VIEW FROM THE MANSE 2.0

 Our children’s ministry is in the midst of some rebuilding and reorganization. We have assembled a committee of invested and concerned church members to help us in this work. Let me give some background to the need for this labor.

          When Corinne and I came to the church in 2016, APC paid 3 folks every Sunday to work with our kids. Two of those individuals have moved on in the intervening years. We had a nursery school that met in our church throughout the week back then. But ACS opened a pre-K program, and the nursery school closed its doors. And then COVID happened and everything was tossed for a season.

          To be clear, these changes aren’t all bad. Yes, the loss of two regular people on Sunday means we need more volunteers. But we have all made vows to help raise the young people within our church and this gives us an opportunity to fulfill those vows. Our mission is to be a community of disciples who make disciples who make a difference- this task starts with our kids.

          Also, while we miss having the preschoolers at the church throughout the week and we are sad for those who relied on that program, a pre-K program at the local school eases the burden on families for childcare and makes it accessible for more people in Argyle. This is a good thing.

          We have a good curriculum, and we have many great volunteers in our nursery and children’s church (although we can always use more engaged teachers and kind helpers), but the questions that we are wrestling with as a committee are these:

-     What can we do to serve and support the families that trust their children to our church? If you are new to our church, is it easy for your children to feel welcome?

-     Is our curriculum building our young people as they grow? Can we start teaching them at 3-4? Can we continue to teach them after they age out of children’s church (8-12 years old) beyond offering a Sunday school class?

-     Is the task of children’s church different from the task of Sunday school or do they have the same purpose?

-     Are the children sure which classes they belong in and where those classes are located?

          When the committee recently met, we focused on these last two questions together. Here are some of the conclusions we came to; as of right now. Our children’s church and nursery is to be divided this way. If your child is 4 and under, they are welcome in the nursery. We plan to spend some of the nursery time singing and reading Bible stories together. The children’s church class that meets following the children’s message on Sunday mornings is for those who are 5 years old - 2nd grade. If your child is in 3rd grade and above, we would love to have them in the service with us, listening to the sermon, singing, praying, and reciting our confessions and creeds. There are pages for these young people to color on, take notes, and doodle on throughout the service, which are available on the greeters’ table.

The goal of children’s church is to prepare our young people to join us on Sunday mornings. The hope is that by connecting what we do in children’s church with the adult worship service, when they reach 3rd grade and stay in the sanctuary, the transition will be more familiar.

          The goal of Sunday school is to apply what they have learned, broaden their Bible knowledge, participate actively and creatively with the faith community, and build relationships that foster teachability and curiosity. We are looking for teachers and helpers for our K-2nd grade Sunday school class for the spring.

          As a committee, we will continue to wrestle with and develop these questions. We will be distributing a survey to the congregation so that you can help us with this essential work. Your input and wisdom are most welcome to this team. We are grateful for the young people that God has entrusted us with. We aspire to teach them well of the God who loves them.

Bryan Fitzgerald, Pastor (bryan@argylepresbyterian.org)