Family Programs

What would happen if we all took Jesus' advice and "became like little children"? What would happen if we looked at the world with astonishment and wonder the way we used to as children? Why, then, don't more of us experience life in this way? Because we allow obstacles to squelch our wonder and steal our souls.

Somewhere along the way, we had the child chased out of us. Our childlikeness is usually snuffed out by people who tell us what we "can't" do. The dreaded dream stealers!

Sometimes religion says "stay in the lines." Jesus answers us with a grace that is boundless and gives us dreams of an adventurous faith. Christ is the Dream Giver who want us to listen to His dream for us so we can run like children in the fields of His grace.

Maybe it's time to find the place where the dangerous wonder of your faith can be discovered. In a day when most of us are tired, worn-out, thirsty, and yearning for peace, love, and joy, it is time to become a child again.

Here are our programs for the entire family:

The Stork Ministry: Our United Methodist Women welcomes new additions to our church family with a stork sign and a basket of goodies.

Nursery: Our nursery opens Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. We are blessed with experienced and committed nursery

staff that are screened and trained by the Director of Christian Education. We want our little ones' first glimpse of God to be a positive experience in a trusting environment.

Preschoolers and Kindergartners are taught the Bible on a three-year cycle that encompasses the major stories and themes of the Old and New Testament. The teachers are loving disciples who are truly interested in the spiritual development of your child and most have worked with this age group for over ten years.

Faith Trax Sunday School: 1st through 5th graders take part in the innovative rotation model of Sunday School. We use multimedia workshops such as art, drama, movies, art and other interactive activities, rotating the kids to a different workshop each week to explore the same Bible lesson in different ways. Check-in time in the Train Station is from 9:30 - 9:45 a.m. and class time is from 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.

Confirmation Class: Confirmation means "to make firm" and our 6th graders spend the whole year learning about what is means to be a Christian. The class meets Sunday mornings from 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. They also go on field trips, have time together for fun, make banners, participate in missions, and go on a retreat in the Spring. Our 2009 class is at right.

Our Youth Group is incredibly active, with Sunday School on Sunday mornings, fellowship on Sunday evenings, outside activities almost every week and frequent trips and special events.

Adult Programs: We have almost a dozen Sunday School classes where adults can study the Bible, deepen their faith and form supportive, encouraging relationships. Classes are also active in volunteering their time and talents to help the community. We also have adult programs for fellowship and for volunteerism, such as our United Methodist Women group.

Mother's Day Out: This is an early Childhood Education Program for kids six months through school age, held Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15 to 2:15 p.m., August through May.

AfterCare Express: This new program provides after-school care for children at Lakewood Elementary.

Our children take part in Los Pasados, a Christmas tradition of going door to door with candles, searching for room at the inn.