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 and continues until the child reaches Sunday School age. Special information that deals with the child’s development through age three is periodically mailed to the home.

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 worship folders and activity bags, special music opportunities and more.

During the school year, children in preschool through grade 6 attend worship with their families until they are dismissed to Sunday School after the children’s message. On the third Sunday of each month, and every Sunday in the summer, families worship together for the entire service, and our worship services are intentionally child-friendly.

Nursery Care

Nursery care is provided by loving caregivers Sunday mornings from 9 am to noon. Children are also welcome in the worship service.

Sunday School

Sunday School is offered for children age 3 through grade 6 at 9:00 and 11:00 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.

Discovery Time

Discovery Time is an exciting hour of hands-on learning and fun for children between services during Adult Education/Children’s Choir on Sunday mornings. Children age 3 and up are welcome—there is no need to pre-register!

Discovery Time is led by volunteers from our congregation who share their talents and hobbies including crafts, science projects, cooking, nature walks, music, and more!

It’s a wonderful opportunity for parents to enjoy Adult Forum, book studies or simply join other adults in fellowship.

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

Kindergarten and 4th grade students each receive a special Bible during their Stepping Stones event. Education is given both to the children and the parents about how to use their Bibles.

5th Grade Retreat

5th grade students and their parents have an overnight retreat in preparation for their First Communion. Students learn the importance of the sacraments while also enjoying the fellowship of their peers. 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 four evenings of summer fun that focuses 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 Campout and Sing-Along

Each summer over Raspberry Festival weekend we gather on Gethsemane’s South lawn for an evening of camping, singing, fellowship and s’mores. Sunday morning after breakfast we all worship together in the sanctuary.

GRACE

Gethsemane Relationships: Adult and Child Events (GRACE) is a program that provides opportunities for an elementary-age child and a special adult in his or her life (parent, grandparent, friend) to join others in fellowship through a planned recreational or service event. Past events have included trips to the theater and local recreational venues, outdoor fun and service opportunities. GRACE sponsors eight events during the year; four for girls and women, and four for boys and men.

Family Ministry

Family Ministry is a group of Gethsemane families with children from birth through 6th grade who get together monthly to share a family meal, fellowship, and parent discussion. Family Ministry sponsors the Halloween Family Festival and three movie nights (September, January, April). Family Ministry also plans two retreats each year—winter and summer—to area Lutheran camps.

Easter Family Festival

The Easter Family Festival, held the Saturday before Easter, is an opportunity for young and old to gather together to hear the story of Holy Week. Entertainment, crafts, games and pizza are all a part of the festivities.

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.

Arts Alive

Arts Alive is a day-long, arts-intensive exploration for children in grades 1-6. Held on President’s Day, it is intended to help working parents with an affordable daycare option while providing children a safe environment that encourages artistic expression.

Children’s Choir

Children’s Choir is for those in grades 1-6. The choir rehearses at 10:10 am on Sunday mornings and participates in occasional worship services.