Children's Ministry

Director of Children's Ministry: Missy Stuart

Children’s Ministry Happenings:

2009-2010 Children’s Ministry Classes
2009-2010 schedule begins September 13

Contemporary Worship 8:30 – 9:30 am
Childcare               Room #134 (UL) Rotating Safe Sanctuary Certified volunteers
Sunday School 9:45 – 10:35 am:
Cribbery*               Room #139 (UL) Dot McDonald & rotating volunteers
2 year olds*            Room #134 (UL) Kelly Gable & Stacey Yoder
3 year olds             Room #138 (UL) Teri Stein, Darlene Lewis & Tracy Myers
4 year olds             Room #20 (LL)   Erica Kent & Nancy Hartinger
Kindergarten            Room #17 (LL)   Betsy Howie & Barb Myers
1st Grade               Room #15 (LL)   Lona Mitchell & Jen Small
2nd Grade               Room #14 (LL)   Susan Krieger & Wes Anderson
3rd Grade               Room #6 (LL)      Mark Anderson & Ryan Anderson
4th Grade               Room #5 (LL)     Peggy Morgan, Paige Allen & Joyce Dore
5th Grade               Room #16 (LL)   Beth Duvall, Harvey Elder and Keith Murr
Traditional Worship 10:45 am:
Discovery Hour          Room #138 (UL) Missy Stuart & volunteer helper

For children ages 2 - 2nd grade. Children start out in worship with their family and then are excused to Discovery Hour after the Children's Message.

UL = Upper Level LL = Lower Level

* Children in the 2-year old classroom should be 2 years of age by September 1, 2009. If they turn 2 after 9/1/2009, they should be brought to the cribbery. Adjustments can be made during the year if the child’s needs are better met in the 2-year old room.

Choir Opportunities:

Joyful Noise Choir
For children ages 3- Kindergarten. Meets Wednesdays 6:30-7:15 pm in room 138.

Contact Wes Anderson at 741-5285 for more information.

Voices of Faith Praise Company
For children in grades 1+. Meets Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 pm in fellowship hall.

Contact Craig Cramer at 347-7565 for more information

Children’s Ministry NEEDS:

Donations of tissues, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and snacks are always welcome and appreciated. Donations may be given to Missy Stuart or placed in her office. Occasionally we are in need of craft items such as felt, fabric, baby food jars, paper towel tubes, etc. If you have such items to donate, please contact Missy Stuart to make arrangements for the donation.

Volunteers are needed once or twice a month to deliver the Children's Message during the 10:45 Traditional Worship Service. The message is usually 2-3 minutes in length and is based on the scripture selection or sermon topic for the day. Volunteers do not need to be Safe Sanctuary certified for this job. (see Safe Sanctuary section below.) This is a great opportunity for someone who isn't able to commit to a long-term volunteer assignment.

Volunteers are also needed to help in the classrooms and to assist with various children's ministry events. All volunteers with children, youth and vulnerable adults must be Safe Sanctuary certified (see Safe Sanctuary section below). Certification involves an application, a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check, a Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse clearance, training and reference checks. If you are interested in becoming Safe Sanctuary certified, please contact Missy Stuart for more information.

Worship:

We welcome you and your children, grand-children, and young friends to worship! Children are welcome because we know that they hear what’s being spoken and sung, even if they are too young to understand. It’s amazing what they pick up on! Since children approach worship on a feeling level, we suggest you sit near the front of the church so they can see what’s happening. We understand that children are naturally active and sitting still may be difficult for them – it’s O.K. if they wiggle a bit! It’s even expected! However, if you or your child are uncomfortable, please take advantage of our nursery/child care rooms where kids can be kids!

We are delighted to have all the generations worshipping together as the family of God!
Children & Worship

We welcome all children into the life of the church. We believe children are created by God and are a gift of God. They are a very important part of our church family and we value them for their unique contributions.

During worship we listen to scripture being read and preached. We pray, sing, listen to music, and share the Lord’s Supper. Children are excellent observers. As they grow developmentally, their level of interest and curiosity increases and they begin asking questions and making comments about what they’re observing. In addition, they may be “caught” playing church at home or volunteer to lead grace at mealtime. Adults can encourage their children by helping them understand what happens in the service, showing them how to participate in worship, and answering their questions with similar enthusiasm! Discipling our children is our God-given responsibility. So let the children come! May We Suggest…

Before worship, enjoy discovering the children’s activity bag together. These worship bags have been specially prepared to give children a quiet activity. You can find the bags in the Narthex (lobby area) at the rear of the Sanctuary or, on the card table in Fellowship Hall.
Praise God together! Use the worship bulletin to participate in the service and help your child to follow along as well. Allow your child to look up the hymns, follow the words of the hymns with your finger, and show your child how to fold her hands to pray. Children learn by watching you. Encourage them to sit, stand, pray, and clap in praise when you do.
During the late worship service, children are called to the front of the Sanctuary for a children’s message. If you sit near the front on an aisle it’s easier for the children to see and to walk forward for children’s time. Parents are welcome to join their child providing the comfort they may need.
After the children’s message, children age 3 through 2nd Grade are excused for Discovery Hour—an age-appropriate time of learning about God. Teachers meet the children at the door and take them to the appropriate classrooms (Rooms 138 and 143). Teachers will look for Safe Kids fluorescent I.D. stickers on the children’s backs. Stickers are available at the children’s table (lobby to rear of sanctuary) and are required to participate.
Talk to your child about worship. Take a bulletin home, talk about the different parts of the service, and read the scriptures again during the week. Ask your child about the children’s sermon as soon as possible after the service to reinforce the message.
During quiet time or bedtime, teach your child the Lord’s prayer, sung responses, hymns or praise songs. Disciple your child while cuddling and holding him and you’ll not only form a strong spiritual foundation but a strong loving bonds as well.

Safe Santuaries

Keeping Our Children Safe...

At Aldersgate we are serious about “making disciples who make a difference” beginning with the very youngest among us. Our mission is “To be a community of growing believers who love God passionately; love one another unconditionally; and take the Gospel into the world faithfully.” Webelieve that, like adults, children are significant contributors to this mission. At the same time however, we recognize that children have unique needs. Children need a warm, nurturing, safe environment in which to learn and grow and they rely on responsible adults and organizational policies and procedures to provide this environment. While we cannot eliminate risk, we strive to minimize potential hazards to our children with our Safe Sanctuaries Children’s Ministries Policies and Procedures.

Some of the Safe Sanctuaries Policies you will observe in our ministries are: the “two adult rule”;adult volunteer badges; windows in the classrooms; sign-in & sign-out procedures; registration forms; I.D. labels; attendance binders; pagers; and procedures requiring parents to wait in the hall for child pick-up. What you may not notice is our screening, education, and training process that is required of all paid staff and volunteers supervising children’s activities such as Sunday School classes, Discovery Hour & choirs.

Children’s Opportunities

Nursery available 8:30-11:45
Discovery Hour -during the late service
Sunday School - 9:45 a.m.– all ages
Vacation Bible School
Joyful Noise Choir , age 3 - K
Voices of Faith, grades 1-6
Annual Christmas Pageant
U M Summer Camping Program