Online registration for VBS is closed. Walk-ins are welcome on Monday, June 16th, however tshirts cannot be guaranteed.
Our mission is to help children
DISCOVER Christ
by engaging in a variety of age-appropriate activities.
And, DEVELOP Disciples
who live the words of Jesus….
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14b
Sunday at Emmanuel for our children
Sunday Morning Services 8:50 am & 11:00 am
Sunday School 10:00 am
Sunday Morning W.A.M. 11:00 am
NURSERY
During the 8:50 am and 11:00 am worship services, qualified staff provide nursery care for children from birth through five years old (Jr. K). We provide nursery age child care for church-wide activities as needed. Read more about our Nursery.
Sunday School
Emmanuel’s goal during Sunday School is to encourage a love of learning and being in God’s word through age appropriate and engaging resources. We strive to encounter kids where they are and build a foundation for a spiritual group in the years to come. Our program gets them ready to make that next step into the Youth ministry. Our younger elementary students explore God’s word and how to apply it in their lives by spending four weeks with each Bible story.
We are always seeking to provide the newest and most engaging curriculum that will help us achieve our goal to encourage children on their path to a better understanding of what “being Christian” means in their lives and how they can demonstrate that in the world. Look at our age-level divisions to see what wonderful programs we offer.
Where we meet for Sunday School
Ages 6 wks – 5 years meet in the Nursery Wing (hallway near Sanctuary)
Sr Kindergarten through 5th Grade meet in the Children’s Wing downstairs on the West side of the building.
W.A.M. (Worship And More)
W.A.M. (Worship And More) meets during the 11:00 am worship service on the second through fourth/fifth Sunday for children in Sr. Kindergarten through 2nd Grade from August to November and January to May.
W.A.M. is an engaging, age-appropriate class that helps young children become more familiar with the rhythms, meaning, and beauty of worship in the Methodist tradition.
Through storytelling, hands-on activities, music, and interactive discussions, children will explore foundational elements of Christian worship and begin to discover their place in the life of the church.
Safe Sanctuaries
We strive to provide the safest possible environment for the children at Emmanuel. To achieve this, we have a Safe Sanctuaries program. Emmanuel trains all adults working with children. The Safe Sanctuaries board meets regularly to ensure we are abiding by our policies and that the policies are meaningful to our children and youth ministries. You can find the entire policy here.
Children’s Activities
Wednesday Nights
Families can enjoy a delicious dinner on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm during the school year, by making a reservation here.
After dinner, the children go to JAM/Choir practice from 6:15-7:15 pm. Emmanuel has three children’s choirs, beginning at age 3 through 5th grade that meet on Wednesday evenings.
We incorporate singing, Orff instruments, drumming, skits, & Bible lessons during JAM! The children sing, play instruments, or perform skits at various times throughout the year during worship services and have a Ring & Sing program in the Spring. Read more about Choirs.
Programs for adults are available and begin at 6:15 pm.
At Emmanuel we have events throughout the year that are a good mix of faith-building, purely social, inter-generational, and age-level based. We try to come together at least once a month outside the normal church programming.
Annual Summer events
VBS
Vacation Bible School is every year for four days during June for our children ages 3 by December 31st of the previous year through 5th grade. Register on the EHub.
Check our Events page for Additional Summer Activities
Annual Fall events
Promotion Sunday
Promotion Sunday is our kickoff to the new school year every August! As the kids are promoted to the next school year, they often move to new Sunday School classes as well. We celebrate the day with activities – including getting to know some of the classroom teachers, seeing the new classroom spaces, and meeting new friends. On this same day, we have Blessing of The Backpacks during both morning worship services. This is our opportunity as a church to pray over the students and teachers as they begin a new school year.
Bible Retreat
In anticipation of our 3rd grade members receiving a Bible from the church, we hold a fun Fall retreat. Scavenger hunts, big Bible games, outings, and and perhaps a campfire fill the evening. This event is for 2nd-5th Graders.
Picnic in the Patch
Come enjoy burgers and hotdogs in the Pumpkin Patch. Kids will love the inflatables, petting zoo, pony and train rides. Snow Cones & baked goods are available to purchase from the youth choir. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Trunk or Treat
Come walk through our line up of decorated cars while collecting candy, purchase hotdogs or burgers for dinner, take pictures in the Pumpkin Patch, and take a Hayride! There’s an option to purchase hotdogs or burgers for dinner, too.
Annual Winter events
Gingerbread Churches
A longstanding tradition at Emmanuel during the Sunday School hour at 10 am in December. All the children gather in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy sweet treats & hot cocoa and decorate their own Gingerbread Church.
PJs, Prayers & Pancakes
This winter event is a fun time to wear your pajamas to church! We have pancakes together for breakfast – which includes a variety of delicious toppings and, of course…whipped cream! The kids then move throughout our classrooms and participate in meaningful prayer stations.
Annual Spring events
Easter Egg Hunt & Hayride
Come and join us for a morning of fun at our annual event that welcomes friends and our community neighbors. Take adorable pictures with the Easter Bunny, jump in a large inflatable, participate in age level egg hunts, take a hayride around the campus, have fun decorating an Easter themed cookie, and walk in our cakewalk to win a sweet treat of your choice.
Spring Ring and Sing Program
We enjoy a musical program from our children’s choirs and adult handbells. They perform an end of year program in the Sanctuary after Wednesday night dinner and then everyone is invited to the Popsicle Party afterwards on the courtyard playground.
Children’s Ministry Team
The Children’s Ministry Team plans and runs the different activities and Sunday School during the year. We are always in need of volunteers.
For more information, contact Mandy Morse, Director of Children’s Ministry.