“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'”
Matthew 19:14.
Sunday School
Our Nursery consists of children up to 3 years of age. Children are able to play, interact with other children, and be introduced to Jesus and His love for them.
Our Preschool class is for children ages 3 to PreK. Sunday mornings consist of singing, bible story lesson, reading scripture, and an art creation or craft. We follow a curriculum and each lesson is biblically based.
Our Elementary class is for children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade. Students begin with prayer and singing as a group, then students have an opening activity related to our scripture lesson for the day. Lessons also consist of scripture study either with partner work or questions we answer as a group. Each class closes with an activity or game related to the lesson. We follow a curriculum and each lesson is biblically based.
Zion UMC Nursery
Our church nursery is available for children Kindergarten and under during all classes, worship services, and special events. When a new baby is born into this world, the shaping and molding of this precious young life begins. ZUMC believes that children are our special responsibility and we care deeply about them. Our nursery workers demonstrate a sense of love and gentleness and will be attentive to your child’s needs.
JAM (Jesus and Me)
Once monthly, children ages Kindergarten through sixth grade join together in the evening for fun, fellowship, and food. We sing, have a lesson that is biblically based, snack, and play games. We have a great time at JAM and hope your child can join us soon!
Quarterly Retreat Days
Children's Retreat Days begin directly after church and last until mid-afternoon. We have lunch, bible lessons, a time for giving back to others (service projects), games, crafts, and lots and lots of laughter. This time could also consist of leaving our church campus for outings and visits to church family members. What more could a kid ask for?!
Vacation Bible School
VBS at Zion UMC has always been a joyful time to witness children developing, growing, and exploring their relationships with our Father. VBS is multiple days that include songs of praise, prayer, bible lessons based around a theme for the week, games, science experiments, crafts, and snacks. We work to include a service project in to give back to our community. Zion has a VBS for our elementary students and our preschool students. Preschool VBS is filled with nonstop activities and hands-on experiences to further children’s relationship with Jesus. Elementary students dive deeper into scripture and explore the wide depths of Jesus’ love for us. It is an experience you do not want to miss.
Book Bag Blessing
Lots of feelings surround the start of a new school year. Some students are over the moon. Others are made nauseous by the thought of a new teacher, class, maybe even a new school. And some kids don’t care all that much one way or another.
No matter where a kid is on that emotional continuum, ritual offers something for everyone. When we gather to reflect on such a moment of time, we find comfort, grounding and a sense of added significance.
Every year, at the beginning of school, Zion United Methodist Church blesses the book bags of every child as well as every teacher.
Children's Choir
Periodically throughout the year, our children will sing for our congregation. Songs are included annually along with our Christmas Play, in addition to other special events during the church year. Songs performed have included: Confidence by Sanctus Real, Light up the Sky by the Afters, Yes I Will by Vertical Worship, and we are currently working on I’m So Blessed by Cain. The children love singing “grown-up” songs and it gives them a boost of confidence to be able to perform songs that they know all will love! The best part is when you hear them singing these songs under their breath when they think no one is listening. That’s when you know they really love it!
Annual Christmas Play
Each year, our children perform the Christmas story for our congregation. Christmas plays include props, lines, songs, scripture, and visual displays. Children have acted out the traditional birth story of Christ and addition to alternative ways, as well. Every year the message of Baby Jesus being born as our Lord and Savior is portrayed by our children and they do an amazing job!
Children Learning to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus
As much as possible, our children work to give back to others. Service projects have included: visiting those that aren’t able to come to worship in person, making homemade Valentine’s Day cards for congregation members, and creating flower bouquets and corsages for women on Mother’s Day. During a Children’s Retreat Day, children made fleece “tie blankets” for children at Kids Care, a children’s medical facility within AnMed Hospital, and “stained glass” crosses for patients to hang in their windows at AnMed.
Acolyte Program
Our Elementary Age Sunday School teacher heads up our Acolyte Training program. Children between the ages of 7 and 13 are trained to be Acolytes. This is an extremely important job as it is our children’s responsibility to “bring in the light of Christ” at the beginning of each worship service. Children take their role seriously and learn to be reverent and poised. In addition, it is a wonderful opportunity to get our children involved in the worship service and have our congregation get to see them on a regular basis.
Worship Participation
We work to include our children within worship as much as possible. Children have participated in worship with the Lord’s Prayer, singing, giving homemade creations and flowers to our congregation, and prerecorded videos of children reading scripture.
Special Events and Community Outreach (Zion Fun Fest with Touch a Truck , Trunk or Treat, etc.)
Our Children’s Group and other committees at Zion UMC collaborate to put on Trunk or Treat and VBS annually. Other community events are in the planning process for the fall!
Our number one priority is the safety of your children!
Because you want to make sure that your children are safe in our care, we have established a very detailed and thorough Safe Sanctuary Policy.
Click here to read the policy in its entirety.
To learn more about our Zion children's ministry, click here to contact Merebeth Adams, our Children's Director.