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What to Expect on Sunday Morning
We hope you will come and join us on a Sunday morning. As you prepare for your visit, here is some helpful information to help you have the best visit possible.
Check-In
Before participating in nursery or Sunday School we ask that parents check their children in at one of our two check-in stations that are located inside of the 4 ½ Street East Building entrance or the 5th Street East Building Entrance. When you check your child in you will receive a code on a second tag that will allow you to re-enter the East Building at any entrance. This tag will also be turned in to your child’s teacher when you pick him or her up. This system allows us to best care for your child and creates an environment of safety for our youngest church members.
All children infants through fifth grade must be checked in and picked up by a parent or guardian.
Which Class Is the Right One for My Child?
It is our desire that your child builds relationships with the kids that they will be in small groups with as they grow in their Christian Education at Centenary. For that reason, our kids change classes once a year at the beginning of the academic year. Your child’s small group or nursery class will match the grade they are in at school and/or their age as of August 31 of the current academic year.
Nursery
Children of all ages are invited to participate in any of our worship services. We offer nurseries for infants through pre-k all morning on Sunday mornings beginning at 8:45 am and lasting through the end of our 11 am worship service. These nurseries are staffed by paid nursery workers to give consistency to the faces our youngest church family members see each week. Nurseries can be found on the first floor of the East Building. Our check-in staff can help you to get your child checked in and pointed to the correct classroom.
During the Sunday school hour, we offer a short Sunday school lesson for our 3s and pre-k classes led by a volunteer teacher.
Sunday School
On Sunday mornings we offer Sunday school for Kindergarteners through fifth-graders from 10 - 10:45 am. We use a large group/small group model so that all kindergartners through fifth graders begin Sunday school in the Community Room on the second floor of the East Building. When you drop them off they will be greeted by their small group leader and welcomed into our opening activities. After the lesson introduction time, each small group moves to its own small group space which is where you will go to pick your kids up at the end of Sunday School. K-second graders are on the second floor of the East Building while third through fifth graders are on the third floor.
Children's Worship
During our 11 am service children in kindergarten through third grade have the opportunity to participate in children's worship. Children begin the service sitting with their parents in the Sanctuary and then before the sermon are invited to join our children's ministry staff and travel to the Community Room on the second floor of the East Building for a fun worship experience designed just for them. This group then returns to the Sanctuary prior to the ending of the service and parents are invited to pick their kids up from our children's worship pews at the front of the Sanctuary at the end of the service.
Baptism
Baptism is one of the two sacraments that the United Methodist Church celebrates (the other being communion). In sacraments, God is present with the community in a very physical way, in the form of water at baptism and bread and juice in communion. We, as United Methodists, baptize people of all ages who have never been baptized before and who wish to celebrate God’s claim which we hear at Jesus’ baptism that “this is my child with whom I am well-pleased.”
In order to help families make the most of their child’s baptism day we ask that parents schedule a baptism orientation before scheduling their child’s baptism. We celebrate baptisms at any of our worship services so that families can choose the service that will be most meaningful to them, however, we only celebrate one baptism in any given service. To schedule, a baptism orientation and baptism contact Kate May.
Children's Ministry Resources
Below you will find links to resources to help your children and family grow in your knowledge and love of God.
Centenary's new Creative Arts Experience immerses young people in a wide-ranging program which will include singing, ringing, Orff, Kindermusik (ages 2-Kindergarten), drumming, visual arts, drama, and more! This diverse model engages children with various levels of musical and artistic interests, all while cultivating more regular, more varied worship leadership opportunities for Centenary's youngest!
6:00 - 7:00 Creative Arts Experience for ages 4 & up on the 3rd floor of the East Building, nursery care for ages 2&3
*Ages 2 & 3 who are not available for the Wednesday night class will be eligible for a Thursday night class beginning at 5:30 PM. Please sign up for Thursday night Kindermusik using this registration form.
