Children’s Ministry

Jennifer Riddle is the Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries. If you have any questions, please contact her here.

Check out the Family Ministry Facebook page for dates!

$10 per child suggested minimum donation

Parents, enjoy a night out! Drop your kids off at First UMC for games, snacks, crafts and a movie!

Please eat dinner before arriving.

Pre-registration is required,

Space is limited and not guaranteed until you receive an email confirmation.

Children of all ages are invited to spend the morning creating Christmas crafts and projects, getting their faces painting, enjoying cookies and visiting with Santa!

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. is a Sensory Friendly Hour with less stimulation from noise and crowds.

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. all are welcome!

Children must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, sorry, no drop offs.

This is a free event, however, donations are accepted at the door.

Children in Worship

Relax! God put the wiggle in children; don’t feel you have suppress those wiggles in God’s house!

Consider sitting towards the front, where it is easier for your little ones to see. Or sit in the balcony where they can see everything!

Quietly explain the parts of the service so they feel more engaged!

Sing the hymns, pray and say the responses — children learn behavior by mimicking you! Help your little one follow along in the hymnal, even if they aren’t a strong reader yet! Be sure to ask an Usher for a kids bulletin!

If you have to leave the sanctuary, please come back! As Jesus said, “let the children come to me.”

Be sure to check out the Kids’ Corner in the Narthex for many choices of activities to help keep your little one happy and engaged. You can even sit in here with them during the service if you prefer!

We have a restroom in the Narthex (8th St. entrance) and a baby comfort area below the Sanctuary (accessed by the stairs in the Narthex). There you will find a changing table, restroom, rocking chair, and toys.

Children are always welcome in all of our worship services. However, should you prefer it, childcare is available in room 310, for those under 3.

Children’s Moment is a time set aside in the worship service to invite children of all ages to come to the front steps for a message just for them! Afterwards, children may return to their seat with you or attend Kids Connection (ages 3-1st grade), an age appropriate class on the 3rd floor. During the 9 a.m. service, children (2nd-6th grade) are invited to go to Sounds of Celebration Kids Choir, in the music room (201). Please be sure your child knows if they should attend the class, choir, or come back to sit with you! See the Family Ministry table in the Narthex for more information or to register for the class/choir!

Communion – Children are always welcome to stay in worship and Communion Sundays are no different. If a child chooses to attend Kid’s Connections on Communions Sunday (the 1st Sunday of each month) Communion will be offered in the class. This Communion bread is allergy friendly (no gluten, no nuts, no soy, no dairy, no eggs).

Sunday School

Sunday School classes are offered for children and youth of all ages, at 10:10 a.m. The focus of these classes is age-appropriate, religious education that engages children and youth in their growth as children of God. Class schedules are available each week in the bulletin.

Nursery

A nursery is available for children birth – age 3, from 8:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Sunday mornings on the 3rd floor in the Family Ministry area.

A Baby Comfort Area (located down stairs from the Narthex or outside of the balcony on the 3rd floor) is a place of hospitality for parents who find themselves with unhappy infants/toddlers in worship. Speakers broadcast the worship service, and rocking chairs, a changing table and toys are available for your comfort. Please visit the Welcome Center for directions to the Baby Comfort Areas. Rocking chairs and changing tables are also available in room 311 as well as the women’s bathroom on the lower level, near the elevator.

Scouts

FUMC is proud to have Cub Scouts, a Boy Scout Troop and a Girl Scout Troop.

Cub Scouts – The Cub Scout Troop meets on Wednesdays each week.

Boy Scouts – The Boy Scout Troop meets at First United Methodist Church on Mondays each week.

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts for girls in Kindergarten-8th grade meet on Tuesdays, at 6:30 p.m.

Acolytes and Crucifers

First UMC continues the Christian practice of processing the cross and flame each week in worship. This ministry is performed each week by our children and youth. For more information, please contact the church office!

Children’s Choir

We believe that all children are creative, and musical in some way, and they should have the opportunity to develop these gifts. We offer Children’s Choir for all children ages 3 years—6th grade. Our hope is that this experience will inspire a love of music and a chance to serve the church by being a part of worship regularly.

Sounds of Joy Choir is for children ages 3 years—1st grade and meets August through May. This group meets in room 314 on Sunday mornings from 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. This musical experience will include songs, bells and learning hand motions for songs. Children will be invited to stay for the Good Shepherd Sunday school following choir, unless a parent is present to pick them up at 10:15.

Sounds of Celebration Choir is for children in 2nd—6th grades and meets August through May. This group meets in the Music Center, room 206, on Sunday mornings after the Children’s Moment during the 9 a.m. worship service (approximately 9:30-10 a.m.). This music experience will include songs with part singing, bells and learning hand motions for songs at an age appropriate level.

Bibles for 2nd graders

Each August, FUMC presents our 2nd graders with their own Bibles! We then spend a few weeks learning how to use our Bibles during Sunday school. If your child is in 2nd grade (or higher and has not received a Bible from FUMC) please contact the church office to request one.

Faith at Home for Families

This series of Faith at Home resources is designed to help parents bring faith home. Visit the “Faith @ Home” table on the 3rd floor, near the windows, for devotions, books and ideas you can check out to assist you in your journey to raise faith-filled children.

Mission & Giving Opportunities

Our youth & children’s Sunday school classes collect money for our 2 mission projects. We purchase animals each year to donate through the Heifer project and collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.