Welcome to Bethel Kids and Family Ministry where all are welcome as beloved children of God! We want Bethel kids to develop hearts of compassion and mercy through faith in Jesus Christ. We want them to experience Jesus’ love and share that love in the world. We provide safe, fun, educational and faith-filled programs for children birth-6th grade.
HELPFUL LINKS
- Family Handbook
- Calendar
- Link to Register for Sunday School/Child Care/Kids Choir (QR code also found inside each Sunday bulletin) Please create an account in Realm prior to registering.
- One-time Guest Link to try Sunday School/Child Care/Kids Choir
WORSHIP SPACES
All kids and families are welcome in worship. We encourage families to sit together near the front on the left side where we have kids tables, quiet toys and activities for children during the service. If kids sit with families elsewhere in the pews, you can make-your-own worship bag from the kids area in the back right side of the church. Infants and Toddlers who need to be a bit noisier can play in our glass-enclosed, sound-proofed space in the back on the left. Children can be nursed anywhere in the church but if you are looking for a more private space, ushers can direct you to the Quiet Nursing Room where you can still hear the service in a cozy space.
Read more about how children take communion.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School is held during the 9:00am worship service on Sunday mornings. Kids 4K and up start in worship, are called forward for Storytime (the children’s message) and then are sent to meet their teachers and go upstairs for a lesson. Older kids return to worship in time for communion, younger kids can be picked up after worship upstairs in the Sunday School wing. Kids ages 2-3 can be dropped off and picked up from their classroom upstairs before and after worship. Kids 0-1 can be dropped off and picked up from the nursery on the 1st floor. Families need to register kids prior to attending with one of the links listed above.
CHILD CARE
Child care is provided before and after the 9:00am service for families wishing to participate in fellowship or other ministry offerings. The nursery is on the first floor near the sanctuary and serves children 0 – 2.5 years old. Kids 2.5 yrs – 5th grade meet in Kids Corner, Room 216 on the second floor. Child care is open most Sundays but we do sometimes close on traditionally low attendance Sundays. When we are closed, the nursery is open, but unstaffed. Older children get to experience a full worship service on those Sundays with the kid-friendly spaces and activities in the sanctuary as noted above. Families need to register kids prior to attending with one of the links listed above.
HOLY COMMUNION INSTRUCTION
Holy Communion Instruction is held annually for 2nd graders and up and their families. This is a great way to learn together and build community but arrangements may be made at other times to meet the needs of the family. If children younger than 2nd grade start expressing interest, we may teach basic concepts in Sunday School.
KIDS SING
Kids Sing is an occasional sing-a-long session with Ken Sosinski, a long time kids choir conductor, for kids 1st grade and up. A child care staff person will assist Ken. Parents register kids at one of the links above and drop off their kids upstairs in Room 202 immediately after the 9:00am service and pick them up around 10:35. Kids will sing simple and familiar hymns, learn related theology and pray at the end of each session. Watch bulletins and announcements for dates throughout the school year.
SUMMER KIDS PRAISE & PLAY
Meets most Sundays after Memorial weekend through the end of August during the 9:00am service. Kids 2.5 yrs through 6th grade (and, optionally, their families) will have a relaxed children’s chapel, related activity and playtime. Parents drop off kids 8:45-9:00am and pick them up before 10:30am. Older children can help lead children’s chapel by singing, reading, lighting candles or helping little kids with the activity. Kids 0 – 2.5 can play in the staffed nursery.
VACATION BIBLE CAMP
Held annually during the first week of August at Bethel Horizons Camp – kids, and optionally families, meet for a week of camp, faith formation and fun.
OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS
(See Calendar link above)
Christmas Pageant
Trunk or Treat
Fall, Christmas & Easter Photo booths
End-of-Year Sundae School Party
Service opportunities include:
- making cards for our Care Team to share with the homebound,
- worship leaders during summer Kids Praise & Play or Sunday Night Family Worship during the school
- older kids can be helpers to little kids in our programs.
- Fill out the youth helper application here.