May 18th is Launch, here's everything you need to know...
It's a big day for your kid. In almost every environment, kids will be moving up. First graders will become second graders, 4th graders will become 5th graders, and 6th graders will join the ranks of Jr. High. It's a big leap forward for everyone.
For the next two Sundays we will take the kids who are moving environments to preview their new environment, during the beginning of their service hour. They will be escorted by their leader, and greeted by a staff member of that environment to welcome them and share a little bit about what to expect in their new environment. They will enjoy the game time and worship in their new space, and then their leaders will take them back to their areas for message and small group time. Nothing extra is needed from you, we will do all the work, but would love for you to ask your kiddo how it went and help guide them to excitement for this new change (change can be hard).
Here's some more info about each next generation environment.
Our nursery provides engaging and age-appropriate environments that are safe and secure. Through our friendly and loving volunteers, kids learn about Jesus as they dance to music, listen to Bible stories and play together. In addition to fun and engaging activities, our volunteers pray over every child in their care!
Our curriculum follows a three-year scope and cycle where we focus on these basic truths:
- God made me.
- God loves me.
- Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
This age-specific curriculum is designed to incite wonder in the heart of a child!
There is no minimum age requirement in the nursery (we’ll gladly take newborns). Children in the nursery launch developmentally through the year so that children of the same age/motor ability will always be together. Children who turn two throughout the year will launch into room 101/102 and will remain in these rooms until Launch when they move up into the appropriate preschool environment, then they will launch annually with each school year.
Parents can check in in the Nursery Lobby where you’ll receive a security tag (for you to claim your child at the end of the service) and two matching name tags for each child. Your child will wear one tag (best placed on his/her back) and the other tag will be given to the volunteer in their room. We display what snack we will serve on the wall beside each classroom; please inform the volunteer in the room if there are any dietary restrictions or additional instructions.
If we need to reach you during the service, we will call/text your cell. Please keep your phone within reach in case we need to contact you during the service!
Preschool isn’t babysitting while you enjoy the service, but is age-appropriate programming that is geared toward your child. Our curriculum follows a three year scope and cycle where we focus on these basic truths:
- God made me.
- God loves me.
- Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Preschoolers do not stay in their individual classrooms the entire time. They gather through the interior doors in Room 307 for the large group experience that includes worship, memory verse, and a live Bible story presentation.
We do serve a snack in preschool rooms, and all children have access to clean drinking water should they get thirsty. Please ensure to let our volunteers know if your child has an allergy.
If your child is not potty-trained yet, that’s okay! Please let our volunteers know so that we can help your child to the restroom or take down your number in case your child needs a diaper change. “I’m potty training” reminder stickers are available in each room.
Parents can check-in in the Nursery Lobby where you’ll receive a security tag (for you to claim your child at the end of the service) and two matching name tags for each child. Your child will wear one tag (best placed on his/her back) and the other tag will be given to the volunteer in their room. If we need to reach you during the service, we will text/call your cell. Please ensure your phone is close just in case!
Sundays in K-3rd are amazing! Kids experience a culturally-relevant teaching environment that is fun, meaningful and appealing to a wide variety of learners. They’ll engage in worship, learn how stories from the Bible apply to everyday life, and build relationships with both a small group of children and an adult leader.
Our curriculum follows a three year scope and cycle where we focus on these 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.
Every month we present a Life App (forgiveness, humility, determination) along with a monthly scripture/memory verse. Every week we introduce a different Bible story with a specific bottom line. The bottom line is always the answer to the question, “What did you learn today?”
Content is presented from the stage in a large group format through worship, drama, audio/visual presentations and live teaching. However, meaning and application is discussed within a small group. We believe that faith and values are best processed within the context of relationships, which is why we provide consistent small groups for every kid who attends. As your child attends regularly, he/she will be matched with the same leader and group.
Parents can check-in in the Nursery Lobby where you’ll receive a security tag (for you to claim your child at the end of the service) and two matching name tags for each child. Your child will wear one tag (best placed on his/her back) and the other tag will be given to the volunteer in their room. If we need to reach you during the service, we will text/call your cell. Please ensure your phone is close just in case!
Once service ends, parents will enter Building 4, pick up their child from his/her group and depart through one of the two exits. Parents will match their security tag with their child’s name tag for a volunteer at the exit.
Preteen is a super fun and exciting place for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. We have created a place for all kids in this age group to be able to learn, create friendships and have a ton of fun while doing it. They will experience worship and an engaging teaching style to take home and talk about what they learned with their family.
Our curriculum follows a three-year scope and cycle where we focus on these 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.
With each lesson series, we present what are called “Life Apps” which are the overall ideas for the series (Uniqueness, Love, Humility, etc.) and allow for further conversation when you get home. Another way we encourage conversation at home is through our weekly Bottom Line, which is the most basic idea for the Bible story we discussed in The Warehouse on the weekend. It is designed to answer this simple, conversation-starting question, “What did you learn today?”
The main ideas are presented in a large-group setting format through videos, an age-appropriate worship experience and a live teaching element for your child to engage. We then explore meaning and application in our small groups, which encourage deeper conversation, questions, and greater growth together in community. We believe that defined/consistent small groups are the greatest place for kids to deepen and strengthen their faith. We place kids in small groups based on age/gender to make the experience incredible for each child. As your child attends regularly, he/she will be matched with the same leader and group.
