The Early Childhood Ministry (ECM) of Fountain City United Methodist church serves preschool age children and their families. The mission of ECM is to partner with families, offering encouragement and support as they guide their children on their faith journey.
One goal is to provide a special environment for young children where they look forward to church, knowing that it is a place where they are welcomed and loved. We also provide experiences where they hear about Jesus’ love, know the Bible is a special book from God, begin to learn that they are special creations of God, and associate God with feelings of wonder, love, and happiness.
In addition we provide childcare for children birth through fifth grade so that parents and caregivers are able to attend worship services, Bible studies, rehearsals, and fellowship without worry and interruptions. We want all children and adults to grow relationships with God. Caring for children so adults can be fed is a ministry and mission of ECM.
WEE Worship
WEE Worship is offered to all children birth through three-year-old Sunday school during the 8:30 and 11:00 Sunday morning worship services. It is a time of fellowship and worship where children are invited to play and explore their environment before settling in for a special time of listening to God, talking to God, and singing praises to God. WEE Worship is lead by both ECM staff and volunteers who worship with our wee ones on a rotating schedule.
Two-Year-Old Sunday School
Our three year olds through fifth graders all study the same Bible stories each week through the rotation format. Our two- year- olds have lessons that were written especially for them. They journey through the Bible with multi-sensory, age- appropriate experiences beginning with Creation, Noah, and Moses, winding through Advent, Jesus the boy, and Jesus the man, Lent and Pentecost and ending with lessons about Stewardship, Esther the Queen and Jonah, the guy inside the big fish. Sunday school is from 9:45 to 10:45 with WEE Worship before and after. Two- year-old Sunday school is lead by teams of church members and parents who commit to teaching with a partner every other Sunday.
Special Events
Each year ECM hosts three seasonal events that are just for preschool age children and their families. Each spring we celebrate Easter with an egg hunt and picnic on a Sunday two weeks before Easter. Each fall we visit the Fruit and Berry Patch in Halls for a pumpkin play date and for Christmas we have an ECM Christmas party and parade watching on the day of the Fountain City Christmas Parade. In addition ECM host several more casual play dates throughout the year like trips to the Bounce House and play dates in the park. Fellowship is a great way to grow friendships and relationships and is an important part of our Early Childhood Ministries.
Childcare
Childcare is provided for all evening and Sunday morning worship services, Bible studies, rehearsals, church business meetings, and some leisure ministry activities. Age appropriate childcare is available for infants through fifth graders and is provided by our CPR certified ECM staff. During worship and Wednesday night programming from 6:30 to 7:30 childcare is limited to children in the three-year-old Sunday school class and under. Please check with your group’s leader or the church newsletter to find out if childcare is provided for a specific activity.
Offering Christ
A goal of Early Childhood Ministries is to offer Christ every time we gather. That offering may be in the form of a hug or gentle rock, a story or song, time shared over the play dough table, or through the blessing of a snack or in time talking to God. It is as simple as just being welcomed in to God’s house where his love and presence is felt and shared. It happens during childcare, Sunday school and worship and is facilitated by staff, volunteers, parents, and children. Come join us!
