Children's ministry

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  • Nursery services

    Childcare in the nursery is offered without reservation for children ages birth-4K during these regular times:

    Sunday Morning: 8:15 am - 12:15 pm

    Wednesday Evening: 5:45 pm - 8:00 pm

    Childcare is offered by reservation by contacting Berta Ford at berta@alabasterfumc.org.

    Our nursery is staffed with paid nursery professionals as well as church volunteers.


    More information on our Nursery Services can be found below.

  • Sunday school

    Sunday School is offered for children ages 3K and up during the 9:45 am hour, where children will participate in age appropriate Bible lessons, music and crafts. 

  • Children's minutes and children's church

    During the 8:30 am and 11:00 am worship services, children ages 3 through 3rd grade can participate in Children’s Minutes and Children’s Church.


    Children’s Church participants are escorted by adults from the Sanctuary to Room 117 (Elementary Ages) and Room 106 (Preschool Ages). At Restore, the children meet in the Children’s Church area in the Restore Lobby.


    More information on preschool age care can be found below.


  • Wednesday evenings

    On Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 7:00 pm, there are activities for children including games, free play, plus small group and large group devotion time.


  • vacation bible school

    We host a Vacation Bible School that lasts five days during the summer. It is for children from age 3 through the 6th grade. Each day at Bible School includes music, Bible adventures, crafts, games and snacks. 

  • Preschool

    We offer preschool five days a week from 9:00 am-2:00 pm with early and late drop off for children ages 6 weeks through 4 years. 


    For more information about the Preschool program, click HERE.

Child Protection

Safe Sanctuary Policy Awareness Statement


First United Methodist Church of Alabaster loves children!  In accordance with our Safe Sanctuary Policy, all children under age 12 must be visually supervised by an adult for all activities.  Please be assured that we do background checks on all volunteers in youth and children’s ministries.  Your understanding and cooperation is greatly appreciated. 


For a complete copy of the Safe Sanctuary Policy, please contact

Karin Conlin, Church Secretary

karin@alabasterfumc.org

205.663.0509

Nursery to 2 Years Old Childcare

On behalf of the FUMCA Childcare team, we hope that you will feel comfortable leaving your child with us, so that you can relax and enjoy pursuing your spiritual growth within First United Methodist Church of Alabaster.

 

Nursery care is available on Sunday mornings from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm for children, age 2 and under. Our nursery is staffed with paid nursery professionals as well as church volunteers. Pagers are available for parents should the nursery staff need to contact them during worship or Sunday School. The nursery for the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services is located in the long hallway between the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall in our Education Building. The nursery for the 8:30 am and 10:00 am service is located in the Restore Nursery area. All children are also welcomed in Sunday School and worship services.

Nursery care is also available, upon request, for Bible Study classes meeting in the church building.


What is Safe Sanctuary?

Safe Sanctuary is a child protection policy of the United Methodist Church established to ensure the safety of all children and youth attending activities within the church. FUMCA has adapted this policy to fit this church setting and provide guidelines to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for all people, but especially for our precious children.

 

When is Childcare Available?

Childcare is offered without reservation for children ages birth-4K during these regular times:

Sunday Morning: 8:15-12:15

Wednesday Evening: 5:45-8:00

Childcare is offered by reservation by contacting Berta Ford at berta@alabasterfumc.org.


What will my child be doing during childcare?

All children will participate in age-appropriate activities and curriculum geared toward building the foundation for life-long spiritual growth and development.


Will my child be offered food & drink during their time in the nursery?

It is the policy of our nurseries to follow the feeding guidelines provided by parents at the time of sign-in. We stock Goldfish, Fruit Loops, and apple juice for snacks, which are usually offered mid-morning to children old enough for these solid foods.


What do I need to bring for my child while he/she is in childcare?

We suggest you bring the following items in your child’s bag: plenty of diapers, wipes plastic bottle or sippy cup, pacifiers or other security objects, a complete change of clothes and any food you wish your child to eat. Please be sure to LABEL EVERYTHING you send with your child’s name.


What are my responsibilities as a parent when I drop off my child for childcare?

Please bring your child to the door where you will sign-in your child. Please include any medical conditions, allergies as well as feeding, sleeping or diapering instructions. Your written instructions are important, as verbal information could be forgotten or confused. Finally, we have a mandatory check-in/check-out system that you will need to follow when you arrive and leave.


When should I NOT bring my child to childcare?

We ask that you do not bring your child to childcare if he/she has had fever, diarrhea or vomiting in the last 24 hours.

 

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Berta Ford, Director of Children’s Ministries at 663-0509 or berta@alabasterfumc.org.

Pre-School (3k-4k) Childcare

On behalf of the FUMCA Childcare team, we hope that you will feel comfortable leaving your child with us, so that you can relax and enjoy pursuing your spiritual growth within First United Methodist Church of Alabaster. 


What is Safe Sanctuary?

Safe Sanctuary is a child protection policy of the United Methodist Church established to ensure the safety of all children and youth attending activities within the church. FUMCA has adapted this policy to fit this church setting and provide guidelines to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for all people, but especially for our precious children.

 

Do I need to bring anything for my child while he/she is in childcare?

You are not required to bring anything to childcare. We encourage children to not bring toys or other items from home as we cannot be responsible for these items. We have a generous supply of childcare necessities on hand should they be needed.


What are my responsibilities as a parent when I drop my child off for childcare?

Please bring your child to the door where you will sign-in your child. Please include any medical conditions, allergies, as well as where you will be located should we need to contact you. Your written instructions are important, as verbal information could be forgotten or confused.


When is Childcare Available?

Sunday School is offered for children ages 3K-4K during the 9:45 am hour, where children will participate in age appropriate Bible lessons, music and crafts. Children ages 3 and up are encouraged to attend worship with their families during our Sunday morning services. During worship Children ages 3-3rd grade will be called forward to hear the Children’s Minute and then will be escorted to Children’s Church. There they will have a Bible lesson, music and craft. Parents in the 8:30 service must pick up their children in the Children’s Church room located in the Restore lobby. And Parents in the 11:00 service must pick up their children in room #106.

3K-4K children may participate in the following activities:

Sunday mornings: Children’s Church, Sunday school

Wednesday evenings: Wednesday Night Live 6:00pm


When should I NOT bring my child to childcare?

We ask that you do not bring your child to childcare if he/she has had fever, diarrhea or vomiting in the last 24 hours. 


If you have any additional question, please feel free to contact Berta Ford at 663-0509 or berta@alabasterfumc.org.