Children's Ministries
Kids from birth to 6th Grade
Find out more about Director of Children Ministries - Kari Knudson
Printable Forms:
- Kingdom Builders (Sunday School) Registration Form (PDF)
- King's Camp/WINGS Registration Form (PDF)
- Download and print Kari's Letter to Parents 2010-11
- Please read the new Nursery Staff Policy .
2010-11 Children's Ministries Overview
Dear Charity Children and Parents,
What a blessed time it is when all Sunday School and Wednesday evening activities begin! It is such an exciting time for all of us here at Charity! We look forward to all of the children coming back for a great year together! God has richly blessed us at Charity. We have such wonderful children, parents, and volunteers!
Please read through the various activities we have for children ages 3 through grade 6 here at Charity. Feel free to register for one or all of the opportunities your child can experience here. Registration forms are in your August newsletter.
Sunday School Kingdom Builders
- Sunday School begins on September 12 – Rally Sunday!
- This year, we are offering two Sunday School times! That means more choices for you.
- Session 1 for those age 3 (after July 31, 2010) through grade 8.
- Session II for those age 3 (after July 31, 2010) through grade 8.
- Our times together go from 9:10 until 10:30 a.m. and from 10:40 until 11:55 a.m.
- Sunday mornings are an exciting time full of energy and yet times of quiet sharing.
We use the Promiseland curriculum from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. It is an exciting curriculum that is very Biblically based, full of drama, stories, hands-on learning, puppets, and more. Children divided into small groups led by a 'shepherd' that takes them from location to location in the learning center on a three-point rotational system. The 3 activities are large group time, small group time, and activity/snack station.
Rotation schedule:
- The large group/music time is the actual teaching time full of drama, puppets, hands-on learning, and music.
- The small group time will discuss what was taught or is going to be taught in the large group. This small group time will add a life-application aspect to the whole thing. This is time spent with their classroom shepherd/teacher.
- The snack/craft/activity stations are a time for the kids and the shepherds to hang out together and enjoy some “center” time. This allows the children to choose an area of fun to play in and to socialize with their buddies from church. We have Legos, Duplos, puzzles, crafts, books, games, coloring sheets, foosball, air hockey, and, of course, snacks!
- (WINGS will be offered here also - scroll down the page for more information)
Sunday School Rotation Schedule
|
TIME |
9:10-9:15 (or) |
9:15-9:40 (or) |
9:40-10:05 (or) |
10:05-10:30 (or) |
|
Pre-1st |
Kid Connection (in classroom) |
Classroom |
Activity & Snacks |
Large group |
|
2nd/3rd |
Kid Connection (in classroom) |
Large group |
Small group |
Activity & Snacks |
|
4th/5th |
Kid Connection (in classroom) |
Activity & Snacks |
Large group |
Small group |
Preschool & Sixth Grade
This Willow Creek curriculum is designed for kids in grades K-5. Our wonderful preschool and 6th grade teachers have been excellent in using other curriculum available or coming up with their own lessons each Sunday. These classrooms are involved in this rotational schedule, but are more on their own.
Wednesday Evening King’s Camp
- King's Camp begins on Rally Wednesday - September 15
- King’s Camp also is for ages 3 years through 6th grade
- King’s Camp is more like Sunday School, but with a different twist.
- We find that the children come a little more energetic on Wednesday evenings so we try to adapt to this.
Wednesday King's Camp Schedule
| 5:15-6:30 | Supper is served upstairs in the fellowship room (suggested donation) |
| 5:45 | Bingo, a movie, and nursery are available downstairs. Children are not allowed downstairs until this time. Parents need to check their children into one of these areas. The children will need to stay in one of these areas and will not be allowed to change placed. |
| 6:10 | WINGS - These registered children go to the Craft Room to say their verses |
| 6:30 |
|
| 6:50 | Three Egyptian rotations begin: 1) Time with Joseph 2) Games 3) Egyptian marketplace |
| 7:45 | All come together for the final Celebration along with WINGS awards |
| 8:00 | King's Camp is dismissed |
WINGS (Witnesses in God’s Service) - Sunday and Wednesday
WINGS is a Bible memorization program that some very wonderful people brought to our church many years ago. If you are familiar with AWANA, it is similar to that.
We are offering WINGS for ages 3 years through 6th grade:
- During Sunday School Kingdom Builders' activity station times (and)
- During Wednesday King's Camp from 6:10 – 6:30 p.m.
