St. Paul United Methodist Church

St. Paul is committed to offering children an inclusive and loving place of worship where they can be part of this contagious community of faith.

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” ~ Matthew 19:14

The goal of the St. Paul Children & Family Ministries is to enable our children & families to grow in their understanding of themselves in relation to God and as a part of the Christian faith. The ministry helps to transform relationships by providing spiritual education and training to support children & families in various life stages, and by developing connections amongst families, the church, and the larger community. 

Childcare
is offered each Sunday for infants through age 3 during the worship services. Ages 4 through 1^st grade are encouraged to participate in the 11:00 service through the children’s moment at which time they will be taken out for children’s church.

Sunday school classes offered to children are age-appropriate Bible studies with application in their daily lives and meet from 10:00-10:50am.  Traditional Sunday school classes are offered for our three year olds, four year olds, and 4^th through 6^th grade.  Kindergarteners through 3^rd graders are taught using the rotation model, experiencing the same lesson over 4-5 weeks in a different station: science, art, music, Bible storytelling, video, cooking, or games.

Children’s Choirs take place on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm for children ages 3-6^th grade.

Wesley KidsKlub is a time for mission related activities for children in grades K-6^th and takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm in rooms 305, 310, and 312.

MOPS (Mothers of Preschooler) meets the 2^nd Monday of each month (September-May) from 9:30am – noon in the Coffee Shop for a time of fellowship, guest speakers and crafts. Childcare is offered for infants to age 6 with Christian-based curriculum for preschool aged children.

KICS (Kids in Christ’s Service) is for children in grades Kindergarten – 4^th and meets the 3^rd Sunday each month (September-May) from 5:30-7:30pm in room 100. This is a time for dinner, fellowship and mission related activities based on curriculum from Mission Possible Kids, a national organization.

Second Saturday Series is a time for learning, fellowship and fun for parents of children ages infant to 6^th grade.  This program rotates its theme each fall, spring, and summer with emphasis given to family and parenting issues.  Onsite childcare is provided for ages infant-4^th grade and an offsite activity will take place for children in grades 5 & 6 during the hours of 5:00-9:00pm on the 2^nd Saturday of each month.

The Tween’s Ministry at St. Paul is specifically designed for children in grades 5 and 6.  It was created to promote and support Christian values during this critical age with the hopes of creating a close bond within the group so that they in turn may promote and support each other in the issues that are specific to this age. The Tween’s ministry includes:

5^th & 6^th grade Sunday school       Sunday mornings 

5^th & 6^th grade KidsKlub               Wednesday evenings

TweenZero (at level zero ready to be filled) Selected Sunday evenings (Sept. –May)

BFT (Big Fun Thing)                     2^nd Sat. each month (Sept.-May)

Tween Tuesdays                         Select Tuesdays during summer

Project Serve                              Week long ½ day mission camp during summer

Special Events planned throughout the year to minister to children and families include:

• Family mission opportunities – Quarterly                             
• Fall Festival/Trunk or Treat
• Breakfast with Santa
• Easter Egg Hunt
• VBS (Vacation Bible School) - summer
• Camp Loucon-summer
• Wonderful Wednesdays – summer family dinners in the park
• Music Camp
• Upward Camp

January 2012 News and Dates

Sunday School

Baptism is a gift from God, given to us in love.  Our acceptance of that gift is our acknowledgement of God’s love for us and our place in God’s family.  This month in Journeys (K-3) Sunday School we will be learning about Jesus’ Baptism.  We will hear the story to discover that Jesus was baptized as a sign of belonging, that we participate in the same sacrament, the shell and dove are symbols of baptism, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, and God’s presence is with us always.  Our story comes from Matthew 3:1-17.  Ask your child what they know about Jesus’ baptism and see if they can find the story in the Bible.  We’ve been working hard on finding our Books, Chapters and verses!
 Please try to remind your children to bring their offering to Sunday School.  It is important that children learn this gift of charity at a young age.

Wesley Night Kids Klub

Wesley Night Kids Klub along with Children’s Choirs will begin for the spring on Wed. January 11^th.   We will once again have some downtime in the gym to help the transition from the long school day and then a mission related activity.  Please note that the gym is not available to us on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month.  Mike & Tammi Kinser will be heading up the 5^th & 6^th grade activities this spring during the 6:00 hour.  As I brush up on my Safe Sanctuaries policy I am reminded of how important it is to have two adults present at all times when supervising children.  Please look for a completed volunteer schedule for the spring and let me know as soon as possible if you will not be able to fulfill your commitment.

 Great Date Experience                     January 14^th               Social Hall (room 120)                       5:00-9:00

The purpose of the Great Date Experience is to promote fellowship while at the same time providing a childfree evening for strengthening relationships of all types.  The Experience will take place the second Saturday each month, beginning January 14^th, 2012, 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.   Child care will be provided for those who participate, at the cost of $10 a child.  The event will include a short social gathering time designed for forming new acquaintances while strengthening old friendships, then, off you go to give a boost to that bond with your spouse, friend or group! Our first assembly of great date experiences will be based on Action Thriller movie themes, with these themes (Romance, Documentary and Sci-Fi) to follow.  There will be suggestions for conversation topics as you spend time together.  Please respond for childcare reservations.  Children in grades 5 & 6 will be taken offsite for the Tweens BFT(Big Fun Thing) of the month.

 KICS-Mission Possible Kids             January 15th          Room 100                                           5:30-7:30

KICS (Kids In Christ’s Service)-Mission Possible Kids

The next meeting of KICS will take place January 15^th from 5:30-7:30 in room 100.  Dinner will be provided by the French’s.  Our mission this month will be to make “warm fuzzy gifts” for children in various places such as homeless shelters, rehab. Centers, family grief support groups as well as some social services centers.

Summer 2012-Heads up!

June 5^th-8^th                   Upward Basketball Camp

June 18^th-22^nd              VBS/Project Serve

July 16^th-20^th               Music Camp

July 22^nd-27^th               Loucon            Lorie is  Dean of 5^th & 6^th grade camp.

2^nd -4^th grade, Jr High & Sr. High camps will take place this week as well

Look for brochures at the Information Desk