Fall and winter is a fun time to gather with a faith community to learn about God, following Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit works in our lives!  Here at Community United Methodist Church, we are  a church of choices!  Children's Ministries is very intentional about offering choices for busy families so that Christian education can become an important part of family life and God can be the center of your Christian family.  What are your choices?!

• We have two Sunday School options on Sunday, one at 9:10 a.m. and one at 10:10 am.
• We offer Children's Church for children ages 3-1st grade during the 11:00 contemporary service
• A special educational time on Wednesdays, called Kid's Exploring is designed full of enrichment activities and special themes!   Learning sessions are 6:15 - 7:30 pm.

The Children’s Ministry Team has designed exciting features for your child or children to be nurtured in God's ways!

CHILDREN’S CHURCH:  For children aged 3 years and those going into first grade, we offer “Children’s Church”—a learning time focused on preschoolers and those just beginning to read. Children’s Church will be held during the 11:00 a.m. worship service, right after the Children's Time component of worship.   We meet downstairs in the main education room which is set-up for a variety of activities.  These are the types of activities your child/children will enjoy!·        

Bible story time:  Children will hear stories from The Beginner’s Bible and work through the Bible chronologically.  The Bible includes familiar and not-so-familiar Bible stories and is age appropriate.  Children will have a hands-on time with The Beginner’s Bible, holding the Bible, turning pages, and interacting with the story and artwork.      

Play time:  The godly work of younger children is “play.”  Children will have freedom to create their own games and have plenty of ‘hands-on’ materials to interact with each other and the story!       

Acting out the story:  Children will play with puppets, manipulative materials and other items to re-create the story.  Children will have fun re-creating their own versions of the Bible stories they are learning!       

Practicing the story through age appropriate art and printed activities:  Preschool and older pre-elementary aged children will continue to learn some of the skills they need for entering school.  Color identification.  Matching activities.  Writing their name.  Creating art using art utensils and paper.  The church supports your work as Christian parents by providing a few activities each week so that your child continues to be ready for school and continues learning on the weekends.       

Making friends, building relationships:  It is important that children who come to church make church friends with children their own age and the adults who teach them!  We will have snack time, book time and take time to encourage friendships with each other and God.

CHILDREN IN WORSHIP! 

Worship is a special time for families.  A time when all members of the family are welcome to worship together!  Parents can choose to have children remain in worship or leave to enjoy children's Sunday School during the early, 9:00 a.m.worship service, after Children's Time.  The later contemporary service is structured very similar in that after the Children's Time children can be excused to participate in Children's Church.

 COMMUNION SUNDAY is Different….

On the first Sunday of the month, our congregation enjoys celebrating the Lord’s Supper.  Oftentimes, children are either in Sunday School or in Children’s Church.  The Children’s Ministry Team really feels that it is important for children to learn about communion.  What is it?  Why do we do it together?  Why do we only have bread and grape juice?  Can children participate?

Each first Sunday of the month, children will learn about the importance of communion, the Lord's Supper.  Sometimes we will go to our church library and have fun activities or a story. When those occasions come along, children can then check out a book and return to join their parents so that each family can celebrate the Lord’s Supper together! 

If you as a parent would prefer that your child/ren wait until they are older to participate in communion, please let us know!  Your child can receive a blessing from Pastor Rhodie or one of the servers as a way to be a part of “God’s family” as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  A special feature of our Methodist Church is that we provide an “open table” for all to come and partake of the Lord’s Supper--blessings, bread and wine.

 It is beautiful.  Come and enjoy!