Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’ (Matthew 19:14).
At Saginaw United Methodist Church, we want our children to experience the love of God and develop into young adults with a mature and solid faith. To do this, we strive to provide a fun and purposeful learning environment that will enable them to grow in their faith.
At Saginaw United Methodist Church, we want our children to experience the love of God and develop into young adults with a mature and solid faith. To do this, we strive to provide a fun and purposeful learning environment that will enable them to grow in their faith.
Vacation bible school: Knights of the king's castle
You and your friends, family, and neighbors are invited to join SUMC in the Quest to Find the King's Armor this year at VBS ! We will learn to stand strong in the Lord as we wear the full armor of God.
The VBS Knights ages 3 - 11 will travel with group guides to explore Music, Storytime, Crafts, Games, Snacks and More! Come join us at VBS as we armor up to meet kings and giants in the Bible. There is a $5.00 registration fee for each child.
Pastor Ramon Smith will be leading adult study classes on Communication, Time, and Need for Community. Nursery care is offered for those attending the adult classes. Thursday evening is a "Knight's Out Adventure" to Alley Cats Entertainment with a group rate available to all wishing to participate. Signs are located near entrances and exits with QR codes linked to registration. Questions may be directed to Sandra Young at children@saginawumc.org
****Also Volunteer Helpers may join the Quest by emailing children@saginawumc.org or signing up outside the Children's Ministry Director's office in the church Fellowship Hall.
SUMC KIDS has several upcoming events this season. Click on the link to be taken to the event's page.
Children's Event Calendar
Nursery Care
We provide safe and nurturing care for young children, ages 6-weeks through age 2. Our nursery is located in room C-17, at the Northwest corner of the building.
Nursery care is provided on Sunday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is also provided for church activities upon request - contact the church office to request nursery care.
First Visit
When your child visits our nursery for the first time, our nursery attendants will provide you with a welcome packet containing our Nursery Policy and a Registration Form. We will keep this registration form on file for use in continued care of your child.Comfort Techniques
If your child is upset, the nursery attendants will try to soothe and calm them. If the child continues crying for more than 15 minutes, the nursery attendant will call you on the cell phone listed on your nursery registration form.
Child’s Belongings
The church recommends bringing a diaper bag that contains:- One or two bottles, as needed
- Extra disposable diapers
- Pacifier, if used
- Change of clothes
- Wipes
- Your child’s favorite comfort item (i.e. blanket)
Safety Policies
The church follows Ministry Safe policies in order to provide a safe and secure environment.
Nursery Staff
Our nursery attendants are hired only after thorough interview and criminal background checks. They attend training on church policies/procedures. They also obtain CPR and First Aid certification. The nursery attendants are also equipped with emergency evacuation and bad weather plans.
Nursery Health Policy
SUMC is committed to keeping children healthy and happy. You can help by keeping your child at home if the child shows any of the following:- Fever greater than 100.0F (Children should be free of fever for 24 hours)
- Common cold: runny nose, sore throat
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Questionable rashes or skin infections
- Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Nursery staff members are not allowed to give medication of any kind to any child. If your child has symptoms related to non-contagious allergies, please inform the nursery staff.
Additional Questions
Our goal is to ensure that parents are comfortable leaving their children in the care of the nursery staff during Sunday school, church services and other events. For more information, call the church office at 817-232-0390.
Children's Sunday School
Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
For the 2021-2022 school year each age level will explore age appropriate content to lead them on their spiritual journey.
Preschoolers are studying from Spark Activate Faith and will be covering Old Testament stories such as Adam and Eve and Moses in the fall and New Testament in the winter and spring. Children will interact with the Bible and navigate stories to help compare what they learn to their own lives through activities, interactive games, and crafts.
Pre-K through 2nd graders are studying from Celebrate Wonder. In this study, we will be covering the concepts of Reconciliation in Genesis and the story of Joseph, Awe in Exodus and the story of Moses, Wonder in the book of Luke, and much more. Children will explore the Bible in ways that feed their imagination and encourage creativity through Bible stories, songs, and hands-on activities. Celebrate Wonder also gives children the tools to explore their faith while incorporating it into their daily lives.
3rd-6th graders are studying in the Connect curriculum, which connects individual Bible stories into larger themes that span the whole bible. This journey begins in the Old Testament and moves into the New Testament to give them a solid understanding of the history of God’s people, and adds context to who Jesus is and why Jesus is so important.
Wee Worship
Wee Worship is a Sunday morning experience for children during the 11:00 a.m. worship service.
Before worship begins, please check your child in for Wee Worship at one of our KidCheck stations (located in the children's wing or the east entrance of the Sanctuary). The KidCheck station will print out a name tag for your child to wear.
Children sit with their families in the Sanctuary at the beginning of worship and then come to the steps for children's time. Following children's time, an SUMC staff member leads Wee Worship children from the Sanctuary to room C-18 for a worship experience designed just for them.
Parents are asked to come and pick their children up in room C-11 after worship.
Confirmation
Confirmation refers to the decision a person makes to respond to God’s grace with intentional commitment, publicly reaffirming his or her baptismal vows before the congregation. Confirmands are youth in the 6th grade or above. During Confirmation class, Confirmands learn about the meaning of Christian faith, the history and teachings of the United Methodist Church, and an explanation of the baptismal and membership vow they will be professing. Confirmation preparation aims at leading students to embrace their vocation: the calling to live and witness to the reign of God announced in Jesus Christ.
Confirmation Classes are held once a year. We look forward to growing and learning alongside the next group of confirmands that God brings into our lives in 2023!- Ministry Safe Children
At Saginaw United Methodist Church, we take our responsibility to care for children very seriously. We have a Ministry Safe policy in place to protect our children and the volunteers who care for them. This policy includes:- Screening Process - all volunteers are required to complete a Volunteer Application and Reference Checks.
- Sexual Abuse Prevention Training - all volunteers have completed this training which is renewed every two years.
- Criminal Background Check - all volunteers undergo a criminal background check.
- Policies and Procedures - all volunteers are required to review the policies contained in the Children's Ministries Policies and Procedures Manual