1 Clemson United Methodist Church Children s Ministry Programs Welcome to CUMC children s programs, where our children are learning to be disciples for the transformation of the world!
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3 Table of Contents About CUMC children s ministry Team members 4 Monthly mission projects 5 Children s small groups Kid s club 6 Children s choirs 7 Sunday School 7 Children s Church 8 Fellowship Gatherings.8 Adult Small Groups Breathe 9 Pastor Keith s Wednesday Night Bible Study 9 Mary Martha UMW circle 9 Getting involved Kids 10 Parents..10 Contact information 11 Memory Verses 13 Student Information Sheet 17 Calendar of Events 19
4 CUMC Children s Ministry Team Members Marie Schmidt, Director Tracy Carner Katherine Howell Stephanie Kernaghan Catalina Miller Jennifer Partridge Davis Rapp Jocelyn Sikes Courtney Williams Heidi Williams Anne Eldridge, Director of Children s Music Ministry
5 Monthly Mission Projects Each month children can participate in monthly mission projects to help our local community by collecting various items. They are welcome to bring their items to Sunday School, Children s Church, Kids Club, or to Marie s office. At the beginning of the month we will communicate which items the below groups are currently in need of. September: School Supplies October: Food drive for Clemson Community Care November: Operation Christmas Child boxes or items December: Hats and Mittens for children January: Blankets for children or adults February: Food drive for Clemson Community Care March: Old towels or blankets for the humane society April: Book drive May: Food drive for Clemson Community Care
6 Children s Small Groups Kid s Club: We use the All-in-one Bible Fun curriculum. Children will learn and play together, exploring Bible stories from new perspectives. Activities include stories, a Bible verse with accompanying prayer, crafts, and songs. Who Can Participate? Any child who is 3 years old by September 1 st for fall semester, and 3 years old by January 1 st for spring semester, through 5 th grade. All children must be potty trained. Can my participating child s younger sibling(s) come? Yes! We have a nursery available for any child too young to participate. It is located in the Christian Life Center. Be sure to bring a bag with anything they may need. You are welcome to make a dinner reservation for them to eat what the older children eat, or bring their dinner. Please keep in mind there is no way for staff to heat food in the nursery. What s for dinner? Dinner will be provided each week by Bon Appe tit Catering by Doris Skelton Mahdi, the same group who provides dinner for the adult Gathering meal. Children s meals will be eaten in the Christian Life Center and are kid friendly. If you wish to pack your child a dinner, that is fine! Please be sure it is clearly labeled, and drop it off in the Orange Youth Room in the CLC before or after leaving your child in their appropriate classroom. Do I need to make a dinner reservation for my child? Yes please! You MUST sign up your child(ren) up for the meal no later than noon on the Monday before. You may sign up by emailing Marie, or by marking a K in the attendance pad during worship (please also indicate how many children, ex: 2k for 2 meal reservations). We will only have enough food available for those who have made reservations. **August/September reservations should be sent to Davis Rapp at davisrapp@bellsouth.net** How much will dinner cost? Meals will cost $4 per child. Meals need to be paid for on the day of dinner. When you sign your child into their classroom each Wednesday night, there will be an envelope with your child s last name on it for you to place the money in. If you wish to pay by the month, you are more than welcome to do so. If you forget money at drop off, but have made a reservation for your child to eat, please bring it during pick up. We will not be able to feed children who have more than one night of a negative balance. Thank you for understanding that we must pay the caterers in a timely fashion. Where do I take my children? Each night when you bring your child, please drop him or her off according to the schedule below. There will be a sign in sheet at each door for
parents; please also be sure to sign your child out at pick up. Dinner will be held in the Christian Life Center in the Orange Youth room, the lesson will be in room 116 in the administrative building, choir will be in room 115, and the nursery is in the Christian Life Center nursery. If it is necessary for you to pick your child up in the middle of the schedule, please be respectful of class time and interruptions. Please do not drop children off in the covered walk way or at the tower for them to walk in alone. Safe sanctuary requires us to have all children accompanied by an adult at all times. Class 5:15-5:45 5:50-6:20 6:25-7 7 3k/4k Dinner Lesson Choir Pickup Kind./1 st Choir Dinner Lesson Pickup 2 nd -5 th Lesson Choir Dinner Pickup 7 Behavior Kid s Club is a time for our children to come and serve the Lord as well as worship together. We believe in positive and preventative discipline, therefore we strive to have an environment that supports learning. Positive reinforcement is given to children who make good choices. If a child makes a poor choice they will be given an age appropriate time out. Please talk with and encourage your children to make good choices that include patience, self-control, cooperation, and respect. Any issues regarding behavior will be communicated to the parent at pick up. Children s choirs Anne Eldridge is our Director of Children s Choirs. All Choirs will sing during Sunday morning worship services periodically throughout the year. Please see the calendar for dates and times. The Cherub Choir is open to children 3 years through 1 st grade, and the Children s Choir is open to children 2 nd grade through 5 th grade. Tweens Small Group Tweens is a small group that is open to 3rd-5th graders. We meet every other Sunday afternoon during the school year at a different local meeting place like Spill the Beans, Dunkin Donuts, or TCBY. We learn about the Bible together, memorize Scripture, and enjoy getting to know one another in a small group environment. For more information contact Marie at marie@clemsonumc.org.
