Middle Church offers many programs that uphold the wonderful diversity and creativity of our children  from traditional and non-traditional families.
 
SUNDAY  CURRICULUM FOR  CHILDREN  AND  YOUTH
Wee Care    10 AM-1PM for children 3 and under.  Parents are invited to leave their children with our childcare provider so that they are free to participate in adult education as well as Sunday Worship Celebration.
 
SUNDAY SCHOOL-10 AM
Children  (ages 4-7)  Through Bible stories we teach models of good global citizenry--what it is to love your neighbor, be kind to others, respect one another, obey, learn self-love.  The arts play a part in reinforcing each lesson.  Typically, crafts are involved and sometimes an appropriate DVD is shown.
 
Tweens (ages 8-12)  An age where children begin to open up with questions and concerns.  Our class focuses on using faith based stories to teach values such as kindness, love, service, self-control, caring for others, community, ecological awareness, excellence, responsibility, integrity.   To bring home the message, each lesson is associated with an art project or lesson sheet so that the children can practice what they are learning.
 
Teenagers (ages 13-18)  First and foremost, we create a space for teens to have the freedom to speak openly and be heard.These classes center around relevant issues and concerns for teens.  We then work on questions about growing and practicing faith.  Class discussions can range from prayer, to morality, to peer pressure and faith, loneliness, views of God, and much more!
 
 
CHILDREN'S  WORSHIP
Following the Passing of the Peace at the 11:15 Worship Celebration, children are invited to leave for children's worship.
An opportunity for children (ages 4-12) to create their own worship time with guided activities.  The theme for worship generally follows the lectionary (ties into what the adults hear in worship).  Each session also has an art project that reinforces the message of the day.  In addition to the art project, we use music and media presentations so that the children have multiple outlets for learning.
 
OTHER  OPPORTUNITIES
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE (ages 12-18) 6:30 PM
In addition to Sunday School, the teens gather on Friday evenings  for food, fun, fellowship and learning!  Each Friday evening is different, but the main goal is to give young people a safe space to hang out and be with each other.  Activities vary, but have included inviting other youth groups for fellowship, cooking a meal for each other (or in service to another organization), movie night, youth discussions, art projects and the occassional trip (to a movie, restaurant, service project).  We recently invited our East Side Girls Club friends who made a presentation on consumerism and we watched the film What Would Jesus Buy followed by a Q&A with the star of the film, Rev. Billy.