connect through relaxed and intentional fellowship.

Questions? Have Feedback?

We’d love to hear from you. Contact us ([email protected]) with questions or to share your perspectives.

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