Children's Programs

Our Children’s Ministry (Birth through 5th Grade) offers programming in these area: 

• Nursery
• Young Children and Worship
• Kids’ Kingdom
• Vacation Bible Camp
• Special Events

Nursery: Nursery care is of primary importance to us at Dutch Neck. A regular, professional caregiver with years of experience provides both consistency and a loving presence on a weekly basis for our littlest members. Parents can then relax and recharge during worship service knowing their young ones are being nurtured nearby.

The nursery is open to babies and toddlers up to 3 years old beginning at 9:20am and continuing through our adult education programs until 12:10pm.

Young Children and Worship: Because young children need a special environment where they can meet and worship God, at Dutch Neck we provide an alternative worship experience for children ages 3 years through Kindergarten.

Young children sit with their families at the beginning of the 9:30am Worship Service.  Following the “The Word with Children” message, children are escorted by adult leaders to the Christian Education building next door where they participate in a worship service of their own.  This program provides wonderful and creative experiences that nurture children’s faith and prepare them to join in the full worship life of the congregation.

Children are picked up in the downstairs youth room following worship.

Kids’ Kingdom:  Kids’ Kingdom is the name of Dutch Neck’s Sunday School offering.  The children of Kids’ Kingdom (1st-5th graders) sit with their families at the beginning of the 9:30am Worship Service.  Following the “The Word with Children” message, children are escorted by adult shepherds to the  Christian Education building next door where they participate with other children on their grade-level in the “We Believe Workshop,” a rotation-style Sunday School program written by the Presbyterian Church of the USA. 

Our year is divided into seven bible-based units, each lasting 4-5 weeks.  In each unit children will rotate through sessions such as art, computer, drama, games, and music workshops.  Each unit includes a “Celebration Sunday” when families worship together in a child-friendly service that underscores the unit theme.
Kids’ Kingdom will kick off this fall on Sunday, September 12.

2010-2011 Kids’ Kingdom Calendar
Theme:  Redemption: Word Made Flesh

Session I:  Joseph: God's Dreamer
September 12 – October 3

Sunday, October 18: Family Celebration Service
Presentation of Bibles to 3rd Graders
Children remain with their families in a special child-friendly Worship Service.

Session II: Jonah
October 17 – November 7

Sunday, November 14:  Family Celebration Service
Children remain with their families in a special child-friendly Worship Service.

Session III: Advent:  Mary's Song
November 21 – December 19

Sunday, November 28:  Thanksgiving Weekend
Special Large Group Kids’ Kingdom Activity
Family Advent Workshop following Worship & Kids' Kindom (see below)

Friday, December 24: Children's Christmas Pageant

December 26:  Christmas Weekend
Children stay in Worship Service, no Kids' Kingdom.

Sunday January 2:  New Year’s Weekend
Children stay in Worship Service, no Kids' Kingdom.

Session IV:  Boy Jesus at the Temple
January 9 – January 30

February 6:  Family Celebration Service
Children remain with their families in a special child-friendly Worship Service.

Session V: The Great Dinner
February 13 – March 20

March 6:  Family Celebration Service
Children remain with their families in a special child-friendly Worship Service.

February 20: President’s Day Weekend
Special Large Group Kids’ Kingdom Activity

Session VI: Peter:  Three Times, "No!" and Three Times, "Yes!"
March 27 – April 17

April 24:  Easter Sunday
Children remain with their families in Worship Service.

Session VII:  Lydia
May 1 – May 22

Sunday, TBD: Family Celebration Service
Children remain with their families in a special child-friendly Worship Service.

May 29:  Memorial Day Weekend
Children remain with their families in Worship Service

Date TBD:  Confirmation Sunday
Children remain with their families in worship service

The Family Advent Workshop is a Dutch Neck tradition.  Following Worship Service and Kids' Kingdom on Sunday, November 28, the entire congregation gathers to prepare for the Advent season by assembling Advent wreaths,  making things that remind us of the season's meaning, and decorating (and eating) cookies.  This event is a favorite holiday activity, full of fun and fellowship, that helps keep the season’s meaning alive.  To help with the Advent Workshop, please speak with Bonnie Benkard at 716-0954 or bonniebenkard@gmail.com.

Vacation Bible Camp:  Each summer, Dutch Neck offers a week of fun and inspiring activities for children from Pre-K through seventh grade.  From 9:00am until 12:00noon, the education building is transformed into a galaxy, a beach party or whatever the year's theme requires.  Registration begins in mid-May for the July session, and the cost is only $10 per child.  All families from the community are welcome.  For mor information, contact the church office.

Special Events:  There are often special events offered to our famlies during the year.  In the past these have included the production of a children's musical to be performed as a part of worship service, family game nights, and programs about specific Church traditions.  Watch the week church announcements for information on upcoming events.