Pre-K through Grade 8
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
We love the sound of children in our worship service. Here are some ideas to keep them engaged:
Relax: It’s ok for children to be themselves. Grab an activity bag to keep them engaged!
Sit Close & Explain: Sitting up front makes it easier for children to see and understand what’s happening.
Participate: Children learn by imitating what you do. So please sing, pray, respond and they will too!
Wander: It’s OK to move around. Feel free to use the rocking chair in the back!
Need to Leave? No problem but please come back soon!
Infant & Toddler Care is available at the 10:30 worship service.
Sunday School begins following “Words with Children” at the 10:30 worship service. Follow the crowd to the upstairs classrooms or remain in worship if you prefer.
Communion occurs on the first Sunday of the month, all are invited to partake during worship or in class.
Several restrooms are available. Ushers will help you find your way.
Refreshments are served in the first-floor Social Hall directly following the worship service.
Questions? Ask an Usher, Greeter, or any church member, or contact our office for more information.
FAITH FORMATION
Our core belief is that all people are children of God, are loved by God, and that faith formation can begin at any age. We aim to create a loving, safe community where children and youth can be themselves, loved, accepted, and valued as they are. We help children and youth to understand that they are each part of God’s story, to care for one another and all of God’s creation, and to begin to develop a lifelong spiritual practice. They are invited to explore the mysteries of faith through scripture, tradition, and experience as they develop a personal relationship with God. We want them to feel supported by their church as they go about their days and as spiritual transformation and growth happens!
Sunday School (Pre-K)
The infant and toddler room provides a loving and safe space for supervised play, and age-appropriate faith formation while parents take time for restoration and their own personal faith exploration during the 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service. Children meet in a bright, fresh, and inviting space. This safe and comforting environment allows for supervised free play and an introduction to bible stories. Parents may feel free to use this room at any time. The worship service is streamed so you do not miss a thing.
Sunday School (K-8)
Children join their families and the congregation for 10:30 a.m. worship service for a short period of family togetherness. This is an important time for learning about church and for feeling the love and support of the whole congregation. Following a brief Bible-based lesson we call, “Words with Children,” the children exit for their classroom where faith formation begins in engaging and creative formats. Children will learn Bible basics, Bible stories, sing, dance, cook, create art projects, pray, build community, and learn acceptance. Our hope is that children will build a faith foundation, build confidence in who they are, and create a safe space for each other.
Children’s Choir (Age 4 – Grade 8)
After Sunday School, while parents enjoy fellowship and coffee, children are warmly invited to gather for a time of joyful music-making! Our Children’s Choir is a fun and nurturing space where young voices come together to sing, laugh, and grow. Children learn engaging, uplifting, age-appropriate music that builds confidence, fosters friendships, and sparks a lifelong love of music. Throughout the year, there are special moments when the children share their voices during worship — bringing their joy to the whole congregation. No musical experience is needed, just an open heart and a joyful spirit! Older or more experienced choristers will be celebrated as role models and encouraged to lead and grow through additional opportunities.
FAITH IN ACTION
Sunday School Youth Mission (K-6)
Mission and servant leadership are an integral part of South Church. To nurture a spirit of mission in our youngest servant leaders, children, will engage in age-appropriate mission activities right here at church, learning the biblical basis of compassion with a concentration on our local community. These mission projects will occur periodically during Sunday School and when possible, offsite as family mission opportunities.
Middle School Youth Mission (7-8)
Our Middle School Youth Mission program (MSYM) offers community building and hands on service opportunities for young people in Middle School. This program empowers youth to truly embody what it means to be servant leaders in the world, culminating with a service-learning mission trip experience to Boston. Our MSYM program enables our youth to develop a strong sense of self, knowing that each individual has value and is deeply loved.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday School
Teachers, organizers, and enthusiasts of all kinds needed to help foster faith exploration in our students. Short and long term volunteer opportunities available! Questions? Contact Ande Shutler
Sunday School Support Team
Create an event for our community, or support other volunteers in bringing their ideas to life. Tangible and rewarding way to volunteer with our students. Questions? Contact Ande Shutler
In the Bible we learn of Jesus tying a towel around himself and washing the dusty feet of his disciples before the last Passover supper. He stressed that he performed this humble gesture of radical hospitality and service as an example, telling the disciples they were to go and do as he had done. At South Church we believe servant leadership is a way of being in the world, a way of following Jesus’s instruction and example. It is a way of following his commandment to love one another. We live out our belief by nurturing servant leadership through social justice mission programs for many ages.
When youth embody servant leadership they gain real and valuable experiences of putting their faith into action. Throughout the year, youth will be stretched to use their own skills and gifts in a variety of ways and share the love we are called to offer the world in the model of Jesus Christ. They will be challenged and enriched as they meet others in life circumstances very different from their own. At times, we will challenge them to stretch themselves beyond their own comfort zones. The programs are designed to help the youth go deeper into their spiritual exploration and development as they experience each program, based on new experiences and personal growth. The model for the mission programs is cyclical rather than linear. The goal, however, is constant: to help them learn to become servant leaders in the model of Jesus Christ. They will work in community, learning more about themselves, others, and the presence of God. Through having experienced making a difference in the world, they grow into young adults who feel empowered to do so throughout their lives.
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