KID CONNECTION
Bethel's Children's Ministry
Sunday Mornings 9:45 AM - 10:50 AM

Kid Connection is our Sunday morning children's ministry program for children Newborn to 6^th grade. It is a place where children grow up learning to love God, are actively serving His purpose, and are in the process of growing to honor God in all areas of their lives.

Imagine the lessons children are learning in Sunday school are reinforced by the pastor's sermon as well as by the hymns and songs of the worshipping congregation. Imagine the same links are made to daily life. Now, stop imagining because it's here!

With Life Together, connections happen. Life Together is our new Kid Connection curriculum for ages 18 months through sixth grade.

The Life Together family of resources is a comprehensive tool kit ready to help our children make those connections! Based on the lectionary and using the NRSV Bible, they integrate worship, preaching and faith formation.

Nursery Care:

Nursery Care is available for children Newborn -18 months old year-round. Our Nursery staff is professional, friendly, and courteous to those who visit. Feel free to stay as long as you'd like to allow your child to get familiar with the many activities our nursery has to offer. Nursery care is offered during each worship service and is located down the hallway from the Sanctuary.

Preschool Programs:

Little Lambs Class

Little Lambs is for children 18 months to three years old. We meet from 9:45 AM to 10:50 AM in preschool room 41. The children have opening, lesson time, free play, circle time, and snack. Parents are encouraged but not required to participate. As always, childcare is available in the nursery during all Sunday morning services.

Sonbeams Class

The Sonbeams class is for children who are 3-4 years old and have not started Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten. We meet from 9:45 AM to 10:50 AM in preschool room 42 with opening, small group time that includes singing and a short bible lesson. The Sonbeams enjoy crafts, playground time, and a snack each week. Three year olds may attend either Little Lambs or Sonbeams. All children in the Preschool Sonbeams class must be toilet trained.

Currently, due to enrollment numbers, the Little Lambs and the Sonbeams classes are combined and meet each Sunday in Preschool room 41.

Elementary Programs:

Each Sunday beginning at 9:45 AM from September through May, the elementary children at Kid Connection will explore various aspects of Life Together as they learn to apply the Gospel to their everyday lives. The children will be challenged to think about how they can make the connection and do life with God in the picture.

Making Connections:

As its heart, Life Together is based on connecting a person's life to the Word and then linking back to daily life. In this "life, to Bible, to life" model new understandings of one's life in relationship to God and one another are fostered.

Life Together resources have been developed to work in harmony with each other using the paired readings of the Revised Common Lectionary and the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV).

Elementary Classes:

Our elementary classes begin with a lively opening lead by our Bethel Youth Band at 9:45 AM in Torvend Hall and then depart for their classes.

Each 50-minute session uses games, stories, current events, community issues, crafts, role-playing, reflection, discussion and/or a variety of other methods to connect to the Bible, worship, and mission. Learners see how God's Word speaks to their lives today.

Sunday School Resources:

Lectionary - based: Uses a lectionary-based approach that focuses on building Christian relationships and community. Life Together wraps the experiences of the learner around the Word, reinforces the message contained in worship, and makes key connections to themes of Christian life.

Quarterly: Quarters are divided so they intersect both with the school year and the church year.

Flexible: Uses broadly grouped age levels, giving the leaders and teachers freedom to set up Kid Connection to best suit our needs.