Children In Worship

New Children's Ministry

Each person's faith journey begins in childhood and continues throughout that person's life. At Decatur First UMC, we value our children and believe their faith journey is important. We envision our Children's Ministry to be a place where children can grow, explore, and journey toward new phases in their faith development. As the Children's Ministry intentionally unites to fulfill this vision, we will adopt new lingo that reflects these different phases. Join us for one or more of the children's worship offerings on Sunday mornings to see how we are guiding children along their faith journeys.

Faith doesn’t begin when you enter high school, college, or even the workplace. It begins with infancy and progresses through every phrase of an individual’s life. We are excited to embark on this journey with your children, readying them for the next phase of both their lives and their spirituality. As we prepare to kickoff on October 2, we want to make you aware of some of the new lingo you will be seeing and hearing in the
Children’s Ministries area for our Sunday activities.

(Infants & Toddlers)
Our little ones’ first impression of God and our church family begins in the nursery. While getting a diaper changed, enjoying food, or playing, your little one will know that God loves him/her. This phase of the journey is crucial and our nursery is staffed with some of the most loving people you’ll meet. Caravan is available from 8:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. in rooms 102 and 104.

9:30 a.m. Ministry Offerings for Kids

(2-4 year olds & K-5th graders)
Your child’s faith journey brings about new and exciting discoveries! Adventure is a large group-small group worship experience that will get your kids excited about their faith experiences. From storytelling, media, and music to art, games, and discussion, your child’s vast experiences will equip him/her to begin thinking about how the Bible speaks into his/her life. Adventure meets during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday school hour. Two year olds will continue to meet in room 106 and will enjoy a Bible teaching time, music, and activities throughout the morning. Preschoolers will meet in their regularly assigned classrooms (3 year olds in room 109, 4 year olds in room 105) and will enjoy a large group worship experience in the children’s library. K-3rd graders will continue to meet in the Fellowship Hall and 4th-5th graders will meet in room 111 before enjoying a large group worship experience in the Fellowship Hall.

11:00 a.m. Ministry Offerings for Kids

(2-4 year olds)
As young children grow they explore the world around them, discovering new things everyday. While your young ones interact with their peers, they will also learn three important truths, ―God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever.‖ Through games, crafts, music, and storytelling, your child will come to know how much God loves him/her. Explorers meet during the 11:00 a.m. services. Two year olds will continue to meet in room 106. Three year olds will continue to meet in room 109. Four year olds will continue to meet in room 105. Three and four year olds will participate in a large group teaching time in the children’s library. Our 4 year old Explorers will be invited to sit on the front, right pews in the Sanctuary until the end of the children’s moment (at which time they will be escorted downstairs to join our 3 year old Explorers.)

(K-2nd graders)
As kids continue along on their faith journey, they begin their expedition toward joining the larger church congregation in worship. Expedition prepares K-2nd graders for a meaningful worship experience with their parents. Through games, crafts, music, storytelling, and an exploration of various elements of corporate worship, your child will grow to appreciate the significance of Decatur First UMC worship practices. Expedition meets during the 11:00 a.m. raditional service after the children’s moment. Our K- 2nd graders will be invited to join their parents for worship in the Sanctuary until the end of the children’s moment (at which time they will be escorted to the Fellowship Hall to participate in Expedition).

Sunday Evening— JUMP
5th & 6th Grade (a.k.a. JUMP) Jonathan Brown & Kiera Stegall will announce JUMP updates next month. JUMP currently meets on Sunday evenings from 5:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m. in G-3.

As we embark on this exciting faith journey with your children, we hope you will join us. If you have a gift or interest in teaching,shopping, music, etc., we would love to have you serve alongside us for a season. Your involvement will make all the difference in the life of your child and his/her peers. To learn more contact Kiera Stegall at kstegall@decaturfirst.org or 404-378-4541 ext. 110.

Children's Hallway Art at Decatur First

For more information about children’s programs at Decatur First UMC, please contact Director of Children’s Ministries Kiera Stegall at 404-378-4541 x.110 or kstegall@decaturfirst.org.

Why do we welcome children in Worship?

Children are a part of our church family and we share responsibility for nurturing their spiritual needs. We embraced this role at their baptism. They will thrive with our loving acceptance of them as partners in the faith of Jesus Christ.
By welcoming children at our church’s most sacred moments, they learn that nothing can separate them from the love of God. By worshiping together with our children we pass on our traditions for praising God through the sacraments, music, proclaiming and hearing the good news, and offering our gifts and prayers.

What can families do at home to prepare children for Worship?

Make Sundays a special occasion. Have a special breakfast that you only eat on Sundays, listen to special music in the car, or have a lunch tradition after worship. This will reinforce the message that Sunday is a special day for the family.
Try home devotions. This will familiarize children with new behaviors and aspects of worship in less stressful surroundings. Children love to learn things by heart – teach them the Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, and favorite hymns. They will remember on Sunday mornings and feel included.
Take advantage of teaching moments such as baptisms, confirmation, communion and changes in the church year. Use these as opportunities for teaching and learning by explaining them, and then encourage children to watch for certain words or symbols on those days.
Plan ahead and be flexible. Not every service will go perfectly smoothly for you and your child.

What can families do to help children during Worship?

Attend worship regularly – repetition and frequent reinforcement are crucial to a child’s learning.
Arrive early to get properly settled. Invite your child to ask questions before worship begins, and point out interesting elements of worship such as how the altar is set for communion, the Advent banners, or who your child knows that is singing in the choir.
Try sitting in different places. Find the location that works best for you so that your child is comfortable and engaged.
Help your child participate. One good way is to give children the chance to find the hymns and readings themselves in the hymnal or pew Bible. Help your child remember to bring offering to put in the offering plate.
Be clear about the behavior you expect during worship. State your expectations in a positive way.
Be realistic about limits. Set goals that are important and reachable for your family. Praise your child as he progresses in reaching the goals that you set.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, children are just not ready to sit quietly through an entire service. In that situation please feel free to take your child to listen to the service in the narthex, returning when he or she seems calmer. When you are attending to your child’s needs, you are still an important part of our church family.