Special Ministries
| Home |
| Nursery |
| Worship |
| Sunday School |
| Wednesday Night |
| Special Ministries |
| VBS |
| Choir |
| Calendar |
| Parents |
| Volunteers |
| Typical Week |
| Kidz for Christ |
| Photos |
| Links |
| FUMC Home |
CHILDREN'S CHURCH
Children's Church is offered during our 11:00 service following our Children's Minute. We have an excellent staff, Ms. Leigh Ann Blankenship Children's Church Director along with a different assistant each week, who does a wonderful job in leading our Children in worship. Our Children's Church is offered to our 3 year olds through 2nd grade.
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 an 8 week 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.
The Acolytes are then recognized in a special service
that is held during the 11:00 service.
“PAWS" WITH DAD OR GRANDDAD – It is a great time for Dad’s or Granddads to spend some quality time with their children. In addition, the children will be learning how to care for their pets and how to beware of strange animals. This program is for our K-5th grades. We will go to the Animal Shelter where we will meet with the City’s Animal Humane Officer. We will tour the facility and the Officer will speak to the children about dog bites and safety around strange animals. Dr. Charles (Brother) Ashwander will be our guest speaker and will talk about the health and care of your pet. The shelter is in need of the following items: old bath towels, paper towels, cat toys, bath mats, and milk bones. Anyone in the church may donate these items.
RETREAT
We offer one overnight retreat for our 4th - 5th graders. Each retreat has a focused Bible study and plenty of time to have loads of fun. Our retreat this year will be held November 16-17 at Camp Sumatanga. The theme for camp this year is "Living in the Fruits."
TEDDY BEAR PARTY
The Teddy Bear Party is offered to our nursery toddlers - 2nd grade. We have a finger food lunch with bear cookies. The main event is stuffing Teddy Bears with their parents. After the bears are stuffed with the help of the parents we write out birth certificates and then donate them to an organization that will give them away to needy families.
TRUNK OR TREAT
Everyone has fun at Trunk or Treat!! This is for our nursery through 5th grade. The members of the church decorate the trunks of their cars and then wait to treat a child with candy. After Trunk or Treat everyone enjoys the dinner and Fall Festival our youth puts on with games and prizes. This is a fun event for the whole family.
EASTER EGG HUNT
Our Easter Egg Hunt is packed full of good food, fun, butterflies, and of coarse eggs! This event is for our preschool through 5th grade and we have something for everyone. There are blow-up slides, moonwalk, games, etc. The children hunt eggs and then we tell a story about a butterfly and release live butterflies (weather permitting).
PALM SUNDAY
On Palm Sunday we have the children in
the church carry and wave the Palms as they walk down
the center isle and place them at the foot of the altar.
PARENTS NIGHT OUT & PJ PARTY
These are held on two separate nights. One the first weekend in December and the PJ Party is held around February. This is offered to our Nursery through 5th grade. The kids are fed dinner, play games, watch movies, and have a fun guest.
Blessing of the Kindergarteners and Elementary Age Children
This begins with a 24 hour prayer vigil by the members of our church for our children who are beginning school and returning to school. A special altar is set up with the names of all the children on individual rocks that are placed on the altar. Then the Sunday before school begins during our 11:00 worship the Pastor holds a Sending Forth service where every child receives a backpack cross to remind them to think about their choices. They also receive their prayer rock to remind them of the love and prayers that were given just for them.
STAR POLISHER PROGRAM
This is a program that begins on the first day of the
Advent season for the K through 5th grades. There
are enrollment sheets for every child who wishes to
participate in this program. After these enrollment
sheets are filled out and turned in, our senior citizens and other adult classes
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. The star polisher is also encouraged to tease the
child by giving little clues to see if the child can
guess who they are. Of coarse, the clues are so
vague that the children cannot guess but they have fun
in trying. This person, the star polisher, will remain
anonymous to the child until our Star Search Breakfast
that is held the first Sunday in January.
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.
At the Star Search Breakfast the adult will be wearing
the picture of the child, which they will receive off
the enrollment form, so that the child can find their
secret star polisher. Like the Kings who followed
the star in search for the baby Jesus. 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 CHOIR PROGRAMS
We have two staff members, Mrs. Jo Alfano and Mrs. Debbie Looney, and one volunteer, Mrs. Maryanne Dunnivant who leads our children's choirs. Our Celebration Choir is for our 3rd Grade through 5th Grade and our Wee Worship Choir is for our 4 year olds through 2nd Grade. The children have fun in learning to worship God through music.
Vacation Bible School is held the 3rd week in June for children age 3 through 5th grade. Much planning and preparation goes 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 our Vacation Bible School workers and their children. Vacation Bible School is a great time for fellowship and learning for all!
ADVENTURELAND
This is a special Bible study for our 3 year olds that is held on Wednesday nights from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. during First Fellowship. The children study a BibleZone curriculum that is published by Cokesbury. They will have fun in learning by playing games, arts & crafts, all pertaining to a Bible story.
Jr. HOLY CLUB
Is a special Bible study for our K - 2nd grade. This study is held on Wednesday nights from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. They do fun activities related around a Bible story.
METHODIST CHILDREN FELLOWSHIP (MCF)
This study is designed for our 3rd - 4th Grades. This is a character building class that helps children learn how to live like Jesus' example in today's world. Each year they go grocery shopping for the needy and are made aware that there are others less fortunate than they.
PATHFINDERS
Our 5th graders learn how to move the information they have been receiving from their heads to their hearts. The study that is used in this class is called "The Way of the Child" published by Upperroom. This program helps children to connect with God and to know when they are feeling his Spirit. It focuses on spiritual disciplines prayer, meditation, and Bible study.
TWEEN MINISTRY
Our Tween Ministry is for our 4th & 5th graders. This ministry offers them a time to get to know one another better and possibly make life long friends. They attend fun events and learn how to have Christian fellowship.