Children's Ministries
Ministry for infants through 5th graders
Where children experience the love of God through a supportive faith community.
St. Paul’s Children’s Ministry calls, equips, and deploys adults with a passion for children’s ministries to connect with children in diverse situations, nurturing the spirit within children so that the awareness of God in their lives will lead them to faithful service as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Children's Ministry Calendar
Summer Ministries
VBS and Creative Arts Camp Volunteer Training and Safe Sanctuaries Review
Sunday Mornings
Children's Ministries Registration
Children Planning to attend any of St. Paul's Children's Ministries should have Registered Emergency Contact Information on file at the church. Please submit information using the following link, Emergency Contact Registration. Registration is completely free and allows us to access your most current information in the case of an emergency.
Worship & Children's Church
Children are an integral part of our worship community. Families are encouraged to worship together weekly. Because some children may need a transition into worshiping, Children’s Church is offered for children age 4 through 2nd graders during the 10:30 am worship. During Children’s Church an engaging lesson, activity, craft, story and or project is planned for the children in attendance. All children and families begin worship together and then children are dismissed to Children’s Church or to be in worship most often following a Children’s Message.
A Children’s Message is offered most Sunday’s at 10:30 am. Children are invited forward for a short time, offered a Biblical Message created for them. Families and children of all ages are invited to come forward during the Children’s Message.
Children who remain in church can receive a Children’s Bulletin from the usher and are welcome to visit the quiet activity bins in the Narthex. There are also baskets with crayons and books in the window wells of the sanctuary. Children are welcome to enjoy these items.
Communion with Children
At St. Paul’s all are invited to participate in communion without restriction to age or otherwise. There are no barriers for participation. The first Sunday of each month at 10:30 am, St. Paul’s celebrates communion. On Communion Sundays, children are invited to remain in church so that we as a congregation can participate in communion together. Children’s Church is not offered on Communion Sundays.
Nursery
A professionally staffed Nursery is available for infants and toddlers through age four. The Nursery is available all morning Sunday during each worship service and during Sunday School. Each time you visit the Nursery you will be asked to fill out a registration for each child attending. The staff are happy to lead you through this process. If you need help accessing the Nursey, an usher or member of the hospitality team will assist you.
For families wanting to be in worship together but needing some extra space, there is a Chapel in very close proximity to the sanctuary available to calm babies or restless children. The 10:30 service is also streamed to the TVs in Wesley Hall.
Sunday School
Sunday School is offered on most Sundays between Labor Day and Memorial Day. See the calendar for specific dates. Beginning at age 4 and through 5th grade children are invited to attend class time in small groups with their peers. Adult volunteers lead class time using the curriculum, Celebrate Wonder. The curriculum teaches Biblical lessons that relate to daily life and highlights the awe and wonder in the world.
Sunday School Schedule:
9:30 am I-Pad, Sign-in
9:30-9:45 am Gathering and Music
9:45-10:15 am Lesson and Classroom
10:15 am Pick-Up
Events & Milestones
Family Nights
Once or twice a month, St. Paul’s families gather for Family Nights, where families learn and serve together.
These evenings often partner with our No Mission Impossible Club gathering nights and offer educational opportunities, mission and outreach projects, games and activities.
See the Children’s Ministry Calendar for specific dates and times
Special Events
St. Paul’s Children’s Ministry sponsors several community-wide events throughout the year, including an Easter Eggstravaganza, Vacation Bible School, Blessing of the Pets, Fall Fest, and Advent Wreath Making. We also celebrate milestones in children’s lives through baptism, receiving of Bibles, and blessing of the backpacks.
See the Children’s Ministry Calendar for specific dates and times
Serving with Children
How to Serve
Children are encouraged to live out their faith through service! They may serve as acolytes during worship services; sing with our children’s choir; participate in Christmas Eve and Children’s Sabbath worship; and volunteer with their family in many of our mission & justice ministries.
NoMIC
The No Mission Impossible Club (NoMIC) is a mission, service and outreach group made up of children and families. NoMIC is in it’s 23rd year of encouraging elementary aged children to participate in ministry and mision. New members are always needed to join us on our service missions. The missions and projects are designed for children in the third through fifth grades. Our goal is to get out into the community and help others. Our theme, to borrow a very popular saying is; “NoMIC has just left the building (church).”
We are a mission based club whose goals are:
1. Create awareness in our members of the needs of others in our church, community, country and the world.
2. Reinforce Christian values in our members.
3. Give children a place and a group of their own at church where they will feel safe and can make friends.
4. Engage our members in hands-on service in projects that will ground them in their faith.
5. Make mission work fun so that the children will continue to be involved in volunteer work when they become teens and adults.
6. To have each child experience how good it can feel to help someone in need.
You do not have to attend St. Paul’s to be a member of NoMIC, so invite your friends to join, too. Membership is quite simple, just show up with a willing heart. Younger children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. We are also always looking for youth and adults to help on our missions. Your participation within the group can be as few or as many missions as you would like. If you have questions about the schedule or the club, please call Cindy and Bob White at 412 487-1085. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming missions.
Email our Coordinator: Bob White
Adults Serving Children
Volunteering
The success and outcome of the Children’s Ministries is dependent on adult volunteers. Volunteers are needed in every ministry that is offered. Adults who would like to support ministry and serve with children are required to obtain clearances through the state of Pennsylvania. All volunteers working with children are also asked by The United Methodist Church Conference Center to attend Safe sanctuaries Training. This training offers safest practice standards for volunteers to follow. The Pennsylvania state laws and requirements are also reviewed in Safe Sanctuaries Training.
Adults 18 years of age and older must have clearances on file in the church prior to volunteering. Please contact the church office to schedule Safe Sanctuaries Training or if you need help obtaining Pennsylvania Clearances.
Stay Up to Date
STAY UP TO DATE
SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY EMAILS HERE!
A weekly email is sent every Wednesday from Erin Soza, Director of Children’s Ministries, with detailed information about calendar events and opportunities to be in worship.
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