FUMC Austin believes that it is necessary for the church to be invested in the lives of the children and for the children to be invested in the life of the church and their life of faith.
Our goal is to provide training for the children of the church throughout their childhood that will lead to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and to an understanding of the Christian faith. To reach this goal we offer many programming opportunities to guide the spiritual development of the children entrusted to our care and nurture.
Sunday school schedule for 2011-2012 (more information about our curriculum can be found below)
All children’s classes meet on the first floor of the Education Building
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
- Toddlers - Room 104
- 3 and 4 year olds (pre-K) – Room 102
- Kindergarten - begins in Room 102 for music, then moves to Room 101 for Godly Play
- 1st & 2nd grades - begin in Wesley Hall for group activities, then moves to Room 108 for Godly Play
- 3rd grade - Room 106
- 4th and 5th grades - Room 111 (on the other side of Wesley Hall)
Children’s Ministries
Acolytes
FUMC worship services are led by a team of acolytes each week. The acolytes are children who have undergone a training class. The acolytes lead the procession by bringing the “Light of Christ” into our worship service and lighting the candles. The acolytes extinguish the candles at the end of the service and remind us that each of us is called to carry the “Light of Christ” out into the world as they symbolically leave with their wands lit. Any child in 3rd grade or higher is invited to attend acolyte training and to become a part of this very special ministry.
Baptism Counseling Class
First Church offers a monthly baptism class for parents who would like to have their infant welcomed into our congregation by this holy sacrament. Persons seeking baptism for their children need to attend a baptism class, led by the Reverend John Wright, in which the rich meaning of baptism is carefully explained–what God promises to us in this sacrament and what we promise to God. Baptismal Classes are scheduled on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 in Room 213 of the Sanctuary Building on the following dates: August 31, October 26, December 7, and January 4, 2012, and on Sunday afternoon, September 25, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Participants will discuss the important commitment represented by baptism, the faith development of your child, and specifics of our children’s programs. In addition, families will be able to connect with others in our church who have young children. If your family has an infant baptism in the future, please contact Marilyn Good at marilyn@fumcaustin.org or 478-5684 (ext. 204) to reserve your space in this class.
Childcare
The Sunday morning nursery program is provided for infants and toddlers to allow them the opportunity to experience God’s love by making church a safe place to play and grow. Childcare is available for infants in Room 103 and toddlers in Room 104 during the Sunday School hour and worship. Childcare is available in Room 102 for three and four year olds during worship. Older children are invited and encouraged to attend worship. Childcare is provided in Room 104 for meetings during the week depending on the age of the children. Please make reservations by emailing childcarefumc@yahoo.com prior to the event.
Children’s Choir
Children’s Choir rehearsals (September through May) are Sundays, 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. in the adult choir room of the Education Building. The children’s choir performs once a month throughout the fall and spring. Special performances occur during the Christmas season, and a fully staged musical is presented in the Spring. Children entering Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome. For more information, contact Wendi Olinger at wolinger@gmail.com or 769-3421.
Coats for Kids
This mission project allows families to share gently used children’s coats with less fortunate Austin area families. Coats are collected in October for distribution by the Austin Coats for Kids program.
FUM Preschool
First United Methodist is blessed with an outstanding Preschool program. FUMP is a preschool where play is developmentally appropriate five days a week, where children enjoy and learn from caring and loving teachers, attend bi-monthly chapel, and grow in a safe and caring Christian environment.For more information call Sandy Pennington at 478-5709 or go to FUM Preschool website at http://fumcaustin.org/preschool/
Ministry to New Parents
Reaching out to new babies is a special part of the FUMC ministry to families. A new baby packet is delivered to the family containing helpful information about your growing baby and a beautiful cd of soothing music. Families will continue to receive a monthly newsletter called Splash! from our church to help with faith-building activities and child development ideas appropriate for each month of your baby’s first year. The nursery is staffed with highly-qualified childcare workers who have received their first aid/cpr certification, criminal background checks and an Interactive Care Training. Childcare is available for all church services. Parents needing childcare for church events must make reservations by emailing childcarefumc@yahoo.com prior to the event. Reservations help the childcare workers to maintain a proper ratio of workers to children and ensure quality care for your child. Lara Greene, Director of Family and Children Ministries, and our pastoral staff are available and eager to talk to new parents concerning the baptism of their child and to arrange scheduling of the service.
