Youth and Children

What the Children and Family Ministry Team Offers

• There is a beautiful space on the second floor called The Arches. This is a special place where children and families can gather for fellowship and music. This space is located up the staircase closest to the parking lot.
  
• Children’s Sunday School meets September through May in room 206 on the second floor following worship until 12:30pm for preschool through 5th graders.
  
• A safe and secure nursery is available each Sunday during worship and Sunday School from 9:45am to 12:30pm in room 208 for infants through 4 year olds.
• We have a multi-sensory, imaginative worship experience for children during most worship services. This is called Godly Play and is based on the Montessori approach through the work of John Berryman. Children will leave sanctuary worship after “The Child Within Us All” for Godly Play. Children will return to their families before the end of worship, usually during the offertory or for communion if it is a communion Sunday.
• Faith Milestones meets the same time as Youth Group once a month, September through May, in the Arches on the 2nd floor from 6-7:30pm. Faith Milestones are those firsts as we grow in our faith. This is a youth group style meeting for our 3rd grade through 5th grade children.
• Family Fun Nights for family fellowship are held every few months. Watch for details in the First Word or Around the Corner.
• A week of Summer Day Camp/Bible School is typically held each summer as a cooperative venture with Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church.
• Family Camping happens at Lake Michigan Campground in Pentwater, MI for a week each summer, usually in July.
• Mom’s Retreat is a weekend for moms with children at home to rest, rejuvenate and have a weekend of fellowship while growing closer to God. Usually, we head to the shores of Lake Michigan together for a weekend in the month of April each year.
• Mom’s Night Out gatherings happen a few times a year, watch for dates and times in the Around the Corner emails and the monthly First Word publication.
• Parent’s Night Out gatherings happen a few times a year, watch for dates and times in the Around the Corner emails and the monthly First Word publication.
• Music opportunities include First Bells for children of all ages and First Beats choir for children in 3rd through 8th grade. These groups provide music monthly in the sanctuary worship service.
• Family Foundations is a group for parents of young children. They meet most Sundays, September through May, after worship in room 209 for coffee and fellowship.
• Children and Family Ministries (CFM) collaborates with worship planners to have a special blessing in worship once a year, usually in the Fall, to bless the 3rd graders receiving Bibles.
• Children and Family Ministries (CFM) collaborates on baptisms for children and babies to gift them a storytelling Bible book and blanket made by our First Stitchers group on behalf of our church family.
• We have well trained and fully screened volunteers who make these ministries possible. They also have a written manual for keeping children safe at church.