Children can grow their faith and understanding of Jesus and the scriptures by participating in the following activities:

Children's Time: Children age 3 and older are invited to come forward during Sunday Services for a special message time with the Pastor.

Wonders of Worship (W.O.W.): “Extended Session” has been renamed and the whole morning experience enhanced. Children from ages Three through First Grade are invited to leave the Sanctuary following the Children’s Sermon in Sunday worhsip to participate in W.O.W.!  Bongo the parrot joins us every Sunday morning to introduce a praise song and the scripture lesson. The ten-minute DVD program introduces a whole cast of characters to teach our children the wonders of God’s world through play, songs, crafts and fellowship. Our Kindergarteners and First Graders have enhanced activities that encourage their participation and their interest on a more age-appropriate level. We also encourage our First Graders to attend a Worship Readiness Class that teaches them the components of our worship service to help them transition to the full Sunday service in the Sanctuary.

Sunday School: Faith Leapers is our Sunday school program for ages 2 through Grade 6. Our frog-inspired theme reminds children to Fully Rely On God.   Faith Leapers begins at 9:50 AM every Sunday morning.

Twos, Threes & Four: Our two-, three-, and four-year-olds enjoy a traditional church school class on Sundays at 9:50 AM.  These classes meet in bright, child-friendly spaces and are led by the same welcoming, nurturing teachers each week.  Children at this age learn that church is a safe, friendly place where they can learn about the love of God.

Kindergarten – Fourth Grade: Our kindergarteners through fifth graders enjoy a rotation model of church school.  Based on the theory of multiple intelligences, this form of church school teaches the same Bible story for several weeks.  Every Sunday these children gather in the sanctuary at 9:50 AM.  After an opening session, they are led by their grade’s adult shepherds to that week’s workshop assignment.  Workshops include cooking, art, music and dance, science, storytelling, video, computers and games.  The children visit one workshop each week.  Thus, by experiencing the story in different ways, their learning is both more enjoyable and more complete.  Check the big frog bulletin board in the information hallway, to find out where to pick up your rotating leaper each Sunday.

Fifth & Sixth Grade: Recognizing that our oldest elementary students are transitioning toward junior high level, St. Matthew’s offers them a special “Tweens” curriculum.  This curriculum focuses on applying Christian values learned in Bible stories to real-life situations. 

Club 56: This youth group meetings bring together fifth and sixth graders in a social environment focused on mission work.  Club 56 helps to prepare fifth and sith graders for the jump into St. Matthew’s junior high youth group program, which starts at seventh grade. To get on the Club 56 e-mail list, contact Wanda King or Carrie Schwab.

Monday Ministries: We are offer an additional Christian growth and formation opportunity for our elementary-aged children on Monday afternoons.  In addition to our music ministry opportunities (Wesley & Altar choirs and Rainbow, Praise & Chancel Ringers), children have a new faith enrichment Christian education opportunity.  

Monday’s Faith Enrichment time includes games, movement, cooking, art, drama, an occasional field trip and, of course, snacks! Faith Enrichment is different from Sunday School and provides an additional opportunity for your child to be engaged in Christian formation and education, particularly for those children whose sports, scouts and family schedules make Sunday morning Sunday school attendance difficult. We hope that Sunday morning Sunday school and worship will be a priority for your family. But if Sunday morning Sunday school is not possible for your child on a regular basis, then please take advantage of  Monday Ministries and the new Faith Enrichment component. Check out the full details on Monday Ministries and our session schedule. 

Enroll Today: To sign up for any of our children's programs, you register with just one form. Download enrollment form, or register online here.

Volunteers Needed: Our children's programs are always looking for adult volunteers.  Opportunities exist to serve as teachers, shepherds and workshop leaders. Workshop leaders teach the same lesson for four consecutive weeks, each week to a different age level. Workshop choices are art, science, cooking, games, music, storytelling, computers and video.  Being a shepherd requires no preparation time. Shepherds greet the children, sit with them during our opening session and accompany them to their assigned workshops.

If you can volunteer to help, please contact the Church Office.