This page contains the latest "general" news related to MPUMC's Children's Ministries and Programs. For more information on specific children's activities (i.e., choirs, Sunday schools, nursery schedules, VBS, etc.), you may also want to visit our Children's Programs page!

The Easter Egg. The empty Easter eggs will be in the baskets in the Narthex and Family Life Center beginning February 21, the first Sunday in Lent. Please take one (or two) and fill with coins, dollars, checks, or all. Return your Easter eggs by Easter, April 4. There will be baskets in the Narthex and Family Life Center. The money collected will be given to Change for Children. Each year, churches give loose change to benefit children's ministries in Holston Conference and in Africa. And each year, several groups receive that pocket change in the form of grants. Change for Children grants support to new and existing ministries with economically disadvantaged children, from birth to age 12, and their families. Holston churches and related United Methodist agencies are eligible for these funds.

Camp Wesley Woods. Summer is right around the corner. Please come by the office and receive a Camp Wesley Woods magazine. As you know, camp fills up quickly. Please see Ann if you need assistance.

As summer quickly approaches, parents are looking for summer activities for their children. If you would like to sponsor (whole or partial scholarship) a child to Camp Wesley Woods, give Ann a call. The cost of camp is anywhere from $195.00 - $400.00. Thanks so much for helping a child attend camp.

Dates to Remember:

• March 19, 2010 – Parent’s Night Out (Middlebrook Pike UMC). Click here to register online!
• March 28 – Easter Egg Hunt (Rick and Gracie Murphree’s home)
• April 11 – New Rotation (Ruth)
• May 9 – Eric Bronkala teaches 5th graders
• May 16 – New Rotation (Miracles)
• May 21 – Parents Night Out
• June 7 through June 11 – Vacation Bible School
• June 13 – Eric teaches 5th graders
• June 27 – Summer Rotation begins
• July 16 – Parents Night Out
• July 25 – Eric Bronkala meets with rising 6th graders and their
  parents at 9:45 (Theater)
• August 22 – Bibles presented to rising 3rd graders. Information
  will follow.

Weekly Reminders:

• Bring Change for Children
• Support FISH: Donate Peanut Butter.
• Memorize Memory Challenge Verses
• Solve Bible Detective Searches
• Pray for Celebrations and Concerns

Baby Rose. Before coming back to church with your new baby, please call the church office by Tuesday so we can order a rose honoring your baby.

Baby Bulletin Board. Please send Ann a picture of your baby with the full name and date of birth on the back if he/she is younger than 1 year, and we don’t have one. Everyone enjoys looking at the newest additions to our church family.

Pagers. We now have pagers for the Nursery area. Please sign your children in using the pager system if they are under the age of 1 year. If your child is “uneasy” in the nursery area and the pager helps, please use one. It takes children time to adjust to a new setting. Our visitors should always use a pager because we don’t know the babies and it is nice to be able to get in touch if we have a question. The pager system is located in the Nursery area and is staffed by adult volunteers.

Ink Cartridges. Bring your “empty” ink cartridges to us. There is a bin outside The Mouse Pad for you to drop them off or take them to the  office. They will be recycled so that we can purchase additional materials for the computer.

Background Checks. Background checks are mandatory for people involved in Children’s Ministry. If you have not completed an application, please see Ann as soon as possible. Mike Moses is handling the background checks. Safe Sanctuary training is typically held the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:15-7:00 in the Sanctuary. All who work with children are required to attend and complete the volunteer application. This is for the safety of our children as well as the safety of those working with children.