– Children & Youth –
– Children & Youth –
Building Foundations for a Life with God
“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
Matthew 19: 14
One of the core responsibilities of the Church is to create a pathway for children to come to know God in their lives. Through worship, education, fellowship, service and more, it is our constant goal to allow North Shore Congregational Church to be a place in which our youngest participants can feel comfortable and at home. By creating an environment of welcome and engagement, we long to help all of the children and youth of our church to form lasting foundations that will uphold their faith today, tomorrow, and throughout their lives.
Birth through Elementary
Some children love to sing, others want to run around and play. Some can’t wait to get to Sunday school, while others much prefer to stay with Mom and Dad. Through a variety of opportunities and programs, we seek to make sure there is always a comfortable place for the children of our church!
Crib ‘n Crawler
Every Sunday 9:45 – 11:15 am
Located just down the hall from our worship space, our Crib ‘n Crawler is staffed from 9:45 – 11:15am every Sunday. While children of all ages are always welcome to stay with us in worship, care for children up to age 3 is provided for families who wish to make use of it.
Sunday School
Every Sunday after the service’s Children’s Message
Generally, our 10am worship service begins, each Sunday, with members of all ages together in worship. After the opening of the service and a Children’s Message, all children age 3 through grade 8, are invited to attend Sunday school.
Worship Bags & Binders
Available Every Sunday
For the youngest among us, who could use something to stay busy for part (or all) of our Sunday services, bags and binders full of activities, puzzles and more are available as you enter worship. Visit our Noah’s Ark as you enter or ask an usher for assistance.
Pageants
Twice a year (prior to Christmas and Mother’s Day)
The Children’s Choir, Sunday school and others in the church cooperate to present a pageant during the 10 am worship service. In addition to the pageant, these services are filled with opportunities for the children and youth of the church to share musical gifts, lead readings and serve in many other ways in the liturgy of the service.
Children’s Choir
For children in grades K3-6
The Children’s Choir rehearses once a week in the large group Sunday school room downstairs. Rehearsals run on Sundays from 9:00 – 9:50 am. The choir sings during the 10 am service, once a month, and is always a great joy for the congregation! We incorporate dance, instrumentation, and often collaborate with the adult choir, bell choir, and older youth. Children are welcome to join in at any time throughout the year.
KidsConnect@Church
For children in grades 3 – 5
Children come together on the second Sunday of each month, as well as for special events and overnights, for the purposes of fostering faith and fellowship among some of our youngest members.
Camps, Retreats & Mission Trips
Locally at North Shore Congregational Church, in partnership with sister Congregational churches in Milwaukee, and statewide with the Wisconsin Congregational Association, our children and youth participate in a number of retreats, overnights and camps throughout the year.
Middle & High School
As the children of our church grow, so does their relationship with God, and with our church. Through youth programs, Sunday classes, confirmation, mission trips, regional youth gatherings, and more, we are constantly seeking to engage our youth as they grow into a faith that becomes their own.
Sunday School
For youth in grades 6 – 8
Youth share their own class and programs in our youth room during our 10 am worship service on Sunday Mornings.
YouthConnect@Church
For youth in grades 6 – 12
YouthConnect features regular ‘pizza and game nights,’ special events, and other gatherings that help to foster their ongoing relationship with one another, and with God.
Camps, Retreats & Mission Trips
Locally at North Shore Congregational Church, in partnership with sister Congregational churches in Milwaukee, and statewide with the Wisconsin Congregational Association, our children and youth participate in a number of retreats, overnights and camps throughout the year.
Baptism & Confirmation
Baptism
The Ministers and members of the church are thrilled to share in the blessing and dedication of our children to God. Click below to learn more about the baptism process in our church.
Confirmation
A true and meaningful relationship with God is a blessing we receive as a gift from our families, our friends, and our church community in our childhood years. We reach an age, however, in which our engagement in faith, and the life of the church, needs to be a decision we make for ourselves. This is what the Confirmation journey is all about.
Volunteer Leadership
Do you have a heart for helping the youngest among us discover the presence of God in their lives? Do you find your own faithful growth in the wisdom-filled questions we hear from the children around us? Would you like to be a part of our ministries that service children and youth? From Sunday school classes and youth gatherings to overnights and retreats, we are always thrilled to have adult leaders join in the fun!
Whether it is for one night here or there, or regular help with an ongoing program, Rev. Julie with questions at juliesmith@northshorecongl.org, or download our application to volunteer.
Is My Child Safe?
Providing a safe and comfortable environment for children is imperative for the personal and spiritual development of both the children and their parents. Through membership expectations, accountability practices, background checks, and more, we work diligently to see to the well-being and protection of all children at North Shore Congregational Church. Feel free to review our Child Safety Policy and contact us if you have any questions.
