VBS Registration: VBS 2010 Registration has begun! August 2-6, 2010 will be the dates this year for our fun and educational VBS! During “Medieval Christian World,” children will explore the life of Monks, Scholars, Knights, Princes and Princesses, and Townspeople from a very interesting time in Christian history. Children will learn about different historical figures, several biblical texts, and explore ways to pray. To reserve your child's spot, please fill out the registration form and give to Carmel. To download the Registration Form, please click here.
Sunday Morning Programs for Preschoolers Infants: Infant care is available in the nursery during both Sunday services. Our child care worker is salaried and has many years of experience with infants, toddlers and young children. She provides loving and safe care for the youngest members of our church. Pagers are available for parents who are concerned about leaving their little ones.
Toddlers: One and two year-olds are cared for during both services. At least two adults supervise playtime and teach lessons using Abingdon Press, Toddlers & Twos program. The lessons include songs with motions, Bible stories, and a craft time. One consistent teacher leads this group during the school year, and parents volunteer to lead during the summer months.
Preschoolers: Three and four year-old Preschoolers meet during the 10:30 am service only. Supervised by at least two adults, the children play together and participate in Bible Zone Live lessons from Abingdon Press. The lessons include organized activities, a sharing time, songs, a Bible story, and crafts.
To help their children become acclimated, parents are welcome to visit during part or all of class time. Volunteer leaders are always welcome!
Joyful Journeys: A Sunday Morning Program for Elementary Aged Children
Joyful Journeys is a Sunday morning program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade which takes place during the 10:30 am service. We use a version of the "workshop rotation" model with this age group. Generally during a four-week period, the children rotate through four different workshops on the same Bible story. Those workshops might include: games, video, drama, cooking, puppetry, computers, music, or arts and crafts.
There are a number of advantages to the workshop rotation model. There is more active participation and use of multiple ways of learning in the workshops. When children miss a week of class, they don’t miss the story. They will hear it in each workshop. Hearing the story several times makes it easier to remember. Teachers teach once a month (the same class) which gives more people an opportunity to teach, and no adult leader has to miss worship to teach every Sunday. The children see a different teacher each week of the month, but have the same "team" of teachers all year. The kindergarten class explores the same rotations in a self-contained classroom (KiC Club room). They have a consistent "Shepherd" with them every week, bridging their pre-school Church School experience with Joyful Journeys.
Each Sunday the children either attend the first part of the worship service with their families in the sanctuary, or gather in the Chapel where they are grouped and escorted to their class. Signs in the CE Lobby and the Sanctuary Narthex identify where children begin each week. If the children begin in the Sanctuary, there are "worship bags" available to provide bookmarks for the Bibles and Hymnals, as well as crayons, paper and a lifesaver candy.
Kids In Christ Club (KiC Club)
Kids in Christ Club is a Wednesday afternoon program for children in kindergarten through fifth grades. KiC Club is a combination of choir practice and Religious Education class. The choirs are conducted by Carol Lingjel, and the Religious Education is directed by Dr. Carmel Tinnes. The class portion consists of different topics to parallel the educational theme of the church year. This year is a focus on the Bible.
Parents are welcome to stay from 4:30 - 6:00 pm and participate in the adult activities program or to help with the class. Youth helpers are also present. The whole family is encouraged to partake in dinner at 6:00 pm. Parents are asked to sign up to assist at least one Wednesday each year.
These children lead a wonderful and interactive Family Christmas Eve Service appropriate for all ages.
For Registration information or if you have questions about any of our programs for children, please contactDr. Carmel Tinnesby phone at 248.541.0108 (ext. 204) or by e-mail at ctinnes@fpcro.org.
