Children's Ministries

Wesleyan Kids For Missions Howdy, Buckaroos! Are you ready for another adventure? We are studying the WaHa People in the Arabic world. Come, bring your offering--and a friend! See you May 18th at 9:40 a.m. Wesleyan Kids For Missions meets in the Primary Assembly Room during the Sunday School Hour. W.K.F.M. is for children grades 1-5.

VPS Applications for the upcoming year HERE.

Children’s  Ministry Opportunities
Sunday School
With college students leaving our community for the summer as well as many people away for vacation, we have openings for Sunday School teachers and assistant teachers as well as occasional substitute teachers at various age levels during the months of May, June, and August. To learn more about some of these ministry opportunities, please contact Sunday School Superintendent, Robin Pawling (567-8496) or Pastor Cindy (567-2264).

Children’s Church
With college students leaving our community for the summer we have openings for Children’s Church teachers and assistant teachers as well as occasional substitute teachers for children ages 2-5 during the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services in May, June, and August as well as during the 10:00 worship service during the summer Sabbath. To learn more about these ministry opportunities, please contact one of the Children’s Church ministry leaders: Barb Rangel (567-2838), Elaine Tooley, Karry Beardsley (567-4631), Bitsy Mayhle (5677-8241), or Pastor Cindy (567-2264).

Thank you for prayerfully considering involving yourself in one of these important ministries to our children.

NURSERY
The church Nursery is a busy place each week, filled with many little ones. We are available for all of the services and Sunday School each Sunday, and for the Ladies’ bible Study each Friday morning. the children receive lots of love, cuddling, comforting, playtime, and book reading! We show them and teach them the love of Jesus by our love, actions, and words. It is a very special time with the children.

We are staffed by many college students and community members. We appreciate and thank all of you who volunteer your time. The nursery wouldn’t function without you. This is a wonderful ministry to the children, as well as to the parents who appreciate the pleasure of attending the various services in the church knowing their little ones are being well cared for by loving people. We are also grateful to the many behind the scenes people who help with cleaning and repairing nursery equipment. Thanks to everyone who helps make our nursery run smoothly.

Please take note that in early April, nursery volunteer sign-ups for the summer months will be in the bulletin. You may not be aware that the nursery is over 50% staffed by our college student volunteers during the school year, and with them away, we will greatly need YOUR help! Please prayerfully consider volunteering your help while the college students are away. It is very important that you fill out a nursery survey at the beginnning of each recruiting cycle, each year, regardless of past experience. This helps keep our information current and accurate.

Thank you for your service to our little ones and their families!
In His service,
Jan Schilke and LuAnne Brubaker
Nursery Coordinator and Scheduler

Children's Church

Have you ever realized that there are consistently a large number of families with small children that attend out church? You may be wondering how, in view of this, church stays so quiet on Sunday mornings. The answer is that many of our preschool-aged children make their way to Children’s Church.

Once they arrive they enjoy singing Bible songs. Those requiring hand motions such as “Deep and Wide,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “My God is So Big” are definitely fan favorites. This year we have also introduced an array of musical instruments including finger cymbals, triangles, wooden blocks, tambourines and various shakers and rattles which the kids love to keep the beat with—at least their own. Not to mention they provide good cover for those of us leaders who fall under the category of vocally challenged!

Singing is followed by a Bible story. After seeing such a great response last spring to using a flannel graph to assist in illustrating the lessons, we decided to invest in a vibrant and extensive new set made up of several hundred beautiful pieces. They are used every week. The children become more engaged in the story as they expectantly await their turn to add their piece to the scene.

Prayer and snack time follow a craft or coloring page, as well as play time. As you can see from the kids’ quotes below, these are Children’s Church equivalents to lunch and gym.

Our littlest church-goers also enjoy a variety of special events for the holidays. At Easter they participate in the “Running of the Palms” and at Christmas they are invited to “A Birthday Party for Jesus!”

We have a great contingent of energetic teachers. We are extremely grateful for the commitment and care they put into this ministry, as well as, their love for children. Most of our workers are college students, many not from the local area. Parents and others who might cross paths with these individuals, let’s make sure we let them know how much their participation and dedication means to our church with words of appreciation, encouragement and thanks. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to introduce yourselves to them deepening their connection with our church body.

Quotes from Kids:
Emma: “I like Nicole.”
Luke: “I like to play games”
Nicole: “I like to color in Children’s Church”
Eli: “I like coloring, playing games, having snacks and playing with play-dough and puzzles.

Quotes from Teachers:
“I love helping with the kids at Houghton Wesleyan, through working with them I am reminded of the joy of a “child-like faith.” I leave Sundays filled with the love of God shown through the love of the children I work with.”

“I miss the children at my home church and wanted connection with families.”

“My favorite thing about Children’s Church is seeing the excitement that the children have really encourages and makes me get excited about life.”

“My favorite moments are when I can talk individually with the children and get to learn a little about them and from them.”

We ask for your continued prayers for this area of ministry in our church.

Thank you,

Elaine Tooley, Barb Rangel, Karry Beardsley and Bitsy Mayhle
 

Valley Preschool

Fall marks the 37th anniversary of VPS's ministry to 3, 4 & 5 year olds! The early childhood program at VPS is designed to augment home experiences, providing opportunity for social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical growth and development. It meets from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (September - May) in rooms on the first floor of the Christian Education Building.

Through directed play, small group projects, and large group activities, children are encouraged to investigate, experiment, create, and communicate. Their confidence is bolstered, their empathy and social skills strengthened and their grasp of crucial foundational concepts fortified as they learn to love education. Bible truths, songs, and stories are integrated daily through formal teaching and informal interactions. Christian teachers and staff reflect God's love and attest to His active involvement in their lives.

Applications are available on VPS Parents Place Bulletin Board, in the church office, or by calling the director. Limited scholarship aid is available each year as well.

Wednesday Clubs,  6:30–7:45 p.m. (do not meet over the summer)

-AWANA Puggles & Cubbies  meets on the 1st floor of the Christian Education Building and is for children ages infant through Kindergarten. BOOM! Club includes Bible Stories, scripture memory, praying, singing, crafts, and various activities helping plant God’s Word in the lives of our young children.

-Pioneer Girls is a Bible-based program for girls in grades 1st-6th. Pioneer Girls meets on the 2nd floor of the Christian Education Building where they learn how to include Christ in every phase of life. The goals of P.G. are to help girls make choices based on Biblical principles, to develop new skills, to form healthy relationships with other children and adults, and to develop positive feelings about themselves. To achieve these goals, girls work with guides and assistant guides on Bible Studies and a variety of other activities.

-Boys’ AWANA Club welcomes all boys in grades 1st through 6th for a time of fun and learning. B.A.C. meets on the lower level of the main church for singing, Bible Study, and more. Our goal in everything is to imitate Christ in all we do. Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed!

Wesleyan Kids for Missions

has been an established educational ministry to the children of our church family for years.

Its goals are to acquaint children in grades 1-5 with missionaries and mission work around the world now, as well as to nurture a lifelong commitment to missions.

WKFM meets the third Sunday of each month during the Sunday School hour (9:40 to 10:40) in the Junior Assembly room located on the second floor of the Christian Education Building Activities include singing, listening to stories, hearing visiting guest speakers, giving an offering, praying, and even taking time to select books to read from the WKFM library.

All children are encouraged to attend and take the first steps toward a larger world vision. WKFM is an extension of the local Mission Committee.