Category Archives: Children

Raising Children in Faith

March 15: King’s Kids SERVE

6:45 PM

Join Ms. Monica and Mr. Brian for a fun fulled action packed Kings Kids! We will be using our Thrivent Action Team funds to put together care kits for the military and Nite Nite bags for children at area homless shelters.

We will be accepting donations of the following items until 3/11. We will then use our action team funds to purchase the rest of what we need!

Night Night Bags *Items must fit in a tote bag (approx.11×7):

  • New/Gently Used books
  • New Stuffed Animals
  • New / Handmade blankets
  • New Coloring books and New Crayons

Military Care Packages – items must fit in a box (11×8):

  • Single serve snacks, trail mix, jerky, crackers, etc.  (nothing homemade or that can melt)
  • HBC items like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and brush, deodorant, and baby wipes, foot powder, women items, hand sanitizer
  • Playing cards, puzzle books, magazines, gum, mints, cough drops

Kings Kids will be making cards and drawing pictures to include in the boxes on March 8th. If you wish to add more, please bring to church by the 15th!

Please Share with Friends and Family, the more the better!

This is a Thrivent Action Team Event. #Zions40in40 #livegenerously

March 1: King’s Kids Ash Wednesday celebration

Join Ms. Monica for Kings Kids –
A special Ash Wednesday Celebration.
While the adults partake in worship upstairs, we will be in the Social Hall enjoying games, snacks, crafts, and a movie.
Please RSVP so that i can plan accordingly. Please feel free to share with friends!

Join us for Soup Supper at 5:30pm
Joyful Spirits Worship at 6:15pm
Kings Kids at 6:45 – 8pm
There will be NO BIble Study!
Ash Wednesday Worship 7-8pm

March 5: Intro to Lent Family Event

What is Lent? Have your kids ever asked you that question? Well join us on Sunday March 5th during Sunday school to help answer that question! We will meet in the Social Hall and have different areas set up to help answer the question – What is Lent? If you have any questions see Tracy Hoy or Monica Bortz.      

Ministry with Children at Zion’s

Here at Zion’s, we cherish children and jim-rule
seek to support families in
raising children in faith. Our love of children and our hopes for them impacts our entire ministry, from our Sunday Morning Worship to our Preschool to our Youth Ministry.

We invite children of all ages, including infants, to the font for Baptism.  By being baptized as infants, children can grow up knowing that they have been claimed by God.  When we baptize infants, the parents make the promise that they will nurture their children in faith.  We also as a congregation make the pledge to support the children and families in raising up the children in faith.  These are big promises.  First and foremost though, God makes a promise to be God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the child.

But again, parents and the congregation make a promise to raise the children in faith.  So, here is what we do to help parents fulfill their obligations (and with joy see their children grow in faith, hope and love!).

Most importantly, we welcome children in worship on both Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. During Sunday morning worship, we offer “Busy Bags” to quietly engage young disciples, as their parents or caregivers listen to the sermon. There is also a children’s message each week; this is done once a month by the pastor, but otherwise various people in the congregation give the message.  Our service follows a similar pattern each week, called the liturgy.  The liturgy is interactive, giving children and their families a chance to participate in the worship; the pattern also helps make children feel comfortable in worship. If children are feeling particularly active one Sunday, or if your family prefers, there is also a staffed nursery available for infants, toddlers, and children aged 5 and under. Sunday morning worship lasts about an hour.

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You can read more about Wednesday evening, “Joyful Spirits”kings_kids_cross worship here, but know that this service is extremely child-friendly, with lots of movement, singing, and participation. This service lasts about 30 minutes. After Joyful Spirits, children are welcome to participate in “King’s Kids” activities that reinforce the day’s Bible lesson.

Along the way, we also offer some faith stepping stones to meet each child where he/she is on their baptismal journey.

Pre-age 3 — King’s Kids play group that meets on Wednesday night

Age 3 — Children may begin attending Sunday School; Children may begin singing in the cherub choir; Children are also old enough to attend Vacation Bible School

1st grade – Children may recite the Lord’s Prayer in front of the congregation

2nd grade – Children may begin singing in the junior choir; Children may receive communion instruction and take first communion

3rd grade – Children may receive Bibles

4th grade – Children may begin serving as acolytes

6th grade – Children may receive the Small Catechism (a basic guide to Christian faith and practice, written by Martin Luther in 1526 and studied, memorized and learned in various forms and languages for nearly 500 years!) and begin Confirmation instruction

8th grade – Children may come forward, on Pentecost Sunday, and make public affirmation of their Baptism; The congregation confirms their faith.

We also do various seasonal projects with the children, including the beloved annual Christmas Pageant.

Also, their Sunday School offerings help local causes, teaching children at a young age how they are blessed to be a blessing!