Childrens' Ministries-Sunday Mornings
Childrens' Ministries at Noel strive to create a safe, loving environment where all parts of a child – body, mind, and spirit – are strengthened. Every child is recognized as a unique individual, created by God and loved by God. Dedicated staff and volunteers openly share their faith and work to create relationships that grow as the child grows.
· Sunday School – 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. for children preschool-5th grade
Sunday School classes are available for all children from preschool through 5th grade. Preschoolers split their time between hearing Bible stories, simple crafts, and playtime. Kindergarteners have their own space to experience church on their own level. Age-appropriate activities and Bible stories help their faith begin to grow. First- and second-graders enjoy a class filled with games and loads of “learning on the go”. No sitting still in that classroom. Third graders have a special class just for them. Having received their Bibles at the beginning of the school year, these children spend the year developing a working knowledge of the stories within the Bible and nurturing what is hoped will be a life-long love of its study. Fourth and fifth grades are beginning to develop their own unique perspectives on faith and how to live it out in the “real” world. As these children approach the tween years, they are ready to explore how the Bible applies to their lives today. Following Sunday School, a quick snack is offered in the Children’s Building lunch room.
· ECA (Early Christian Awareness)
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. ECA II for 18 months – 2 years
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. ECA I for 4 months – 18 months
Led by Betsy Ebarb and her team, ECA has become a hit with the pre-pre-school group. Using rhymes, songs, and toys, ECA leaders seek to convey God’s presence and love to infants and toddlers, emphasizing the family and the wonderful world in which we live. Amazingly, even the smallest of the children respond with excitement and rapt attention. (Well, as rapt as a 13-month-old can muster.)
· Acolytes – 10:30 a.m. Traditional Worship – 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders
Acolytes serve in worship by lighting and extinguishing the altar candles at the beginning and end of traditional worship each week. Before the acolytes extinguish the altar candles during the closing hymn, they re-light their own taper, returning up the aisle and out the front doors of the church. This symbolically takes the light of Christ from the church building out into the world, just as we are to do in our everyday lives. Any 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader interested in becoming an acolyte can receive training and become a part of the team.
· G.R.A.C.E. (God Reaches All Children Everywhere) – 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Following the morning snack, any children attending the 11:00 a.m. Contemporary worship service are encouraged to stay and participate in G.R.A.C.E. One wall of the Media Room lights up with music videos that have the children dancing, singing, and doing hand motions to familiar praise songs. Each week, Leah Miller shares a Bible story related to the upcoming sermon, so that the children will be familiar with the lesson they will be hearing. G.R.A.C.E. is a time to “get your wiggles out” before worship and learn something along the way.