Babies and Toddlers

During worship services and the Sunday School hour, child care is provided for crib babies, toddlers and preschoolers up to four years of age in a safe and secure environment. Parents are required to sign their child in upon arrival and record a unique pager number. If you are needed in the nursery, your number will be silently displayed on the monitor in the sanctuary. The monitor is near the choir seats to the right of the altar. The screen is black until a parent is actually paged. The number is illuminated in red during the entire time of the page. When you arrive in the nursery, the screen will be cleared. The nursery is located on the lower level in the south wing of the building.

Children's Sunday School

Children’s Sunday school classes meet at 9:40 each Sunday morning. Children's classes are organized by grade beginning at age 3 and continuing through sixth grade. Grade level assignments are based on the child’s age on September 1 of the current year or on his or her grade in public or private school. All children's classrooms are located on the lower level in the education wing, located at the west end of the building. Look for the grade level signs above the doors to find your child's appropriate classroom.

We practice safe sanctuary policies which include registration procedures including diet restrictions. Parents are required to sign their child in and out of Sunday school each week. All volunteers must complete an application process (including background check) along with proper training prior to serving in any of our children’s programs.

Confirmation

Children in the sixth – eighth grade take part in a very special Confirmation program to help them prepare for the journey from childhood into their life as full members of the church.

Children in Worship

All children are welcome in the worship services of Coralville United Methodist Church. For those too young to participate happily, we provide child care during major worship services. By age 4, most children are ready and able to participate with their families in worship. Children are invited to come forward during Children's Time each Sunday. In addition, a children’s worship bulletin and crayons are provided at the sanctuary entrances for children to use during the service. In fifth grade, children may become acolytes, assisting on a rotating basis in the worship services. Training and recognition are provided for this service opportunity. Acolytes assist the worship leaders by leading the procession into the Sanctuary, lighting the candles signifying the beginning of worship and carrying the flame from the candle back at the end of the service.

Children's Choirs

Children from preschool through the elementary grades may participate in the children’s choir program. The children's choirs perform during worship services. Please contact Larry Tener at the church office if your child is interested in learning more about the children’s choir opportunities.

Dance Team

Children in sixth grade through high school are invited to participate in a church dance team. The dance team usually practices from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Sunday's right after the third church service, during the school year (with summer off). Each practice includes a devotional time and choreographed dance practice. The dance team regularly performs during worship on Sunday morning.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is held for one week each summer in the evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ages 3 through sixth grade (completed) are welcome to attend. Teens entering seventh grade in the fall and older are encouraged to sign up to help. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to invite all their friends and neighbors!

Children’s Mission and Service

Coralville United Methodist Church plans service and mission projects to encourage the giving and loving spirit of children. Throughout the year, children participate in mission and service projects.

As you can tell from this extensive list of children’s programs, children are very important to us and essential to our church family. The children's ministry program at CUMC is designed to help our youngest members grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically and to share with them the delightful news of God's unending love. In addition, we take the safety of children very seriously. All adults who work with children must go through a comprehensive application process, and only screened adults are allowed to volunteer with children. We look forward to having your children participate in children’s ministry at CUMC.

Peace,
The Children’s Ministry Team