Childcare: Welcoming your children to First UMC
First, we want you to know that your baby and toddler is welcome to remain in worship with you, and even make noise! Don’t worry about it. If you prefer, a loving nursery is available during the 9:30 worship service. The nursery is located in the Education Building on the first floor – Room 102. There is also a quiet play area at the back of the Sanctuary. Parents must sign their children into and out of the nursery.
Children’s Sunday School
Children 3 years old to 5th grade are invited to join us for children’s Sunday school. The fun begins immediately following the children’s message during the 9:30 AM worship service. We leave the Sanctuary as a group and head to our classrooms – Rooms 103 and 104. After the worship service, parents are expected to pick their children up from the classrooms. Parents are welcome to join us at any time.
Our curriculum, Celebrate Wonder, seeks to celebrate spirituality through wonder. Children are naturally spiritual beings and everyday theologians. We want children to recognize and name this spirituality found within themselves and in all the world around them. This curriculum is based on spiritual practices, which are incorporated through play, discovery, biblical exploration, faith conversation, and relationship. We hope you will come wonder with us as we celebrate the Spirit of God in the lives of children.
Our Sunday school programs are based on multiple intelligence theory: there are many ways to discover God’s story, and we all have favorite ways of learning and knowing. Therefore, stories are shared in different ways, inviting children to hear, see, sing, move, create and reflect their way into a life of discipleship. If there are modifications that might make your child more comfortable, please let us know.
Safety
Our congregation has adopted a Safe Sanctuary Policy. The purpose of the policy is to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of our children and youth, and to reduce the risk of abuse occurring in our church. Click here to learn more about our safety policies.
If you have questions about our children’s programming, or would like to visit during the week, please contact Maureen Koziol at children@parkridgeumc.org or call the church office at 847-825-3144.