- WINGS takes place in the craft room downstairs on Wednesdays.
- WINGS is an individualized memorization program where kids work at their own pace.
- Children memorize Bible verses at home.
- Parents mark the verses off as learned, and then kids come to WINGS and say the verse(s) to a listener.
- Children are rewarded with stickers, praise, pins, trophies, and with coins that can be used to buy things at a store two times a year.
Christmas programs and spring musical
The children of Charity have the opportunity of taking part in two musicals a year. One is usually the second Sunday and following Wednesday in December and the other is at the end of April/beginning of May. These are always such special programs.
2nd Graders>6th Graders
- Rehearsals for the Christmas program are from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings for grades 2-6.
- Children rotate these evenings so that everyone doesn’t come to every single practice.
- Speaking parts and solos are first offered to 6th graders, then 5th, 4th, and so on. This keeps it consistent from year to year.
Preschoolers>1st Graders
- At Christmas time, preschoolers, kindergartners, and 1st graders have a program of their own before the 2nd – 6th graders.
- First graders may have speaking parts and kindergartners are given the opportunity to sings solos, so please keep that in mind.
- They practice during Sunday School on Sunday mornings.
- If your child does not go to Sunday School, please contact us so that we can get information and music to you. Wednesday evening kids to be a part of all of this also!
- There is also an opportunity for all children to play instruments or sing prelude music before the programs start.
The Christmas program schedule for this fall will be coming soon. Please watch for this important information!
The spring musical combines kids of all ages who practice on different Wednesday evenings in the spring. Watch for information on this in late winter.
Other items
Offering: Offering is collected each week at Sunday School and on Wednesday evenings. Our children sponsor a child through Compassion International and these offerings go toward that. Any additional monies are added to the children’s ministry budget areas to help defray the costs of our programs.
Birthdays: We like to celebrate birthdays! We know how special these days are for children. We celebrate summer birthdays on their half-birthdays in December, January, and February. During large group time, we call the birthday kids forward. Sometimes kids bring pennies to put in our birthday bank. Each penny represents one year of their life. As they put the pennies in the bank, the rest of us count to see how old the child is. We sing to them and then they get to pick a prize from the treasure box. We hope this is a special time for them!
Behavior Plan: Our Charity kids are awesome! We are so blessed and thankful to have such nice, loving, and respectful children! Every once in awhile, something may happen that requires some extra help. We have a behavior plan on hand and ready to use, if need be. We all need to remember that these programs are run by a great group of people called volunteers. We want to make these jobs they have, as easy for them as possible. If, at some time, you, as a parent, are needed, we will ask for your help. Please don’t take this the wrong way; we just want to be open and honest about what is happening – always trying to do what is best for your child.
Volunteers: Volunteerism runs very high here at Charity. These programs would not run if it weren’t for wonderful people as yourself. Please know that we are always open to receiving your help in many different ways. So whether young or old, taking big chunks of time or little, helping with teaching or helping in the office, we really appreciate your help!
Call Kari at the church (258-1228) or reach her by email (kknudson@btinet.net). I will be happy to visit with you.
In Christ,
Kari Knudson
Children’s Ministry Director
Charity Lutheran Church
Children's Ministry Annual Events
Here's a list of some of Charity Children's Ministry Events:
Advent Family Fun Night
Bottineau Ski Trip for 4-6th graders (January/February)
Fishing/Camping Trip - entering 5th-7th grades (June)
King's Camp (preschool to 6th grade) /WINGS, Preschool-6th Grade (Wednesday evenings
Papa's Pumpkin Patch event (Sept)
Rummage Sale - Youth Fundraiser(August) to benefit Children's Ministries
Summer Events
Sunday School / Preschool-12th grade (September-May)
Sunday School Christmas Program / Preschool-6th grade (December)
Sunday School Spring Musical / Preschool to 6th grade (March or April)
Vacation Bible School / Preschool-6th grade (June)
Support our children's ministries
The following are volunteer positions that are dynamic opportunities to bring Jesus to kids and to create fellowship.
Activity Station Coordinators
Craft Coordinators Activity Station Leaders (7 or more people)
Large Group Teaching Coordinators
Mid-Week Organizers
Music Team
Music Team Coordinators
Overall Kingdom Builders coordinator
Skits/Drama/Puppet People (15 or more people)
Small Group Shepherds
Snack Coordinators
