Countryside Kids

During this phase in our county, Countryside Kids is offering outdoor events for families once every 1-2 months, along with sharing simple things families can do while participating in weekly worship. Sign up to receive our newsletter for weekly Bible story videos. Watch worship for a special children's message that often times includes a Family Faith Moment, which is one simple way families can talk about and grow in your faith together. For more information, check out the links below our mission and values statements!


MISSION: Countryside's ministry to children and youth is an inclusive community building lifelong Christians who gather together, grow in their faith, and go into the world.


CORE VALUES:

  • Leadership: Preparing to be bold change-makers in the community
  • Acceptance: An inclusive community, welcoming all children and youth
  • Faith: Continually growing as a follower of Jesus
  • Grace: Loved and valued by God no matter what
  • Relationship: We have fun with friends while building respectful connections with self, peers, and adults.
  • Safety: We diligently attend to the physical and emotional safety of all who gather in our church community.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS! View this week's edition of Countryside Kids


COUNTRYSIDE KIDS SPRING/SUMMER/EARLY FALL UPDATES: We are getting ready for a complete renovation of our education wing along with key gathering areas in our church. We are so excited for these renovations, but it means that much of our inside building will be unusable for the next 5-7 months (beginning in May and lasting possibly into November for some areas of the church). This means that we will not yet be back to hosting our traditional Vacation Bible Camp. We are looking into a possible outdoor, smaller scale option that would gathering in the evenings toward the end of June. Look for more details in early May. 


We look forward to easing back into community events and programming in the winter of 2021/22!


WORSHIP:

Join us on the Countryside UMC Facebook page at 9am for a live-stream worship service, including a children's message or view it on our website anytime after that weekend.


Interested in volunteering in Children's Ministry?

More information regarding our Safe Gatherings Policy can be found here.


Contact Becky Ericson, Children's Ministry Coordinator for more information.

Our Children's Ministries

Newborn - age 5

During regular worship, Sunday morning child care is available for newborn through age five in room 109 of the education wing. Please be sure to check in and leave your cell number so we can text you if the need arises. The nursery has not yet reopened for this year.

Sunday School Groups

Children's Sunday Small Groups (Sunday School) for preschool through grade 6 regularly meet following our early church service. Read the updates above for the latest news regarding small groups during this pandemic season.

Wednesday Night for kids

During the school year, children in 1st - 6th grade are invited to grow in their faith through Bible story  & small group time, choir, and bells. All ages meet from 6-7:30pm, with 6th grade puppets available from 5:30-6pm. Wednesdays for Kids is currently not meeting.

music exploration

Countryside offers a variety of ways children can explore music. Wednesday evening activities include vocal choirs, bells and puppet ministry. These groups are not meeting during the pandemic season. Learn more about our opportunities below.

REGULAR PROGRAMS & OPPORTUNITIES

REGULAR PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES:

All regular programming is on hold until further notice. 

For children in worship with their families, children are able to create their own worship bag with toys and books to look at during worship.  Special worship bulletins that tie into the day’s sermon are also available for students in preschool-6th grade. Children’s messages are offered at the 8:30 and 11:00am service. Children in 2nd-6th grade have opportunities to help lead worship by serving as acolytes at the 8:30 and 11:00am services.


Sunday Small Groups are a great way for children to make new friends while growing in their faith! We offer small groups during our 9:45 and 11:00am services.


Small Groups for ages 3 years - 6th grade meet in the education wing during our 9:45 worship service. Plan to check your student in at his/her room as early as 9:35. Preschool and Kindergarten meet in Room 106, Kindergarten and 1st-3rd grade meet in Room 208, and 4th-6th grade meet in Room 212. (Kindergarten students may choose their room. The preschool room includes developmentally appropriate lessons and free play time - perfect for students with lots of energy and creativity. The 1st-3rd grade room will be more structured, with fun games and crafts to reinforce the Bible story.) This Sunday Small Group ends at 10:45am.