Movin’ On’ Movin’ Up
Movn’ On’ Movin’ Up is held near the beginning of the school year. This is an opportunity for parents to learn about children’s programming opportunities and register their children for events. Sunday School teachers and leaders of various children’s activities are introduced during the morning.
Presentation of Bible
Studying Scripture is one of the most important ways we learn about God. FUMC presents personal Bibles to each third grade student as a statement of their growing faith development and as recognition of their being old enough to study Scripture on their own.
Seasonal Activities
During Advent and Lent special events are offered for children and families. The Advent Festival includes dinner followed by Advent and Christmas workshops and the evening concludes with a worship service. The children are invited to participate in the late afternoon Christmas Eve Service which is designed to encourage participation by children in the nativity story. Lent activities offer a traditional Easter Egg Hunt and Family Picnic. Children’s Sabbath is celebrated during the fall with a worship service led by children of various ages. During this service children usher, lead prayers, and preach the sermon.
Sunday School
FUMC believes that Christian Education is vital to Christian development and nurture. We also believe that Sunday School is a key element to a well grounded Christian Education Program. Therefore, we offer Sunday School for toddlers through 5th grade each week. Our Sunday School program helps children grow in their understanding of God’s love by studying scripture, prayer, the sacraments and discovering what it means to be a valued member of the body of Christ and this church. Toddlers and two year olds use the “Toddlers and Two’s” resource, which employs a variety of activities and music to expose them to God’s love. Children from 3 years old to those in 1st grade use Godly Play, which is a Montessori style of presenting the Bible stories to the children and encouraging them to respond. Those in 2nd through 5th grade use “Exploring Faith” as their main resource, which teaches children about the Bible, how to apply it to their daily lives, and the importance of service to others. All resources used are United Methodist approved and are available for review at any time. We hope you will visit a class soon.
Tweeners
This program is open to all children in 5th -7th grades and offers a time for making friendships, mission service, Christian Education, and fun. The Tweeners currently hold an annual Souper Bowl offering to collect funds for feeding ministries in the Austin area, make and sell Manna Bags which contain a meal to be given to homeless persons on street corners, and participate in recreational events such as ice skating and Lazer Tag. Tweeners meets once a month for their various activities.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is held each summer during the first week of August for area children. This program offers children five mornings of music, snacks, games, crafts and Bible study in a fun and relaxed environment. Participant ages range from 3 years old (if potty trained) to children who have completed 4th grade.
Worship Packets
Worship packets are available for preschool and elementary age children in all worship services. Special bulletins and crayons are available for children to use during worship services and then return the crayons following the service. Ask ushers for assistance. A Cry Room is available in the balcony area of the sanctuary for babies and young children who become restless during worship. A microwave and refrigerator are available in the Cry Room along with rocking chairs, cribs, changing tables, toys and children’s books. To reach the Cry Room use the elevator located in the narthex of the sanctuary.
FUMC offers support for parents in times of crises, special packets were mailed to all parents following the tragedy of the World Trade Center and during the Iraq war to aid parents in talking with their children. Materials are available from the church to help children cope with the death of a loved one, a divorce, and other such situations. Please notify the church office of needs in these areas.
For More Information:
Director of Children & Family Ministries:
Lara Lee Greene
Ph. 478-5684 (Ext. 211) or lara@fumcaustin.orgChildren & Family Team Leader:
Leslie Ivey
texasivey@sbcglobal.net
Phone: TBAChildcare Coordinator:
Pam Coronado
childcarefumc@yahoo.com
