Families of all shapes, sizes and ages can find a place at FBCH to grow, learn, and be in community together. For more information, contact the church office.
I like going to FBCH because of the community of people there that make me feel welcome and because my family attended. I like the Bible Stories.
Children in Worship
Our Sunday morning worship services includes opportunities for children to serve by lighting of the Christ candle, participating in seasonal processionals, and leading in our Family Christmas Eve Service. As part of our worship service each Sunday, there is a children’s story focused on the seasons of the church year. For those that would prefer to stay in the service rather than attend the Crèche or Godly Play, there is a small table at the back of the sanctuary with colouring pages and a children’s bulletin that connects to the scripture read in worship.
Plan to Protect
The First Baptist Church Halifax is a community of Christian faith rooted in the Baptist tradition. We believe that every person has a right to respect, self-esteem, physical care, safety and to be free from abuse. Our intent with our Plan to Protect Policy is to prevent harm within the Church, or during Church-based activities.
Sunday Faith Formation (Grades Primary – 6)
On Sunday mornings following the story time in worship, children gather in the Godly Play Room for a monthly rotation of activities that are designed to provide a foundation in worship, community, and social justice. The formation program is designed to prepare the children to more fully participate in the larger life of the church now and as they grow into adolescents.
Activities Include
Music Education: The focus of music education is to prepare children to fully participate in hymn singing and begin exploring opportunities to create music as part of our worship.
Feast: On communion Sundays, a deacon joins the circle of children to share a feast (juice boxes and goldfish crackers). The children serve one another using communion trays and spend time getting to know our deacons and sharing life together.
Godly Play: Godly Play is a Montessori-style method of faith formation that invites self-discovery. The approach to biblical storytelling mirrors the best of preaching at FBCH which seeks to open scripture so that it stirs imaginations and calls us to find our own place in the story of God’s love. In Godly Play, the children will wonder together in the storytelling circle and at least once a month, they will have a time of free response when they can play with storytelling pieces, create art, or read books related to our stories.
Doing Justice: We have a variety of active committees and teams in the church leading our work to put the Way of Jesus into loving action for our neighbours near and far. Once a month, one of these groups will join our children to share more about their work and to lead them in a hands-on activity so that they can join in our calling to do justice.
Monthly Rotation
First Sunday: Music Education and Feast
Second Sunday: Godly Play Story and Godly Play Response
Third Sunday: Music Education and Godly Play Story
Fourth Sunday: Doing Justice (lesson and activity)
Firth Sunday: Godly Play Story and Godly Play Response
Church Crèche (Nursery), Sunday Worship
FBCH has a lovely room, filled with age appropriate toys for children ages 0-5. Please speak with one of our greeters if you need help finding the Crèche.
When life needs to be rebuilt so far from home, being in a place that makes you feel welcome is comforting. FBCH has given us a sense of belonging and the opportunity to build close connections.
Youth Group
Our hope is that youth become involved in the practices of our faith community, from worship to social justice. In addition to joining with the congregation, youth from grades 6-12 also meet together one Sunday oeach month for a time of learning, justice action, and community building.
Meet the Teachers!
Diana Hazelton, Program Assistant
Diana will be with our children each Sunday, supporting our volunteers and ensuring that there a consistent presence even as program leaders rotate during the month. Diana is in her final year of study at MSVU and will be pursing her B.Ed. She has extensive experience as a summer camp leader and has grown-up here at FBCH. Each Sunday, Diana will be in the Narthex or back of the Sanctuary before worship – please do not hesitate to say hello or share any needs your child might have on a particular Sunday.
Erick Lee, Godly Play Storyteller
Erick has been an active member of FBCH for over 20 years. Throughout this time, he has been deeply involved in Christian formation, teaching church school classes, sharing Godly Play stories, and leading youth groups. Erick applies his extensive training and experience as a public school teacher to his work at FBCH.
Professionally, Erick is a mathematics teacher at Citadel High School. He holds a master’s degree in Education (Curriculum Studies) from Acadia University and a master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. In addition, he currently serves as the president of the Nova Scotia Mathematics Teachers Association.
Alex Landry, Music Educator
Alex, our Children’s Music Educator, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Mount Allison University, and a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Acadia University. In addition to her work as a Certified Music Therapist, Alex has spent the last 10 years teaching music to children. She works with all ages and levels, and enjoys incorporating fun games and activities into music lessons. Alex’s teaching philosophy is centered on making music enjoyable, accessible, and empowering for all students. Alex is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program at Mount Saint Vincent University.
Joselia Marques
Joselia began watching over our beloved children at the FBCH creche since February 2024. She brings experience with kids from her three years of volunteer work with the Scout group in Brazil, as well as her role as a Group Leader at the Excel Program, a recreation-based school elementary program run by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education.
Josie, as she prefers to be called, immigrated from Brazil in 2022 with her husband, Jan Roemer, and their daughter, Manuela. Her family has been attending our church since early 2023 and became official members in March 2024. The FBCH community has become part of their extended family, where they feel welcomed and at home.
I always look forward to coming to FBCH every Sunday. I really enjoy how the congregation makes the church feel so welcoming to present, and future members. I also love how the Youth Group allows me to engage in many volunteering opportunities that focus on helping our community and its people.