Small Group/Children's Church for ages 1st-6th grade meets in Room 208 of the education wing immediately following the children's message in the sanctuary service. Beginning March 1st, please stop by the front pew at 10:55am to check in your child. We encourage children to sit with their families until the Children's Message, as it is really important to children's faith development to their parents/guardians experiencing worship. Following the children's message, we will leave out the south side sanctuary door and head to Room 208 to continue the discussion and complete some activities related to the day's message. This group wraps up at noon (or as soon as worship is over).


Mid-week programming is available from 6-7:30pm for students in 1st-6th. Four sessions will be offered for the 2019-20 school year: September 18-October 16, November 6-December 4 (no meeting November 27), January 15-February 19, and March 18-April 29 (no meeting April 8). Each session will offer three rotation stations plus a brief worship and fellowship gathering. The rotation stations include bells, music/worship arts, and a third station that will change each session. Join the fun!


Seasonal events include an Advent Workshop, Christmas caroling, Easter Egg Discovery, Vacation Bible Camp (VBC), end of VBC/summer family pool party, and presentation of Bibles to our third grade students. 


Register for Countryside Kids HERE


Child care services are provided every Sunday from 8:15am to 12:15pm. If you are interested in scheduling care for children during other adult ministry activity, please click here.


  • preschool music

    Preschool/Kindergarten bell opportunities are available on Sunday mornings at the end of the 9:45 Sunday Small Group, with sessions sprinkled throughout the year. Children either sing or ring small color-coded bells - perfect for preschoolers! Contact Jamie Meyer or Janelle Wilke for more info.

  • Choral experience for children

    Promise Choir offers children grades 1st-3rd an age appropriate choral and musical experience. Promise Choir regularly sings and shares other arts experiences in worship services, and goes Christmas caroling in December. Rehearsals are held 6:00-6:25pm during Wednesday Night for Kids in classroom 4. 


    Alleluia Singers offers 4th-6th grade children an age appropriate choral and musical experience. Alleluia Singers sing regularly in worship services, leads worship through other forms of worship arts, and goes Christmas caroling in December. Rehearsals are held 6:25-6:50pm in classroom 4 during Wednesday Night for Kids.


    Contact Jamie for details.

  • Bell Choirs for Children

    Joyful Ringers is Countryside's bell choir for lower elementary aged children (grades 1-3). This ensemble is for beginning ringers and offers opportunities during Sunday worship services scheduled throughout the year. Rehearsals are during Wednesday Nights for Kids, 6:25-6:50pm in the music room.


    Alleluia Ringers is Countryside's bell choir for upper elementary aged children (grades 4-6). This ensemble is for intermediate ringers. Ringing opportunities during Sunday worship services are scheduled throughout the year. Rehearsals are during Wednesday Nights for Kids, 6:00-6:25pm in the music room.


    Contact Jane Anderson for details.

  • beginning puppeteers

    Open to 6th grade students, this is a time for children to learn about the art of working with puppets in worship. Performances are scheduled throughout the year. Rehearsals are during Wednesday Night for Kids, 5:30-6:00pm on the Celebration Center stage.


    Contact Dr. Bill Anderson for more info.

Policies & Release Form

  • Students are expected to respect and encourage each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • Students are expected to respect all property. If a student breaks or damages property belonging to the church or preschool, the student/family may be held responsible for repairs or replacements.
  • No outside food, drink or gum in the classrooms or Celebration Center unless otherwise directed.
  • When children are not participating in an organized Countryside Kids group or event, parents/guardians are responsible for supervision and their children’s actions.
  • Please have children use the restroom prior to all activities.
  • If your child has any allergies, please notify classroom leaders as needed. We will always communicate any registration paperwork notes, but it is always helpful (for newer leaders especially) to hear this information and gather further information from you as needed.
  • We follow the same guidelines as schools in regard to wellness. Children must be symptom free from the following (without medication) for at least 24 hours before attending our programming:
    • Fever of 100° or higher
    • Vomiting or diarrhea
    • Conjunctivitis (Pink eye or other infection)
    • Strep throat
    • Open sores
    • Lice

Complete Countryside Kids Registration Form HERE!