About the Children's Ministry
A child is a wonderful gift from God! At Gethsemane we have designed a wide variety of ministries to meet the needs of children and their families.
Baptism Education
Baptism education is offered to families in preparation for a child's baptism service. Splash! newseltters, sent monthly for the first 3 years, offer ideas for faith-filled play, worship and prayers.
Children in Worship
Worship services involve children in many ways, such as children's messages, the blessing of children during Holy Communion, special children's bulletins and activity bags. The Sunday School children sing during worship 4 times a year. All Sunday School families have the opportunity to participate in serving communion, ushering and greeting.
Nursery Care
Nursery care is provided by loving caregivers Sunday mornings during worship and education hour. Children are also welcome in the worship service.
Sunday School
Sunday School is offered for children age 3 through grade 6 at 9:40 am. Children learn about Jesus, pray together, sing together, and have fun! Bible stories are taught in a variety of active ways linking Bible learning with daily life experiences. Each Sunday School class learns memory work throughout the year that they present to a Pastor in May.
Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones is a program that allows parents and their children to celebrate faith events together once each year during the Sunday School hour. At each event the children are visited by a pastor, create a memento and are photographed. These photos are collected in an album that is presented to each student at the end of his or her Sunday School career.
Bibles
Three-year-olds and 3rd grade students each receive a Spark! These Bibles are used weekly in their Sunday School classes.
5th Grade Retreat
5th grade students and their parents have Friday evening and Saturday retreat teaching about Communion. Some students will be partaking in their 1st Communion, while others will be learning more about the importance of the sacrament. The retreat closes with a Seder Supper.
6th Grade Retreat
The 6th grade overnight retreat focuses on prayer. Kids are exposed to different kinds of prayer in a comfortable environment that encourages relationship-building with God and their classmates. This retreat serves as a culmination of their Sunday School career as they move into the Confirmation program.
Vacation Bible School
VBS is five evenings of summer fun that focus on Jesus through singing, lessons, games and crafts. We welcome and invite the community through outreach at the Hopkins Raspberry Festival Parade and Family Days.
Family Ministry
Family Ministry is a group of Gethsemane families with children from birth through 6th grade. Family Ministry sponsors the Halloween Family Festival and Community Movie Nights. Family Ministry also hosts a camping trip each August.
Palm Sunday Family Festival
The Palm Sunday Family Festival is an opportunity for young and old to gather together to hear the story of Holy Week.
Halloween Family Festival
The Halloween Family Festival is as a safe and fun way for Gethsemane children and families in the community to celebrate Halloween with games, crafts, costumes and, of course, treats!
Christmas Family Festival
The Christmas Family Festival traditionally follows the Children's Christmas Program dress rehearsal on a Saturday in December. It's a time for parents and children to enjoy a great meal, make crafts, play games and most of all to enjoy the fellowship that goes along with celebrating Jesus' birth.
Kids Art Show
Each year we celebrate the God-given gifts and talents of our children by displaying their artwork in our Kids' Art Show. A special room is designed for an exhibit and reception on the day of the show.
Open Play
Open Play is a time for parents with kids 5 and under to play! We clear out our fellowship hall so we have lots of room for both small and large motor fun. We meet once a month on a Friday morning, November through March.
Children's Choir
Children's Choir, directed by Nancy Pearson, meets on Wednesday evenings. Children in grades 1-6 are welcome to join.
