The Nursery
The purpose of the nursery department is to provide a safe, loving, fun, and comfortable environment for both you and your child. To accomplish this our workers will walk, rock, read, feed, and play with the children to insure that they are content.
Our nursery is divided into three rooms:
infants (blue room), crawlers/early walkers (green room), and toddlers (purple room). The Infants Room is especially suited for children of ages birth - 6 months. All babies in the infants room are cared for by adults only. Swings and cribs are used in this room. The Crawlers/Early Walkers Room is suited for 6 - 18 month old children. Snacks are provided in this room unless otherwise specified. The Toddlers Room is for 18 - 36 month old children. The children in this room will experience a variety of activities such as puzzle play, play dough, free play time and a short structured lesson. Snacks are provided.
The nursery is open every Sunday for worship services and Sunday School, Wednesday evenings during First Fellowship, and for special church events as announced. Located on the first floor outside the Fellowship Hall on the North side of the church building, the nursery rooms are open 15 minutes before an event and remain open for the duration of the activity.
Our goal is to provide a secure and happy environment for you and your child. We hope you feel confident that your little one will receive loving care and understanding. Ask us about any of our policies and procedures. We are happy to answer your questions. If you have any questions, problems or suggestions, please feel free to contact Ann Crabbe, Children's Director.
Sunday School
Our Sunday school classes begin at 9:45am and conclude at 10:40am. We offer traditional style Sunday School program with the following classes:
K - 1st Grade: meets in the Noah's Art Room
2nd - 3rd Grade: meets in the Jerusalem Playhouse
4th - 5th Grade: meets in the Lion's Den Room
Third Grade Bible Blast
The Third Grade Bible Blast is held at the church the Saturday before the children receive their Bibles on Sunday. We then begin a study called "Learning to Use My Bible" published by Cokesbury. The children will receive a new Bible on the following Sunday during a commissioning service.
Acolyte Training
Acolyte Training for our 3rd - 7th grades is offered in September. They will learn how important their job is in bringing in the Light of Christ and then taking it back out into the world. In addition, acolytes learn that they set the tone of our worship service.
Retreats
We offer two overnight retreats for our 3rd - 5th graders. Each retreat has a focused Bible study and plenty of time to have loads of fun.
Adventure Club
Our children are important to us so we offer seasonal activities for K - 5th grade. Whether they are here to learn about God or to have fun we believe that the more children are exposed to church the more positive their image of God will be. Not all the activities listed are suitable for every age, but we try to offer something for everyone. Some of our fun activities are: Trunk or Treat, Thanksgiving Basket Shopping Trip for a needy family, Mission Saturday, Teddy Bear Party, Easter Egg Hunt, PJ Party, Parent's Night Out, two overnight retreats, and many more things to come. We hope to teach that church is a focal point for outreach, learning, and fellowship.
Children's Choirs
Children learn to worship God through our music program. We have two children's choirs that meet during the school year. They perform during the worship services periodically and also offer a special Christmas performance. Please refer to the following schedule:
Celebration Choir (3rd - 5th graders):
Wednesday Evenings from 5:00 - 5:45pmWee Worship Choir, (4 yrs. - 2nd graders):
Wednesday Evenings from 6:15 - 7:00pmChoir Directors: Jo Alfano & Debbie Looney
Adventure Land Program (3 - 4 year olds)
Adventure Land is a Wednesday night program for preschoolers from 6:00 - 6:45pm following the First Fellowship meal. The children hear Bible stories, do arts and crafts, and play games, making it a fun time of fellowship and learning.
Junior Holy Club (1st & 2nd grades)
Junior Holy Club is a fellowship Bible study for 1st through 2nd grades. This club meets on Wednesday nights at the beginning of First Fellowship from 5:00 - 6:15 pm. They begin their class in the Fellowship Hall by sharing a meal together. Then, the teachers will take them to their classroom. They will be studying an age appropriate lesson from the Discovery Club.
Methodist Children's Fellowship (MCF)
MCF is a fellowship activity for 3rd - 5th graders. This group meets on First Fellowship Wednesday nights from 6:00 - 7:00pm following the meal. The children this year will be studying a 24-week Bible study called Discovery Club, Discovering God's Love. Discovery Club is all about a fun place where kids will learn Christian values, grow spiritually, study, memorize, and apply Scripture while having lots of fun. The goal is to help children enter into a personal relationship with Jesus and understand the Bible. It will help them to form strong, healthy Christian relationships while growing in all aspects of life - physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual. Each club member will receive a handbook that will be used during each meeting. This program is designed for children to receive noncompetitive awards. This incentive program encourages and affirms all children through their participation in the program. The children will work on Bible Awards and Skill Awards together during the club meetings. All of them will receive the tangible award when they complete a unit in their books. This unique approach allows all club members to gain recognition for Bible knowledge and skill development. This will also teach children to learn teamwork and cooperation by allowing them to experience peer appreciation.
Star Polisher Program
This is a program that begins on the first day of the Advent season for the 3rd through 5th grades. We have enrollment sheets for every child who wishes to participate in this program. We take these enrollment sheets to our senior citizens and other adult classes and ask that they take one child and pray for the child through the advent season. The adults will also be asked to send an anonymous card to the child on certain designated dates simply stating to the child that they are being prayed for and perhaps mentioning something personal off the enrollment sheets pertaining to the child. This person, the star polisher, will remain anonymous to the child until the church Christmas party. The adult will be asked to buy the child a Christmas ornament that costs no more than $10, and the child will make an ornament from one of the symbols of Christmas. We will have a reception either before or after the church Christmas party. The adult will be wearing the picture of the child, which they will receive off the registration form, so that the child can find their secret star polisher. They will exchange their ornament gifts at that time. The Bethlehem star played an important part in the birth of Jesus because it shined brightly in the sky. It led people to where He was so they might come and worship him. Each one of our children is a little star and the more we polish them, the brighter they will shine for Jesus.
Children's Minute
The Children's Minute (the children's story time) is a special time for the children during the Church hour. At the conclusion of the children's minute, children 2nd grade and younger leave the service for Children's Church activities in the children's wing (11:00 service only). Children who wish to do so are always very welcome to remain with their families in the sanctuary. Children's Worship Kits and Children's Bulletins are available for each service. We want our children to feel welcomed as a very special part of God's family in worship. With these two resources, children feel an added sense of ownership and belonging - "Worship is for me, too!"
Children's Church (11:00 a.m. service only)
Children attend the early part of the worship service with their families. Following the children's sermon, children are invited to leave with their teachers for a time of devotion and learning designed just for them. The children will go to:
Age Group: 3 and 4 year olds
Location: The 3- and 4-Year Sunday School Room
Age Group: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade (Sept. - May)
Location: Noah's Art Sunday School room
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is held every summer for children age 3 through 5th graders. Much planning and preparation go into the program, which is learning-center based. The program is typically held for one week between the hours of 9:00 - 11:30am, with lunch following for VBS workers and their children. We find this to be a great time of fellowship and learning for all!
Terrific Thursday
Terrific Thursday is a summer preschool program held every Thursday from 9:00am - 1:00pm. Spiritual and creative fun is the focus of this program. Activities in the past have included a "Wet and Wild" day, "Pancakes for Papas," and a "Family Picnic."