8 Sunday School Classes meet in the children s building from 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. year round. The Sunday after school starts is promotion Sunday, and rising third graders will receive Bibles in worship. Children will have the opportunity to give their tithes during Sunday School. It is important to sign your child in AND out upon arrival and pickup. Safe Sanctuary dictates that all children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Therefore we cannot let your child leave their classroom without you present. Children s Church Children s Church is for children ages 3-kindergarten, and meets in room 206 of the children s building during the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services. Children s church during The Vine worship service at 10:30 am meets in the Mother s Morning Out room. During Children s Church, children will eat a snack with water, have a lesson with a craft, and have some play time. Please be sure the teacher is aware of any food allergies that your child may have. Children need to be picked up by a parent. They will not be released to walk to their own Sunday school class after the 8:30 a.m. service. Safe Sanctuary dictates that all children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Therefore we cannot let your child leave their classroom without you present. **On communion Sundays at the 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. services, children will return to the worship service to participate with their parent. The Vine children s church will return every Sunday for communion ** Fellowship Gatherings Throughout the year there will be children s gatherings where children and their families can come to fellowship. These can include Back to church night Fall festival Advent workshop Kid s club Christmas party Valentine s day party Egg hunt and luncheon Butterfly Tea Party VBS End of the year celebration Summer Pool Nights
9 Adult Small Groups Breathe Group - Wednesdays at 5:30-7:00 pm in Room 106 Do you ever feel like life has gotten so busy, you just need a moment to come up for air? If so, we encourage you to drop in to Breathe. This casual small group is designed to be a break for busy parents whose children participate in Wednesday night activities (including Kid s Club and our children s music program). We eat, we fellowship and we devote time to growing our relationships with friends, with family, and with God. Brief devotionals and video Bible studies segue into open conversation and even the occasional board game. Every few weeks, we gather at a local restaurant to kick back and relax. Come once, or come often, but plan to come on your own or with your significant other. You ll leave feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your week! For more information contact Heidi Williams at heidicwilliams@gmail.com or Courtney Williams at clwilliams@oconee.k12.sc.us. The Psalms: Praying in Good and Bad Times - Wednesdays at 6:15 pm in Room 402 in the CLC Pastor Keith will lead a six-week study on the Psalms beginning Wednesday, August 26th. The Book of Psalms is the prayer book of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus himself prays a psalm from the cross when he cries out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And the psalms express incalculable joy, inviting us to sing out, Praise God with trumpet sound; praise God with lute and harp! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Join us as we learn how these prayers and songs have sustained a praying people for thousands of years and how they might be a vital part of our prayer life today in all of life s circumstances. The only book required for this course offering is the Bible. For more information, contact Pastor Keith at keithr@clemsonumc.org. Mary Martha Circle - The Mary-Martha United Methodist Women (UMW) circle is a group of ladies mostly in their 30s and 40s who have hearts for missions. We help within our church, within our community, and within our world. This very social group loves to gather in fellowship as we help others. We meet once a month, typically on Sundays. Childcare is provided. Contact Beth Yoder for more information at BethY@clemson.edu.
10 Other Ways to Get Involved Kids Acolyte: during the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services, acolytes process with the choir and light the candles on the altar. Children age 2 nd grade through 5 th grade are welcome to participate. Older 1 st graders may be mature enough to participate, please check with Marie if you are unsure. Crucifer: during the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. traditional worship services, crucifers lead the procession of the choir and acolytes, carrying the cross that is placed beside the alter. The cross is very heavy; children age 4 th grade through adults are welcome to participate. **As children are learning to acolyte, parents are more than welcome to participate as a crucifer to accompany them** Parents Volunteer!! We would love your help, and cannot have a successful program without you!! We encourage parents to participate with their children, to be a part of their Christian education, and a vital part of the CUMC community. Children s Church: parents are needed to teach and supervise children on Sunday mornings during the Vine and traditional worship. Children are age 3-kindergarten, and will leave worship after the children s time in the front. All lesson plans and materials are provided ahead of time. Typically 4-8 children attend. If you are teaching, your older children are welcome to attend with you. Sunday school teachers are needed: check with Marie to find out which age groups need help. All lesson plans and materials are provided.
11 Contact Information Church phone: 864.654.5547 Marie Schmidt Director of Children s Ministries Marie s phone: 864.654.5547 ext. 107 Marie s email: marie@clemsonumc.org Anne Eldridge Director of Children s Music Ministry Anne s phone: 864.654.5547 ext. 105 Anne s email: anne@clemsonumc.org Website: www.clemsonumc.org
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13 CUMC Kids Information Sheet Child s Name: Birthday: Current Grade: Address: Photographs of (child s name) MAY or MAY NOT be used on any CUMC materials or websites. Allergies or medical conditions teachers should be aware of: Parent s Name: Cell number: Parent s Name: Cell number: Alternate emergency contact: Relationship: Phone:
14 Child s Name: Birthday: Current Grade: Allergies or medical conditions teachers should be aware of: Photographs of (child s name) MAY or MAY NOT be used on any CUMC materials or websites. Child s Name: Birthday: Current Grade: Allergies or medical conditions teachers should be aware of: Photographs of (child s name) MAY or MAY NOT be used on any CUMC materials or websites.
15 Fall 2015 Calendar 8/19: Kid s Club / Children s Choir Orientation at 5:30pm 8/23: Promotion Sunday for Sunday School 8/26: Kid s Club and Children s Choir starts back 5:15-7pm 8/30: Ministry Tailgate from 9:30am-12:30pm 10/24: Blessing of the Animals at 10am 10/25: Children s Choirs sing at Combined 11am Sunday service 11/13: Fall Bazaar and s mores/hay ride 11/14: Fall Bazaar and Children s Fall Festival 11/25: NO kids club or choir 11/22: Advent Workshop 5 pm 12/9: Children s Choir Christmas Concert 12/16: Kid s Club Christmas Party