Children's Special Programs and Upcoming Events

Fall - We are actively recruiting teachers for the fall. If you love children and love God, we will give you the tools to do the rest. Please join us in the wonderful ministry of loving children into the faith!. If you are willing to share you time, energy, imagination and love with Westminster's children next year, contact Sophie Maness with questions at 292-5526, ext. 224 or smaness@nashvillewpc.org,  or  to volunteer please take a moment to fill out our online form.

Children's Ministry Would Love Your Help

Wooden Godly Play Figures
We have moved Godly Play, a wonderful curriculum program for our kindergarten children, to the Sunday School hour so we might reach more children. Next year we have many wonderful kindergarten children and we need two rooms of Godly Play. This means we need some wood workers who might be willing to make some small and very simple wooden figures for our storytelling. If you might be interested in helping, please contact Sophie Maness at 292-5526 or smaness@nashvillewpc.org. We can show you samples and give out patterns.

Children's Special Programs - see Sophie Maness, Director of Christian Education, for a copy of the 2012-2013 booklet.

WPC Children's Church School and Extended Care Registration and Emergency Card: Please click here to complete.

BAPTISMAL SEMINAR FOR PARENTS:
Wednesday, May 8, at 6:45 p.m. in room M-305. Led by Sophie Maness. Contact Aubrey Strobel for childcare.

INSTRUCTED COMMUNION
This worship offers 1st-grade children and their families experiences and information about the Lord's Supper so they can participate with a richer understanding of what the sacrament means to the church and to individual Christians. This is a two-hour self-directed learning center event on a Sunday afternoon, Instructed Communion ends with a shared meal. 

One of the most important promises we make as a congregation is to nurture our children in the faith and to strengthen their ties with the household of God. The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA) says, “Baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their maturity.” (W-2.4011b) 

SAFE SANCTUARY
The Session, acting on the recommendation of the Safe Sanctuary Task Force and the Children's Committee, determined that everyone who teaches, coaches, advises, or works with our children and youth must complete an application form and attend a Safe Sanctuary training session. Safe Sanctuary is our coordinated effort to protect the children and youth who participate in our programs from any form of sexual abuse.

THIRD GRADE BIBLES 
Each September, usually on the third Sunday, Westminster presents children who have just begun the 3rd grade with a New Revised Standard Version Bible during the 8:30 a.m. worship service. Journey Through the Bible is an interactive event in the afternoon that same day to provide a way for 3rd graders and their families to learn about their new Bibles. 

 Click here to print your Bible Bookmarks.

NaCoMe CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER 
Located in Pleasantville, Tennessee, NaCoMe serves both The Middle Tennessee and Memphis Presbyteries. It offers retreat facilities (which Westminster uses for our annual All-Church Retreat) and summer camp opportunities for children. Visit www.nacome.org.  

VBS: July 22-26, 2013
Vacation Bible School will be held daily from 9:00 a.m. until noon. This is open to all 4 year-olds through children who have finished second grade at no cost.

Mission Camp: July 22-26, 2013
Mission Camp will be held daily from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Camp is open to all children who have finished 3rd and 5th grades at no cost. We meet at Westminster each morning and travel to the greater Nashville community to serve local missions.

Sunday School listings can be found under Adult Education; Youth Ministry Koinonia; and Sunday School for Children.

Children's Worship 
We welcome all children to worship and expect that when children are in 1st grade they will begin to worship regularly with their families. WORSHIP BAGS, located in baskets just outside the Sanctuary doors are available for younger and older elementary children and contain a children’s bulletin for the day along with other helpful items.

Children's Communion
In the PC (U.S.A.) children are welcome at the Lord’s Table! In order that children might have a richer understanding of Communion, Westminster offers a special class called “Instructed Communion” to 1st graders and their families. This is usually a two-hour self-directed learning center event on a Sunday afternoon followed by a shared meal. To learn more about this event and its next scheduled date email smaness@nashvillewpc.org.

Children's Sabbath
Is celebrated on the third Sunday of October each year. Elementary-aged children and the children’s choirs lead a worship service that celebrates the gifts of our children and lifts up the needs of children who are at risk in our country and around the world. This service is held in conjunction with similar services celebrated by Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations.

Children's Christmas Eve Service
The 2:00 p.m. service celebrates young children and their families through the presentation of a Nativity play performed by the 5th graders and children’s choirs. Children are invited to bring canned food for Second Harvest Food Bank to present at the manger as their offering. Nursery care for infants and young toddlers is offered at both the 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. services.

Palm Sunday
At both the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services children participate in the palm processional and the children’s choirs sing.

Easter
Children are invited to present their One Great Hour of Sharing banks during the offering during any of the three morning services (7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.).  Sunday School classes do not meet on Easter Sunday.

Kids Cast Newsletters 2013
May Newsletter
Easter Newsletter
March Newsletter
January Newsletter

Kids Cast Newsletters 2012
Prayers for Newtown, CT 
October 2012 
April 2012 
March 2012 
February 2012 
January 2012

Kids Cast Newsletters 2011
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011