In Preteen, we offer a few things not offered to the younger age groups. First, we have several events throughout the year for kids to invite their friends to. These fun events are a great way to get involved, connect with their small group and leader and establish new friendships! We also offer a camp experience. Camp accelerates healthy peer and spiritual relationships all while having an amazing time of fun and adventure. We believe that a few days at camp can be the most important days of their life!
Parents can check-in in the Nursery Lobby where you’ll receive a security tag (for you to claim your child at the end of the service) and two matching name tags for each child. Your child will wear one tag and the other tag will be placed on the clipboards in the lobby.
Then, Preteen kids will walk over to the Building 1 right through the hallway of the Nursery. Doors will open 10 minutes prior to service and once they enter kids will find their group (divided by grades/gender) and check in with their leader (they’ll wear one of their name tags and place the other on their clipboard).
When they enter the Preteen, we have music, videos games, our famous Snack Shack and lots of fun before service begins! Once service ends, kids in Preteen are allowed to leave and meet up with their parents/guardian at a designated location OR kids may wait in Building 1 for their parent/guardian to pick them up. Please enter using the first entrance and leave using the exit only doors.
In ANTHEM, we provide a safe place for your son or daughter to talk about anything and grow in their personal journey. 7th and 8th graders are in a phase of life where they are asking questions like “Who do I like?” and “Who likes me?” As they are exploring how to relate to other people and how to accept themselves, we want to affirm their personal journeys while leading them to find thriving life in Jesus.
We accomplish this during their Jr. High years by:
- Leading them to discover a faith of their own.
- Providing a safe and accepting small group where they can belong even before they believe.
- This includes a safe and caring adult leader who is committed to them throughout the 2 years of their Jr. High journey.
- Creating unforgettable experiences they will connect to the local church.
Through weekend services, camps, and consistent small groups, we provide multiple environments for your young teenager to ask big questions about God and grow in their relationships with others.
The best first step for them is to join us at 1030a in Building 5 for our ANTHEM service. Each weekend they will experience energetic games, practical Biblical teaching and fun experiences they’ll want to talk about long after Sunday morning. Next, they can come to Tuesday Nights also in Building 5 at 630p. Every Tuesday they will experience amazing worship, fun games, a Biblical teaching, and engaging small group time. This environment provides them the opportunity to take steps in their personal faith and to practice personal ministry by inviting their friends to experience the local church. They will have a weekly opportunity to express their unique energy and build relationships with one another all while discovering who Jesus is.
We believe that Jr. High can be some of the best years of your child’s life. Ultimately, we hope to partner with you in raising your young world-changer. We understand that above and beyond anything we do, you have the greatest amount of influence in your child’s life. So as you launch into the Jr. High phase, we are here to support you, champion you and partner with you in nurturing a healthy relationship with your child by helping them discover a faith of their own.
Jr. High is a party and each and every 7th and 8th grader is invited to be a part of it!
As your teenager enters their High School years, they have one primary motivation: freedom. If you try to press conformity or excessive limits, chances are you’ll face resistance or rebellion in general. In ANTHEM, we want them to find thriving life in Jesus by making a personal decision to explore their faith and implement important Biblical truths into their day-to-day lives. These are the years of a teenager’s life where he or she begins to think like a philosopher. They begin asking questions like “Where do I belong?” and “Why should I believe?” We want to partner with you in cultivating a faith that lasts beyond High School and strengthens your connection to your soon-to-be adult child.
We do this in a few different ways:
- Challenge them to implement Scriptural truths in their day-to-day lives.
- Create a safe small group environment guided by a consistently present adult leader who is committed to them for their entire High School journey.
- This is a place that is for everyone, where they can talk about anything.
- Welcome them to belong in ANTHEM even before they believe or as they wrestle with what they believe.
- Create unforgettable experiences they will connect to the local church.
- Challenge them to take next steps in their faith.
- Baptism, missions trips, personal ministry (investing in and inviting others to church).
- Moving them out.
- Their small group leader begins with the end in mind.
- Setting them up to carry their faith into adulthood.
In all of this, we are committed to partnering with you through, what we believe, can be the years where you connect with your child in a deeper way than ever before. You are raising the next generation of world changers and in everything we do, we want to champion your influence. We are here to walk alongside you, support you and resource you through the fun and sometimes baffling years of High School. We are committed to leading your teenager to find and cling to thriving life in Jesus. We believe that as they experience Him, they will build a resilient faith and invite others to experience the life-change they have discovered.
We meet weekly in the Building 5 at 630p on Sunday Nights. We invite youth to sit with their groups during service with live music, memorable moments, culturally engaging elements, practical teaching and space for them to build their friendships with one another and connection with their adult leader.
We encourage our high schoolers to serve in our Kids Ministry on Sunday Mornings when they come with their families.
High Schoolers are shaping the world around us. We believe that as more and more 9th-12th graders find thriving life in Jesus, we will begin to see our community shaped by these young world-changers. We truly think these can be the best years of their lives and we’re here to partner with you every step of the way.
