Pathway with Purpose

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Commitment Card

Music Ministry at FUMCR (4/13 bulletin insert)

Children's Ministries at FUMCR (4/6 bulletin insert)

Outreach at FUMCR (3/30 bulletin insert)

Video Presentations

Pathway with Purpose brochure

Stories from our Pathway

Questions and Answers

Campaign Leaders

Commitment Sunday, April 20, 2008

Children’s Ministries

"I am 9 years old and am an active member of FUMCR. I was baptized in this church and have participated in many of its children’s activities. My brother and I both went to preschool here. It’s fun when you go somewhere or are on a new sports team where you think you won’t know anyone, and there is a friend from preschool on your team. Some of my best friends are from church. Last year, I got to go to Bridgeport camp for the first time. It was the coolest! I always feel welcome at our church. Nobody looks at us funny when my brother gets fidgety in church, and the contemporary service even has doughnuts! Oh, and the basketball court rocks! I think our church is growing because I keep telling all of my friends to come here. It’s great to have a Sunday school room full of friends—even if we’re a little bit crowded sometimes! I can’t wait to see what new and exciting things this new campaign could bring for the children’s ministry." (Daniel Lee)

“I love getting to play in the gym on rainy days.” (Afterschool student, Delaney Martin, 3rd grade)

We have room for more students at VBS and yet we have been filled to capacity each year! (Francy Collins, VBS Volunteer)

“I love the classroom storage that we have now.” (Carolyn Burgraff, Day Care Teacher 14 years)

“With the addition of new classrooms, we could have a room appropriate for children with special needs on Sunday mornings.” (Pam Newell ,Volunteer - Gems Coordinator)

The Weekday Children’s Programs of FUMCR Child Development Center have almost doubled in all areas since our move in 2006. However, with a quality program and quality facilities, our programs are highly respected and there are waiting lists for many classes. We have added supplemental options for parents with their children here all day, such as a computer course, karate, gymnastics and dance. While the current room the students use for their Music and Movement class is a great room (Ogden Fellowship Hall) it is a long way for little ones to travel each day. Ideally, we would like to keep the children in the education building for their safety and well-being. A new large assembly room would give us a variety of options in this area.

Our new Summer Day Camps are always a creative way for children to spend their summer learning and playing at the church for a few hours each day. We have offered classes in cooking, art, scouting, and even cheerleading and dance. These classes are extremely popular and fill up fast. With some new large classrooms upstairs, the variety of summer programs can only continue to grow.

The new older Children’s Sunday School rooms located upstairs in the education center are great, but we have reached our limit for growth in many of these rooms in a variety of age levels. In order for us to grow, we must have new classrooms for the busy 9:45 Sunday School hour.

The possibilities for new ministries that the new buildings have brought to the Children’s Department at FUMCR will only continue to grow as we strengthen the programs we offer now and reach out further in the community to share the love of God.

Allyson George
Director Children’s Ministries