Fifth grader is ready to set the world on fire

MEMPHIS — Standing beside the fountain in the storied Peabody Hotel, visitors wouldn’t be surprised to see the world-famous resident ducks that march through its lobby twice a day. But they might not notice a 10-year-old girl on her own historic trek. 

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Lydia Fry, a fifth grader from Rochester, New York, journeyed here with her mother, the Rev. Laura Fry, to attend the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) 2025 Annual Event, both for the first time.

And although the Fry family has often traveled together to other ministry-related conferences, this is the first solo outing for the mother-daughter duo.

The elder Fry, pastor and head of staff at the Perinton Presbyterian Church in suburban Rochester and a member of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, was attracted to the APCE Annual Event primarily for its speakers and workshops, while daughter Lydia — who thrives on strategic board games, abstract art and all things Harry Potter — was in it for the adventure.

“I love games,” said Lydia Fry. “Splendor [a card-based board game] is my favorite.”

“So, we did our own research,” added her mother, “and we’re starting off our morning before the conference begins with a trip to the Adventure Museum.”

The highly interactive nature of the children’s museum has striking parallels with Fry’s own approach to ministry at the Perinton Church, where the congregation’s unique 8:30 a.m. service offers the full inclusion of children in worship leadership.

“The service was initially developed in 2021 to help families come back to worship post-Covid,” Laura Fry said. “It was an idea that came to me and for which I got input and support from both the Worship and the Christian Education committees.”

As she began planning the service, Fry said that when she interviewed her own two children about their favorite parts of worship, they — surprisingly — named the Gloria Patri, the Lord’s Prayer, Communion and Baptism.
“While these elements are not what you would typically think of as ‘child friendly,’ because they are things that children know by heart, they can participate,” said Laura. “It’s Reformed worship, but simplified. The children do the readings and the music, serve as acolytes and help to serve Communion.”

The latter was especially significant to Fry.

“A year into it, we authorized children to help serve Communion,” she said. “We did a training session with the children and their families. As a pastor, I love that we expanded [the Sacrament] in that way.”

Fry acknowledges that while the full inclusion of children in the early service has its benefits, those who attend the church’s 11 a.m. service miss seeing the children.

“It’s part of the growing pains of it, but we’ve made our peace with it,” said Laura. “If we need to include children in this way, it’s a sacrifice that we’re willing to make.”

As for Lydia, she appreciates the service for another reason.

“It’s shorter!” she said.

And while Lydia added that her favorite worship leadership role is serving as an acolyte, she offered a word of caution.

“One time when I put the candles out, I thought if I drop it, I’ll set the church on fire,” Lydia said. “So be careful!”

APCE is an association made up of those who are serving or have served in educational ministries, as ministers, professional or volunteer educators, or students, in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the Moravian Church in America. The 2025 Annual Event is being held in Memphis from Jan. 29 through Feb. 1.