Update from the Director of Education Ministries -- Amy Grella - 412-801-3723 Sunday School Leader Training – October 13
Do you have a heart for young people and want to share your time with our children and youth? We are forming this year's pool of adults to lead one of our three Sunday School classrooms that run during worship. Good news... This is the most classes we've had since before COVID, which means we have a great need for both older youth (think mature Middle schoolers and up) and adults to share their gifts and talents with the children. We need two volunteers each week - either one older youth and one adult, or two adults - to cover all three classes.
Please join us immediately following worship on Sunday, October 13, in room 101, to learn more about this volunteer opportunity, meet with current teachers, and see samples of the lesson plans. If you are interested in helping but unable to attend this training, please reach out to Amy.
Children and Youth – Volunteering at Bower Hill
As our children and youth grow into their faith, it is important for them to see where they can use their gifts at Bower Hill. There are a number of ways to involve your kids in the worship services each week! Please prayerfully encourage your youth to serve in one of these capacities.
Acolytes - Training September 22 and 29
Bringing the Light of God’s presence into the sanctuary is one important way kids in grades 3-7 are involved in the worship service. Acolytes are scheduled starting in September. Pastor Brian will lead a short (10-15 minute) training IMMEDIATELY following worship on two Sundays, September 22 and 29. This training is open to both new and experienced acolytes. We will walk together from Sunday School class to meet Pastor Brian in the Sanctuary in front of the communion table immediately following worship.
Leading Wonder for Preschool -1st graders
Does your older youth (8th grade and up) have a gift of working with younger kids? There is a new Sunday School class just for younger children that needs older youth leaders. The kids begin in worship; you would meet them after Time with Children and go to the Friendship room, where you will share a short Godly Play story (it's scripted so you know exactly what to say) and then walk the children to the nursery for the
response time activity.
Fall Sunday Morning Options for Children, Youth and Families
Kick-off Sunday was a joyful reunion – it was great to see so many familiar faces and reconnect with each other. As we head into fall, here is the plan for children and youth on Sunday mornings. Our nursery is open for babies and toddlers during worship. Please read below for details on the plan by each age group.
NEW space for Wonder for Pre-K to 1st grade
Children preschool through 1st grade will start in worship with their families. After a Time with Children, kids will be escorted to the Friendship Room to hear a Godly Play story. Kids will see, hear, and wonder as they learn from and with each other. Then children will move to a newly created section in the nursery, where kids will engage in responding to the story through play. Parents may pick up their children in the nursery after worship ends.
NEW! Holy Moly for 2nd-4th grade
We’re excited to explore the Old and New Testaments with kids using Holy Moly Sunday school for all kids in second to fourth grade. Kids will start in worship with their families. After a Time with Children, kids will be escorted to room 103, where they will learn a new Bible story each week through hearing and seeing a video and doing activities to deepen their thinking around the story. Parents may pick-up their children in the
classroom after worship ends. Do you speak Holy Moly? Click here to find out!!
Connect Sunday school for 5th – 7th graders
We will continue the special Sunday School group for fifth through seventh graders. Connect is Bible-centered Sunday School for preteens. With Connect, kids see how individual Bible stories connect into larger themes that span the whole Bible. This class meets during the entirety of worship, so youth should go directly to room 110 on Sunday morning. Parents may pick up their children in the classroom after worship ends.
Alternative Sunday Evening Worship Family & Youth Group Activities
As a parent with school-aged kids, getting enough sleep for the entire family is
sometimes hard, and having one day to sleep in can now fall on (some) Sundays!
Consider checking out our new “ToGather” alternative – which is a Sunday
evening designed for the entire family. All fall youth group events have been
planned to coincide with ToGather. You can come to one, two, or all three of
the evening's activities:
1) WORSHIP from 4:30p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: a simple, informal time by the fireside in Room 110 with acoustic choruses and the morning sermon simplified and made interactive. This is meant for all ages, but childcare is available.
2) SMALL GROUPS from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: We separate into faith discussion groups: one for adults, one for younger youth (5th - 7th graders), and one for older youth (8th grade and up), with childcare for smaller kids.
3) DINNER provided at 6:00 p.m. Stay for dinner or just go home!
The whole shebang shouldn’t take more than two hours, including the meal. Your patience is appreciated as we work out logistics and learn what works best for these evenings. Future “ToGather” dates are: October 6, October 20,
November 3 and November 17.
Youth Groups
This year, youth groups will form for separate age groups - one for fifth through seventh grade, and one for eighth grade and up. Groups will meet during ToGather beginning at 4:30 p.m. Youth will begin in worship with their families, then split into their age-appropriate groups for short meetings. ToGather culminates in an optional dinner, with the intent to have everything wrapped up no later than 6:30 p.m.
Registration is Open for the Crestfield Youth Winter Retreat December 6-8, 2024
Youth in grades 6-12 are invited for a weekend at Crestfield, meeting with other area churches for our annual fall Retreat on December 6-8. This retreat has separate tracks for middle and high schoolers, so we get the benefit of having a large group AND customized age-relevant experiences. This is a fun, faith-filled event that you don’t want
to miss! Click here to add your name and see who else is going!
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