Celebrating 100 Years in the HEART of Mission Hills!
Children's Programs
All people are welcome, including our littlest of treasures—our
children!
We understand that the way we welcome children in church directly
impacts the way in which they respond to God, the church and their
faith journey. We are delighted to have children in worship with us.
We are a true family of God when all generations are present.
Children’s bulletins and colored pencils are available from the
ushers.
We encourage everyone to greet children warmly before and after the
service—by name, when possible—so that they may feel included in
worship.
We recognize that children learn by using their whole bodies,
including their voices and their dancing feet. It’s okay if your
child “feels the spirit” and has to move and talk to you during
worship. We encourage families with small children to sit up front,
so they can see what is happening in the front of the sanctuary
rather than the back of the grown up in front of them. Don’t worry
if you come in a little late, there are always seats available up
front!
During the worship service, children are called forward for the
“Children’s Message.” If your child feels shy about coming forward,
your presence with your child may be all the encouragement he/she
needs. Please feel free to join your child.
It’s okay with us if babies and small children wiggle. If they
become uncomfortable during the service, you are invited to take
advantage of our nursery for children under the age of three, where
a babysitter is on duty. Ushers will be glad to assist you. There is
also an audio-video feed available in the Commons Room.
Talk with your child about worship. Take home a worship bulletin
and review your Christian life together. Church is a part of life
that needs understanding and discussion.
While children begin the service in the pews of the sanctuary with their families, following the “Children’s Message” in the service, they go upstairs for their age appropriate classes. MHUCC offers Sunday school classes for children in preschool through grade 6. Our classes are broken into the following groupings:
Big Steps 2 – 3 year olds (1st Floor Nursery)
Pre-Kindergarten – Kindergarten (Room 212 – Bethlehem Room)
Grades 1 – 3 (Room 207 – Jerusalem Room)
Grades 4 – 5 (Room 206 – Nazareth Room)
Grade 6 (Room 202 - Community Room)
Mission Hills UCC believes that children are on a spiritual
journey just like the adults in the congregation. We encourage
questions and admit when there is really not a clear-cut, black and
white answer and that sometimes questions lead to more questions. We
will never force dogma on your children, but we WILL help him/her
come to understand about God’s love for all people and how that love
was manifested in Jesus who helped others understand God’s love.
We are proud to use the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum in our
Sunday School program. This program engages children through
storytelling, dramatic play, arts and crafts, reader’s theatre,
bible study, introducing them to spiritual disciplines, and, of
course, prayer.
Often, Sunday School handouts are given or crafts created in class
are brought home to enhance Christian education and faith formation.
These can be used as an additional review at home during the week.