Children’s Ministry

The mission of the Decatur Presbyterian Church community is to share Jesus Christ’s love for the world.

Through the children and family ministry, we:

  • LOVE, CONNECT, and NURTURE relationships by Creating a Community for Families Seeking Faithful Living.

Our values or the lens in which we engage in children and family ministry:

  • BELONGING
    To belong is to be known, valued, and loved as you are.
  • ENGAGING
    To engage is to intentionally connect faith to life.
  • BEING TRANSFORMED
    To be transformed is to embrace wonder to grow in faith as a child of God.

Heartbeat of our children’s and family ministry is RELATIONSHIPS.

Children’s Ministry Partners: How Can I help?

We encourage our parents to find a way to share their time and talents with our children’s ministries. Whether it’s helping with a special event, serving as a class leader, organizing supplies for classes, or taking photos, we have a variety of opportunities that will fit your schedule, skills, and passions. This is not only a wonderful opportunity to serve the church, but it is also a great way to make more friends.

Children’s Ministry is not just for people who have children or who have decades of experience working with children. We are looking for people who see children as a vital part of the Body of Christ to connect with us as Ministry Partners.

If you are interested in connecting with the children’s ministry, please contact Rev. Emily Wilmesherr to find out more.

Sundays

Schedule

  • 8:45am-12pm Nursery (3 year olds and younger)
  • 10:30-11:30am Worship for all ages & Kids Connect (ages 4 years old through 3rd grade)

Nursery

Our nursery is available for all children from birth to age 3 during Sunday morning worship, Wednesday night programming, special services, and events. All nursery staff are employees of Sitter Tree who have been screened through background checks and provide a warm, welcoming environment for our most precious members and visitors.

Kids Connect

Children’s Chapel is an interactive faith formation experience for Pre-K to 5th grades. Children engage the Bible stories through a variety of activities: storytelling, music, prayer, arts and movement. Kids Connected is a meaningful mixture of worship and education as well as preparation for worship with the wider congregation.

Children come to worship with their families and then leave for Kids Connected following the Intergenerational moment in the Sanctuary. Volunteers will lead the children from worship to the DPCC Activity Room, located next to the nursery. Parents will pick up their children following worship.

Kids Connected is led by a rotation of children’s volunteers who have been background checked and trained to work with children.

Kids Connected does not meeting during the month of July. Extra worship materials will be available on the worship table for children who choose to remain in worship. Childcare will also be extended for children through 3rd grade during July.

 

Wednesdays

Schedule

  • 5:00-7:30pm Nursery (3 year olds and younger)
  • 5:00-5:30pm Cricket Choir (4 and 5 year olds) & Elementary Program (1st-5th grade)
  • 5:30-6:15pm Covenant Choir (1st-5th grade) & Young Children Program (4 and 5 year olds)
  • 5:30-6:15pm Faithful Living Class (adults)
  • 6:15-7:30pm Dinner (all ages)
  • 6:45-7:30pm Kid’s Club play
  • 6:45-7:30pm Club 345 (once a month, see Club 345 for more details)

Club 345

This is an opportunity for children in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to gather monthly and prepare for their transition to Youth Group in 6th grade. Children will explore scripture, worship, and connect their faith to life more deeply. They will have a variety of opportunities to build friendships, serve, worship, and grow together. Club 345 meets monthly from 6:45p-7:30p on Wednesday nights.

Faith Milestones

Just as we celebrate the first tooth, first steps, and first word, we also celebrate the firsts of our faith lives. This year Children’s Ministry at Decatur Presbyterian Church is launching a Milestones Ministry to celebrate milestones for children at every age level. 

The Milestones Ministry includes hands-on activities, family engagement, and special events. The intention is to provide for all types of learners, support the family unit, and connect with the larger church. Children, like adults, are at various places on their faith journey. The following is a guide to give you a starting point with your child. The information is cumulative so the hope is that by the time a child moves into the youth group in 6th grade they will have a solid faith foundation. 

The following Faith Milestones are intended to encourage children to take seriously the formation of their faith. It is also to serve as a guide to help support parents and other adults in the congregation to invest in the lives of children. Children can begin at any stage of life, these do not have to “be completed” in a certain order. This is a guide for their faith journey that is ongoing through their entire life.

Decatur Presbyterian’s mission statement includes this charge, “Every child of God- belonging, engaging, being transformed.” In the Children’s Ministry we are committed to love, connect, and nurture all families seeking faithful living. We are committed to actively working with families to support children with special needs. We pray the milestones project will be meaningful for every child of God. 

Special Events

  • Bible and Music (BAM) Camp – a week-long faith building camp where children will explore Bible stories through scripture, music, and play. Camp is offered for 4 year through rising 6th graders, Monday- Friday from 9am-3pm, with extended care available Monday-Thursday for additional cost. Daily snacks, popsicles, a camp t-shirt, and camp program are included. The culminates with a full scale musical presentation for family and friends to attend. More information about the next BAM camp will be available in the spring.
  • Lenten Workshop
  • Trunk-n-Treat
  • Advent Festival

Children Serve

Opportunities for children to lead and serve:

Liturgists: Children 2nd through 5th grade can serve as liturgists for the worship service. If you are interested in helping in any of these services, please contact Rev. Emily Wilmesherr.

Greeters and Ushers: We are always happy to welcome new greeters and ushers to the team. If your family would like to serve in either area, please contact Dudley Larus, at dudleylarus@gmail.com

Music: The children’s choirs provide music for Sunday worship about once a month and for special services throughout the year. Check out the Children’s Music page for more details. If you would like to get connected to the Children’s Music Ministry at DPC, please contact Lori McMahan, at lmcmahan@dpchurch.org