CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES

Parkway Hills children's ministries led by Cynthia Gibbs, Director of Children & Family Ministry and the Children's Council, and Connie Moore, Children's Ministries Chairperson, welcomes all, from the tiniest infants to those finishing elementary school.  Nursery care is provided for infants and toddlers at all church-wide services and events. Age and grade specific Sunday School classes are offered at 9:45 am each Sunday. Infant's and toddler's nurseries and classrooms for 3's, and 4's are located on the second floor of the Worship Center, K-4th meet downstairs in the Education Building. PTY's (preteen youth-5th and 6th grades) meet downstairs in the Education Building.

 Children's Sunday School--2011-2012

The Baby and Toddler Nursery is located upstairs in the Worship Center in Rooms 205 & 206.                          

Nursery Staff: Ann Allen, Kizzy Collins, Carrie Williams, and Beatrice Griffin                                               

• 3 and 4 Year Old Sunday School is also upstairs in the Worship Center in Rooms 207.  Their teachers are Jessica Wood and Molly Kirk.

•  K-5-4th Grade Sunday School is located in The Garden, on the first floor of the Education Building.

• PTYs (5th and 6th Grade Sunday School) are downstairs in the Education Building.

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES:

Our three and four year olds have lots of fun learning by using the Cokesbury Rock Solid curriculum.  These materials are colorful and fun and help the children stay engaged during class and take the Bible story to heart.  The curriculum is written with appropriate activities to help children understand the story.  In addition, it uses a variety of learning styles and utilizes variours skill sets to ensure each child can be reached in a way that is meaningful to them.

The Garden is the name of our rotational Sunday school for Kindergarten thru 4th grade. In a rotational learning setting the same Bible story or theme is taught for several weeks. Each week, learners rotate to a different station. the story remains the same, but children encounter it in different ways in each station. The variety of experiences keeps interest high throughout the unit. Teachers teach the same lesson, with age-adjusted level adjustments, for the length of the rotation.

We use the Power Xpress curriculum published by Cokesbury specifically for use in rotation settings. We have five week rotations for Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade and 4th grade. We begin each workshop with a gathering time. All ages K-4 meet here for 15 minutes, beginning at 9:45, for a fun, lively look at the Bible story or theme. We also have a joy and concern time and prayer. The children then go with their age group to their workshop station for that week. The stations we offer are storytelling, video, art, games, and science.

Extended Session

During the 10:45 Worship Service, Extended Session is offered to children age 3 thru Kindergarten. Children are dismissed from worship after the Children's Moment. Their time in extended session is spent with Bible stories, games and crafts. Parents whose children participate in extended session take turns teaching each week.

Extended Session does NOT meet on the first Sunday of the month due to communion services. Children are invited to take communion with their parents.

Wednesday Night Activities

Our Wednesday Night activities include Choir and programs for age 3 years through 6th grade. Supper begins at 5:30 pm and is followed by children's choirs and programs at 6:00 pm. the children's choirs sing in our worship services and present a Christmas program and a musical program in the late spring.

5t and 6th grades (Pre-teen Youth or PTYs) meet together for Sunday School and on Wednesday nights. The PTY choir/drama team prepare each Wednesday night to help lead worship on Sunday several times each year. Adult volunteers are Tiffni Woodward, Tatia Kiser and Lisa McLain. There are also special fun events throughout the year for the PTYs.

The 3 and 4 year old children meet in the Extended Session room at 6 pm for singing and their Bible lesson.

The K-4th grade children study missions through an exciting and engaging program called Mission Possible Kids (MPK).  Adult MPK volunteers are Cindy White, Susan Taylor and Pattie Wheeler.  In children's choir they learn fun and meaningful music which they share with the church several times a year during Worship.  Adult volunteers are Lisa McLain and David White.

Vacation Bible School

In 2012 we will launch Operation Overboard: Dare To Go Deep With God.  VBS will be June 11-14 from 5:30-8:00.  Make plans to join us as we dive in and discover God's underwater universe.  On our journey we willl plunge into Bible stories of people with deep faith and learn to trust a God whose love is bigger than the sea. Click HERE to download a registration form.

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Seasonal Activities

Throughout the year we plan fun activities for our children. These include an Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Fun Days, a Fall Festival and a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Watch the church newsletter and calendar for upcoming dates.

Acolytes

Children in the second grade and older may serve as acolytes in our worship services to light and extinguish the candles on our alter table and special seasonal candles. Training for acolytes is offered periodically and helps the children understand the elements of worship. As they bring the light of Christ into our services, they light up our lives and learn about worship by participating as a part of the worship team.