Children's Education Ministry

Children in Worship and Extended Session  Children of all ages are invited to participate in worship.  Bulletins for ages 3-6 and 7-12 are available from the ushers.  Worship Bags, containing a book and materials to write or draw with, are in the stairwell to the right of the narthex.  Feel free to use these resources during worship and return bags after the service. 

Extended Session begins after the pastors' time of "Sharing Faith With Children," which takes place about 15 minutes into worship.  Caregivers meet children ages 3 through Kindergarten for a time of nurture and supervised play in a preschool room or on the playground.

 

Nursery  

Loving Nursery care is offered for babies up to 3 years of age during the Sunday School and Worship hours.  Our Nursery is located on the lower level near the elevator.  If entering from the parking lot, turn left and go to the end of the hall.  Caregivers are coordinated by Peg Warren.

 

 

 

Sunday School, 9:30-10:30 AMWe are blessed to have wonderful Sunday School teachers who make bible stories come alive as they get to know each child.   We hope children will feel at home, ask questions, and grow in their knowledge and love of God.  Children’s classes use PCUSA’s We Believe curriculum.

Preschool and Kindergarten:  Arlice Banks, Judy McCord, and Cynthia Wimberley

1st and 2nd Grade:  Fall:  Robert Dean, Susan Hunter, and Hanlie Wessels; Winter:  Mary Fain, and Patti Giles; Spring:  Susan Bailey and Natalie Rascher

3rd through 5th Grade:  Fall:  John Dillard, Heidi Ann Mesmer, Eric Mesmer; Winter:  Dale Wolf, Craig Woolsey and Sarah Woolsey; Spring:  John Dillard and Clare Dannenberg

Way Cool Wednesdays:  4:00-6:15 PM
This weekly program is for children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.  Strong friendships are formed during snack and free-play time from 4:00-4:30. From 4:30-5:45, the Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, and 3rd through 5th Grade classes take turns enjoying singing and movement with Sam Quesenberry, Children's Choir Director, and Mary Lee Hendricks, accompanist. 

 

Bible stories are explored for four weeks through Art, Games, Drama, and Audio/Visual activities led by Suzanne Sanford, Diane Wilson, Jama Hayes, and Susan Hunter.  PCUSA's We Believe Workshop curriculum informs the creative action in each workshop.  Shepherds, who provide gentle and consistent guidance every week, are Rachel Banks, Keirsten Deater-Deckard, Elva Miller, and Debbie Showalter. 

 

The children learn to live their faith while serving God and the world around them through projects of compassion between bible study units.

 

As if that weren't enough fun, from 5:45-6:15 children have dinner with Way Cool Dinner Parents who host a table of four to six children, forming a dinner family.  They get to know one another, practice good manners, and serve meals family style. The relationships that are shared and nurtured around the tables are special and help us all grow.  Teams of adults in the church forge friendships in the kitchen as they take turns preparing meals and cleaning up.  Come join us! 

 

Family Fellowship EventsThe Children's Education committee hosts several fellowship events for the entire church-family during the year such as the Fall Festival with pumpkin carving, the Gingerbread House Decorating potluck dinner, and an Easter Egg Hunt.  Join us as we share God's love with one another.

 

Vacation Bible School and Family Retreats 

BPC holds Vacation Bible School or an overnight Church-Family Retreat during the summer to learn more about God's love, have fun and feel God's gift of grace for us.