Staff Contacts:

Director of Children & Family  Ministries: 
Amy Garner
agarner@fmhouston.com or 832-668-1862

Associate Director of Children & Family Ministries:
Courtney Gutierrez
cgutierrez@fmhouston.com or 832-668-1861

Administrative Asst: Brenda Kenney
bkenney@fmhouston.com or 832-668-1879

Nursery Supervisor: Teresa Guy
tguy@fmhouston.com or 832-668-1871

Elementary age children are ready to take the next step in their faith. They are ready to build a relationship with their God! At Kid Connection we share God’s Big Story with them as we encourage them to grow in relationship with Him. 252 Basics (based on Luke 2:52) says, "And Jesus grew in faith and wisdom with God and man." Our curriculum is designed to teach children three basic truths:

• I need to make the wise choice.

• I can trust God no matter what.

• I should treat others the way I want to be treated.

These truths are reinforced each week in an easy-to-use curriculum that is designed to put your mind at ease and your heart into overdrive.

We also focus on a core virtue each month. Why virtues? Because they display God’s character. And when we live them out, not only do we understand His heart more, so do the people around us.

On the whole, 252 Basics utilizes Bible stories, a core virtue, and a memory verse each month while offering engaging presentations of the 3 Basic Truths. We also throw in some unforgettable illustrations of how God works in our lives to make us more like Him. In addition to this, we use God Time Cards to instill holy habits and encourage children to spend time with God each day.

RALLY DAY

      Sunday Mornings ♦  Promise Land  
  Newborn Ministry Team ♦ Baptism Class  
       Praise Connection ♦ UPBOUND  
     Kids In Action ♦ Parent Connection

Other related ministries that you may also be interested in:

     Family Minstry ♦  Moms@Home Bible Study
                             FAITHWALK

INFANTS THOUGH PRE-K

8:30 - Noon - Child Care for Infants - Pre-Kindergarten Available in Promise Land (Nursery)

A Soothing Room and Nursing Mother's Retreat are available near the Sanctuary for parents who wish to take their babies to worship.

9:50-10:45  Bible Connection (Sunday School)
Age 2 - Room 106
3's - Room 105
4's(Pre-K) - Room 103
 
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH GRADE

9:15 - 9:45 - Praise Connection (Children's Choir) - Room 203
9:50-10:45 - Bible Connection (Sunday School)
Kindergarten - Room 209
First Grade - Room 205
Second-Third Grades - Rooms 207-208
 Fourth-Fifth Grades (I-45)- Room 206

11:50 - 11:20 - K-3rd Option - Snacks and Bible Discovery - Room 207
11:20 -  K-3rd - UPBOUND (Children's Worship) -  Room 210

The safety of our children is of primary importance to our staff and volunteers. Parents are asked to fully complete at Children's Ministry Registration Form to ensure vital medical knowledge, including food allergies, is communicated.
 

For infants-Pre-Kindergarten:
Our Sabbath morning begins at 8:30am when the Promise Land opens its doors to receive infants through Pre Kindergarten children for child care. Child care is available 8:30a.m.-noon. The Promise Land is located on the first floor by the Welcome center, on the Travis Street side.

Our littlest blessings are welcomed into the church by a trained staff of child care professionals, who guard and guide the children with a loving touch in a clean, safe environment. When checking into the nursery, you will be asked to provide the phone number of the cell phone you are carrying. If your child needs you during the morning, you will be contacted. As part of our commitment to your child’s safety, only staff and parents of Promise Land children are allowed into the nursery area. 

Child care for weekday Bible studies and other events is available by reservation only. Please call Brenda Kenney to reserve care for your infant-Pre-Kindergarten children (see contact information above).

Children ages two through Pre-Kindergarten:
These meet in the Promise Land for Bible Connection at 9:50 a.m.. Hands-on Bible lessons are provided by trained staff and volunteers. These experiences help children learn to connect with God, His church and His world. 

Music Time is part of the Sunday School curriculum. Music and movement is and integral part of the young child’s spiritual experience, helping children grow in faith.

The Newborn Ministry Team would like to celebrate your family. Are you expecting? Are you planning to adopt? Do you know someone who is expecting? Would you like to be added to our prayer list of parents trying to conceive?

Transitioning into a new Sunday morning routine following the birth of a new little one can be complicated. The desire of our Newborn Team is to help growing families ease into this new routine. By assigning a volunteer to your family, we hope to answer questions, address special needs, highlight important information, and most importantly to pray for your family during this exciting time.

We would like to know your due date so that we can pray for you during your pregnancy. When your baby is born, we will place a Dutch cradle cross on the altar to share the good news with the First Methodist family. Please fill out the Expecting or Adoption Registration Form and send to Brenda Kenney.  If you have any questions, you can contact Brenda at: bkenney@fmhouston.com or 832-668-1879.

For centuries the Dutch placed cradle crosses over the beds of their infant children that this symbol of the Christian faith might early become a part of the child’s consciousness. We affirm this wonderful tradition! A member of the Nursery Ministry Team will help to connect the cross with your family.

Designed for adults desiring baptism for themselves or their children. Come participate in this helpful class that will help you sort out and answer questions about this blessed event, from helping you to explore the meaning of the sacrament of baptism to learning about the practical details.

This class is offered on the fourth Sunday of the month. meets from 9:50 - 10:50am in the Cry Room located at the rear of the Sanctuary.

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Does your child like to sing? Do they like to move and dance to music? Do they like to have fun while learning new things with friends? If you answered “yes” to any or all of these questions, then your child belongs in Praise Connection!

Praise Connection is the Downtown Music Ministry for Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. My name is Megan Weinel, and I am very excited to be directing the children’s choir again this year. This will be my 3rd year to direct Praise Connection and my 5th year to be involved with the Music and Children’s Ministries. Through singing and movement, children are given the opportunity to take an active role in worship and discover biblical truths through music and song.

I have three goals for your children:

• I want your child to have fun. I want them to meet new friends and laugh and sing and truly experience the joy of praising God. 
• I want your child to feel like they belong to a special group. I love teaching and being a part of a choir because of the friends. I make and the feeling of belonging to a tight--‐knit family or team.
• I want your child to discover a life--‐long love for singing and music--‐making through praise and worship.

We have many exciting things planned this year! In addition to regular Sunday Morning rehearsals, the Children’s Choir will sing at various worship services and Seasonal events throughout the year. We will also prepare a special Christmas musical to be presented at the annual Family Fun Fest in December, complete with costumes and opportunities for Solos and speaking roles! Hymn and scripture memory programs, rhythm and Movement activities and games, and special celebrations encourage each child to praise God with his or her entire being.

Praise Connection will start again on Sunday, September 11; it will be held from 9:15 - 9:50am. in Room 209. New singers are always welcome to join. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at megan.weinel@cfisd.net. I look forward to seeing you and your child on the 11th!

One of the most effective means to help children connect to God is through missions. Using  a hands on approach to missions provides children with a tangible connection to the joy of service. Every third Sunday is M&M (Missions and Ministry) Sunday. The children are encouraged to bring items for Lifeline, our ministry to the homeless. In Kids Church, the children do a hands on missions project, while enjoying a tasty treat of chocolate M&M’s. Kids In Action coordinates closely with the church Missions team to bring service alive to the children.

 Below are links to previous monthly ParentLink newsletters for your use: