Shalom Kids

Birth - 8th Grade

Welcome to Shalom Kids! We are so excited to have your kids join us!

We’re thrilled to welcome your children to Shalom Kids! Our ministry is dedicated to inviting and nurturing every child as they begin to form a personal relationship with Christ.

We focus on building meaningful relationships with each child and partnering with families to make disciples. Our goal is to create an environment where kids can learn about God’s love, grow in their faith, and enjoy community with one another.

Kid <span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">Zone</span>

Kid Zone

At Shalom CRC, our Kid Zone offers a vibrant, engaging experience for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade during the morning worship service.

Children will begin by participating in the opening segments of the worship service, where they will sing, pray, and engage with their families. Afterward, they will be dismissed to the basement for age-appropriate teaching.

  • Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Enjoy large group time together in the Fireside Room.
  • 2nd to 5th Grade: Gather in their own designated space for large group activities.

During large group time, kids will participate in fun games, skits, and interactive lessons. Afterward, they’ll break into smaller age groups for discussions and activities related to the lesson.

At the end of the service, children can enjoy refreshments and additional games and activities in the basement, allowing parents to savor coffee and fellowship upstairs. Parents are welcome to pick up their children anytime after the service in the basement.

Children <span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">&amp; Worship</span>

Children & Worship

A Meaningful Worship Experience for Ages 3 to 5

Our Children & Worship ministry is designed for children ages 3 to 5 (including those in Transitional Kindergarten) to help make worship meaningful and engaging for them.

On Sunday mornings, children join the adults for a time of singing and prayer before being dismissed for age-appropriate Bible lessons. In a nurturing environment, our loving teachers guide them in learning about God and His Word through:

  • Interactive singing and prayer
  • Engaging stories with figures
  • Crafts and activities that reinforce the lesson

To keep their energy up, we also provide a snack and water during the session. We warmly welcome any young visitors to join us in this joyful time of worship and learning!

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<span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">Nursery</span>

Nursery

Our Nursery is open during services for children ages birth to 3 years. This nurturing space is staffed by dedicated volunteers who genuinely show Jesus’ love to every child in their care.

For those who have signed up to volunteer in the nursery and need to find a substitute, please refer to the serving schedule in the Midweeks Announcements email.

<span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">GEMS</span>

GEMS

The mission of GEMS Girls’ Clubs is to help girls cultivate a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Our vision is to see girls around the world actively and enthusiastically expressing their love for God and others.

At Shalom, our GEMS club strives to achieve this mission through a variety of engaging activities, including:

  • Weekly Bible studies
  • Crafts and creative projects
  • Worship and devotions
  • Badge work
  • Building meaningful relationships with peers and counselors

GEMS is open to girls in 2nd through 8th grade and meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, starting September 27th. We invite all girls to join us in experiencing the joy of friendship and faith!

Register for GEMS
<span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">Cadets</span>

Cadets

Shalom’s Cadets ministry is led by dedicated men of God who are committed to guiding boys into a living relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The club accomplishes this mission through:

  • Studying the Bible as a guide for life
  • Experiencing the presence of the Lord in His glorious creation
  • Learning outdoor skills that build character
  • Developing an understanding of stewardship and their role in God’s world

Cadets is open to boys in 3rd through 8th grade and meets most 1st and 3rd Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Register for CadetsInternational Camporee
<span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">VBS</span>

VBS

VBS Information Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Safety at Shalom Kids

At Shalom Kids, we place the utmost importance on the safety and well-being of every child in our care. All volunteers who work with children undergo comprehensive background checks to ensure a secure environment for your little ones.

We strive to make every family feel confident that their children are well cared for while on Shalom’s church campus.

If you have any questions or concerns about our children’s programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Children’s Ministry Director, Elizabeth Akindejoye.

FAQs

Children from ages 3 to 5th grade start in our main service for the first part of our worship service. After the offering time, children are dismissed most Sundays for age-appropriate continued worship and education.

For Children & Worship (ages 3 and 4), you are welcome to walk with your child to our Triple Room, where they will find a spot on a carpet square to participate in our program. If your child isn’t comfortable staying by themselves the first few times they attend, a parent or guardian is welcome to stay with them.

For Kid Zone (Kindergarten and 1st Grade), on Sundays when we have Kid Zone, all Kindergarten and 1st grade kids meet in the Fireside Room in our basement for their Large Group time.

For Kid Zone (2nd to 5th Grade), on Kid Zone Sundays, all 2nd to 5th grade kids meet in our basement with chairs set up for children from their grade level.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to ask any of our volunteers, who are happy to help!

For Children & Worship (ages 3 and 4), you will pick up your child from the Triple Room where they were dropped off. The leader will ensure that a parent comes to get them and will send home the craft and other fun items created during the session.

For Kid Zone (Kindergarten – 5th Grade), we have fellowship time with lemonade in the basement after Kid Zone is over. Children are welcome to stay downstairs until their parent or guardian picks them up, or they may go upstairs to find their parent or guardian. It is helpful to communicate with your child before church about where you would like to meet after the service is finished.

If you have any questions or need assistance with pick-up, please feel free to reach out to any of our volunteers.

At Shalom, we believe that children are an important part of the family of God and that they belong in worship alongside their families. On Communion Sundays, we offer Children & Worship only for our 3 and 4-year-old children. Additionally, on months with a 5th Sunday, one of those Sundays will be designated as a family worship Sunday, during which children in Kindergarten and older sit with their families in the main service.

On days when there isn’t programming offered for elementary children, we provide Shalom Kids’ Kits. These kits contain a variety of engaging activities suitable for all ages, available in the narthex of the church. We encourage you to arrive a few minutes early so that your child can choose from the different age-appropriate activities we have for them to use during the service.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out to our staff or volunteers.

Our classes are structured as follows:

  • Nursery: For infants to 2 years old.
  • Children & Worship: For 3 and 4-year-olds. (If you have a 5-year-old in Transitional Kindergarten, they are welcome to join this program as well.)
  • Kid Zone:
    • Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Large Group.
    • 2nd to 5th Grade: Large Group, followed by Small Group time divided by each grade level, with mixed genders.

This structure aims to provide age-appropriate learning and engagement for all children.

At Shalom, the safety of your child is our top priority. All adults (18 and older) who volunteer or are staff members working with children undergo a comprehensive background check. Additionally, they participate in training that outlines the expectations for working with children.

To further enhance safety, we have a dedicated security team present every Sunday. This team is responsible for ensuring the safety of not only our children but all attendees at our church.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding safety measures, please feel free to reach out.

Children & Worship

In Children & Worship, each session includes the following activities:

  • A time of singing
  • A Bible story presented using wooden characters and felt backgrounds
  • Prayer
  • A craft that ties into the story for that week
  • Snack time
  • Playtime at the end of the session

Kid Zone

Kid Zone begins with a large group time for each age group (Kindergarten-1st Grade and 2nd-5th Grade). During this time, the groups focus on:

  • The main idea for the week
  • The theme Bible verse
  • An exploration of God’s Word related to the story

After the large group time, children break into small groups by grade level. In these small groups, they dive deeper into the story, engage in life application discussion questions, and participate in a game or activity that reinforces the lesson.

Looking for More Ministries?

Return to the main Ministries page to explore all the ways you can get involved at Shalom CRC.

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