Children's Ministry

We believe that children are a vital part of the church body. Our mission in the Next Gen Ministries is to partner with parents to share Jesus with kids and teens. In the Children's Ministry, we help kids know God's story and God's heart. We teach them that they can have a vibrant relationship with Jesus starting at any age.

We achieve this through age appropriate programming, intergenerational relationships, small groups, biblical teaching and having fun together. Each year we offer a fall retreat for third through fifth graders, some special events including a Father-Daughter Dance, either a science camp or Summer Worship, Arts and Music Program (SWAMP) in June and others - scroll down to read more.

We also emphasize serving our community. We provide some opportunities to serve throughout the year in class. We sponsor a young man, Eward from Sierra Leone, and the children send notes to him throughout the year.

We can’t wait to get to know you!

René Maule

Children's Ministries Director

After checking in the Family Lobby (inside Door 16), kids under the age of elementary age go directly to their classroom. Elementary kids start with their family and are dismissed later. (See below)

There are no snacks served except in Babies IF you want the volunteers to give them Cheerios or their bottle.

Babies to PreK

Babies go to Room 132 where they will be loved, rocked and fed (if you have indicated it is okay.)

Toddlers go to Room 131 where there will play, have Bible songs and the Gospel Project lesson.

Preschool to Prek go to Room 132 where they will play, have Bible songs, the Gospel Project lesson and some activities.

Pagers available for children to contact parents in case there is a need.

Elementary

After checking in the Family Lobby, Elementary students start in the sanctuary with their parents during the worship. There are activities and clipboards at the back of the sanctuary that are designed to go along with the service. Before the sermon starts, the kids are dismissed with a slide up front. Children's Ministry leaders will be in the back to help direct your children.

Kindergarten - Third grade go downstairs to the Room 123 (The Nest) for the large group Gospel Project teaching and then will go to their small group rooms. You will pick them up in their small group room when the service is over. These rooms are in the hall attached to the Family Lobby.

K-1 Room 105

2-3 Room 103

Fourth - Fifth grade stay upstairs at the end of the hall off The Hub in Room 201. They are picked up in this room after service.

These are scheduled throughout the year.

These events are designed to help kids grow in their faith and also to help them connect with others. Sign up for our Next Gen Newsletter for the latest dates and information.

Camp T: September

This overnight retreat for students in Grades 3-5 is held at Camp Tecumseh.

Bible Sunday: October

Students in Grade 3 will be recognized as they receive their Bibles both services and enjoy a personal reception with our pastor.

Hangout Time:

Time to get together with your Covenant friends, play games and learn about Jesus.

Father-Daughter Dance: January

A time for girls ages 4 - 21 to spend time with their dads or father figures.

Summer Camp: June

Elementary school students will enjoy time learning about the Bible, science, music and art, depending on the year. Registration usually begins mid-March.

The safety of your children is extremely important to us at Covenant.

For this reason, we have gone to great measures and taken precautions to protect our children. We require our volunteers to be vetted, trained, have their background checked, and pass an online class. We also require a minimum of two volunteers in each class.

All children attending classes must be registered at our electronic check-in stations where parents will be given a tag. Parents then return that tag in order to retrieve their children at the end of the service.

Parenting is an incredible blessing and can be so HARD.

We want to partner with you through every stage -Click here to download an overview of our partnership plan.

Here are some resources we have found helpful for parents of kids:

EARLY CHILDHOOD (0-3) Precious and unforgettable.

Recommended Resources:

For parents

· Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas

· Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

For parents to read to kids

· The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

· The BIG Picture Story Bible by David R. Helm and Gail Schoonmaker

PRESCHOOL / PRE-K (4-6) Soaking up learning like sponges

Recommended Resources:

For parents

· 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul Tripp

For parents to read to kids

· Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids about God and Science by Louie Giglio and Nicola Anderson

· God’s Design For Sex: Book 1 and 2 by Stan and Brenna Jones – This may work well to read to your child or it may work be better for you to familiarize yourself with the material and then share it with them without the visual of pictures of formality of reading word for word. You know your child best.

ELEMENTARY (7-10) Ready to explore new things

Recommended Resources:

For parents

· The Purity Principle by Randy Alcorn

· Helpful websites: purehope.net / cpyu.org / pluggedin.com

For parents to read to their children

· God’s Design For Sex: Book 3 by Stan and Brenna Jones

This may work well to read to your child or it may work be better for you to familiarize yourself with the material and then share it with them without the visual of pictures of formality of reading word for word. You know your child best.

· New City Catechism by Kathy Keller

· The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis

· The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

· The Dream Traveler’s Quest by Ted Dekker