Update from the Director of Education Ministries -- Amy Grella - 412-801-3723
Join us for Kick-off Sunday, September 10
Please join us for our fall season kick-off on September 10. Join us before worship for a buffet style breakfast starting around 8:30 a.m. All normally scheduled Sunday classes and Second Hour return at this time.
Sunday Morning Kids Programming Begins on Sunday, Sept. 10
Join us for new options for children and youth that kick off on Sunday, September 10. The most notable changes are in the addition of a middle-school class and expanding Children’s Worship, which will now be called Wonder, to preschool through fourth grade. This class will use aspects of Godly Play and Holy Moly curriculums in addition to a newly acquired book library to engage kids to explore Bible stories more deeply. The nursery will be open for babies and toddlers during worship. During second hour, childcare will be provided in room 110. Please look below for details on the plan by each age group.
NEW! Wonder for Preschool – 4th graders
Children preschool (potty-trained) through fourth grade will start in worship with their families. After a Time with Children, kids will be escorted downstairs to room 103 where children will participate in a unique student-led worship experience, learning Bible stories using Godly Play and Holy Moly. Children are invited to see, hear, and wonder as they learn from and with each other. Parents may pick up their children in the classroom after worship ends.
NEW! Connect Sunday School for 5th – 8th graders
New this year, a special Sunday School group will form for 5th- 8th graders. This class was added for several reasons, but mainly due to the large number of kids in this age range. It will use a Sparkhouse curriculum that seeks to connect Bible stories with the way middle schoolers live and think. This class will occur during the entirety of worship service, so kids should go directly to room 110 on Sunday morning. Parents may pick up their children in the classroom after worship ends.
Confirmation Class
Bower Hill will offer a Confirmation class for youth in grades 8 & 9 (or any older youth who has not yet participated). This is an opportunity for our youth to explore their beliefs, values, and worldviews as they consider whether to personally "confirm" the promises made at their baptism. The format will be different this year. Confirmation will meet twice a month - once during Second Hour immediately following Sunday morning worship, and once a month on a Sunday evening. For the Sunday evening formats, the meetings will take place concurrent to all-church potluck gatherings; families are encouraged to attend. We’ll eat dinner from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, and then the confirmation class will meet from 6:45 - 8:00 p.m. in room 101.
NEW YOUTH GROUP OPPORTUNITIES KICK-OFF IN SEPTEMBER
We are excited to share new groups for kids and youth from 3rd through 12th grade. This year, we are happy to offer separate youth group options for two age groups: middle school and high school. Additionally, we will hold a monthly all-youth game night which will coincide with the all-church potluck dinners on Sunday nights. The all-
youth game nights will be open to youth in grades 3 and up. Kids are encouraged to bring friends to join us while we meet. See our website for the complete meeting schedule. The upcoming meetings will be highlighted in our monthly newsletters.
Middle school youth group
Middle school youth in grades 6-8 will meet in room 110 on Sundays from 6:30-8:00 pm. We will have a short lesson, snacks, and play some games. Once a month, tweens (3rd-5th graders) will be invited to join us for larger group games; no lessons will be done on these nights – just a chance for fellowship and to play games before our all-
church family potluck dinners. Upcoming meeting dates are:
• 9/10 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. - MS Youth Group in room 110
• 9/24 – 5:00-6:00 p.m. - 3rd-8th Games followed by all-church potluck at 6:00 p.m.
• 10/8 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. - MS Youth Group in room 110
• 10/21 – 6:00 p.m. - 3rd-8th All-church potluck and game night
• 11/5 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. - MS Youth Group in room 110
• 11/19 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. - MS Youth Group in room 110
• 12/10 – 5:00-6:00 p.m. - White elephant party followed by all-church potluck at 6:00 p.m.
• 12/17 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. - MS Youth Group in room 110
Tweens (3rd - 5th grades) will join older youth for a monthly group games night.
All meetings will be from 5:00-6:00 p.m. We will meet in Room 110.
• 9/24 - Game night in room 110.
• 10/22 - All-church potluck and game night in Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m.
• 12/10 - Annual White Elephant Christmas party.
High School (9th - 12th grades)
Senior high youth meet twice a month after worship. One meeting youth go out to brunch together at a local eatery. Then once a month Pastor Brian meets with youth for a theme-based topic and discussion. Each meeting will be immediately following worship and end/return by noon. Here is the fall meeting schedule:
• 9/17 – Brunch out (location TBD). Bring money for lunch/snack and meet in Fellowship Hall.
• 10/1 – Meet with Pastor Brian in room 105.
• 10/8 – Brunch out (location TBD). Bring money for lunch/snack and meet in Fellowship Hall.
• 10/21 – All-church game night with dinner in Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m.
• 10/29 – Meet with Pastor Brian in room 105.
• 11/12 – Brunch out (location TBD). Bring money for lunch/snack and meet in Fellowship Hall.
• 12/3 – Meet with Pastor Brian in room 105.
SAVE THE DATE – Youth Fall Retreat December 1-3, 2023
Youth in grades 6th - 12th are invited for a weekend at Crestfield, meeting with other area churches for our annual Fall Retreat on December 1-3. Details to follow, but plan to leave Friday early evening around 6:00 p.m. and return on Sunday by noon. This retreat has separate tracks for middle and high schoolers, so we get the benefit of having a
large group, but customized experiences for each age group. This is a fun, faith-filled event that you don’t to miss!
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