Children

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

We are committed to providing experiences for kids that create a safe and loving community and help them come to know Jesus, that he loves each one of us, and has given each of us gifts that the world needs. We have weekly programming for kids during our worship hour; Nursery for infants up to three years old and Children's Church for preschoolers through fifth grade. We have monthly youth group outings and service projects for our third through fifth graders. And each year there are big events that we look forward to like VBS, Advent Fest, Rally Day, and Summer Camp. Please take a look at a description of each of these offerings below.

CRY ROOM

For families who need a space to engage worship but also let little ones nap, nurse, or be little we offer a Cry Room during worship. You will find it up the ramp just past the elevator. Our worship service plays on a TV there and there is a working sink, comfy chairs, a few toys, and bottles of water available. We want you to be able to enjoy worship, but also take care of our littlest worshipers in comfort.

CHILDREN ARE A HERITAGE FROM THE LORD, OFFSPRING A REWARD FROM HIM. LIKE ARROWS IN THE HANDS OF A WARRIOR ARE CHILDREN BORN IN ONE’S YOUTH. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE QUIVER IS FULL OF THEM. THEY WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME WHEN THEY CONTEND WITH THEIR OPPONENTS IN COURT.

Psalms 127:3-5

CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Each week in worship, after a couple of praise songs, our children are invited up front for a Children's Moment. This is a few minutes of Bible teaching or story telling followed by a prayer. Afterward all kids are invited downstairs for our revitalized Children's Church. Once downstairs the kids meet together to sing songs and share prayer requests in our Children's Church Opening, then they break up into classes (right now we have two, preschoolers and kindergarteners and first through fifth grade) to learn a Bible story, do crafts, play games, and build friendships.

In Children's Church we are teaching kids about the life of Jesus using Group Publishing's DIG IN curriculum. In one calendar year participants in our Children's Church will learn about Jesus's birth, family, ministry, miracles, message, disciples, crucifixion, resurrection, and promises to us. We can think of no better thing for kids to be studying than the life of our Savior. Class takes approximately 50 minutes each week and we ask parents to pick up their kids from the classrooms downstairs. They can be found by taking the stairs near the big wooden doors down and through the hallway or by taking the stairs next to the elevator all the way down and through the door to our children's area. you will walk them to their age-specific classroom. When you return at the end of service you will Check-Out your child by signing them out or checking them out on the computer and then handing the claim tag to the teacher.

3rd - 5th GRADE YOUTH GROUP

We are trying to get our older children connected and used to youth group activities and so once a month we have an outing or service project for them. Typical things we have done with this group include cookouts, a trip to Lark Ranch, bowling, raking leaves, playing together in the park, getting ice cream, and having an overnight at the church. We want these kids to begin to form lifelong friendships with one another and have some fun with as they grow up in our church. Along with the Bible lessons they are learning in Children's Church this group is a great way to prepare them for the kind of ministry of study/service/fun we offer our middle school and high school students.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

For one week every summer we join with the Linton First United Methodist Church and put on a VBS for kids of all ages. This is a week of fun, learning, creating, singing, and playing that our kids look forward to each year and our Children's Ministry is always building toward. Information about our VBS for the summer of 2019 will be available this January. Any kid is welcome to attend, whether or not you attend worship at Saron UCC or Linton FUMC.

ADVENT FEST

Once a year in December our kids spend a day making crafts and playing games on an afternoon before a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus where they hear a Christmas story and receive some goodies. Then adults of all ages join us for a light supper of soups, sandwiches, and desserts. After dinner the kids put on a Christmas play that typically includes singing some Christmas favorites before they recreate the Nativity. It's a lovely day to get us all in the spirit of the season.

RALLY DAY

To start the new year in Children's Church we throw a big party each year. During worship we recognize the new class of third graders with new Bibles for their continued journey forward in faith, we gather all the kids for a children's moment as always, and then we head to the Fellowship Hall for games, snacks, crafts, and more fun! Below are some picks of the photo booth we set up this past year.