Children's Ministries

Director: Jill Kindall 614-890-8985 x15

Elder: Sue Gale 614-890-8985

Our Children's Ministry focuses on children
from newborn through grade five.

Lambland: Newborn through 30 months (or potty trained)  Lambland is a loving environment where parents can bring their little ones to the open arms of a caring adult who will sooth, rock, talk, read, and play with their baby during the worship celebrations.  Parents can feel comfortable that their child is safe with these capable adults and will be well cared for.

In accordance with our new security measures, upon checking in, your child will be assigned a number.  If the nursery workers need to reach you, they will put your child's number on the LED screen in the front left side of the sanctuary.  You will need this number to pick up your child after church.

We recommend Northside's Cry Room where parents can take their children into the darkened room adjacent the sanctuary with a toy box and chairs, windows into the sanctuary and a speaker so parents can listen to the service.  It is a perfect room for nursing mothers as well.

 Sunday Morning Classes
Our Sunday morning classes are for
Preschool (potty trained) through grade 5

Discoveryland (3-4 years old): In the first module, kids will learn that Jesus helps people who are sick and that Jesus gives us hope.  Leading up to Easter, the kids will discover that Jesus is our king, that he died for us because he loves us, that Jesus wants us to remember him and that he came back to life.  Lastly, they will have three lessons on how Jesus appeared to his followers and that he wants us to believe in him.

Discoveryland (4-5 years old): Using stories from the life of Peter, kids will learn that Jesus helps us serve him.  There will be five lessons on the Easter story--from Jesus' last days through his resurrection.  Lastly, kids will learn that Jesus helps us follow him when we don't understand or have questions, and that he helps us by giving us the Holy Spirit.  They will also hear stories about how we can helps and encourage others to follow Jesus.

Promiseland (K-2nd grade): Kids will learn, from stories about Peter, that all people are created to be in a relationship with God and with one another, and that we are all given responsibilities and the ability to think and make choices.  In the second unit, children will become members of the "Sinbusters Club," where they will discover what sin is, what God thinks of our sin, and how we can "bust," or resist, sin.  Lastly, kids will discover five things that friends of Jesus do: tell others about Jesus, help others, use their money in good ways, learn more about Jesus, and love each other and celebrate together.

Promiseland (3rd-5th): 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will be learning that there is a battle between God and Satan.  We can choose to become believers and be on God's side in the battle.  As believers, we have access to the full armor of God!  Also this spring, our kids will learn that believers are the light of the world.  If we are following Jesus, we have his light inside of us and need to shine our light in our dark world so others will come to know God.

Vacation Bible School

This is our biggest event of the year for our children! Our VBS band is slammin! Our decorations are off the hook! People come from all over town to bring their kids to our VBS!  You have to register early to get in.  Every year we have to turn people away because we don't have enough room in our church to hold everyone (Fire code. Pray with us for our bigger building)! So be on the lookout in July for the VBS signs, you don't want to miss it.  In fact, not only will you want your children to be a part of it, you will want to participate as well.

This year's VBS program, "High Seas Adventure," will be held July 26-30, 2010. We would love for your child to join us. Click here for the registration form.

Camps:

Lake Ann Camp, Michigan
June 22-27, 2009
This summer kids are invited to Lake Ann Camp, which is located in beautiful Lake Ann, Michigan!  Camp is available for students entering fourth grade through high school.  Northside campers will attend Week 2 of the camp, which runs June 22-27.  We will leave on Sunday, June 21 and return around 7:30 P.M. June 27.  We will be going with another local church on a chartered bus.  To register or for more information, contact Jill Kindall.
www.lakeanncamp.com
    

Retreats:

Geneva Hills (All 3rd-5th graders)
April 24-26
5:30 PM Friday through 12:00 noon on Sunday
Activities: Worship, canoeing, hiking, skits, campfires
Sign-ups will start soon

Examples of Other Events:

Movie Nights:

• Veggie Tales Movie Nights  
• Bring the whole family and watch the latest Veggie Tales movie on the big screen in the sanctuary!  We've got popcorn and the kids can sack out on the floor.  It's tons of fun...So much better than the theater!

Bowling:

• Kindergarten-Grade 2 at the Columbus Bowling Palace   
• The Children's Ministry takes a group of kids to the Columbus Bowling Palace to have some fun after Church on a Sunday afternoon.

Campouts:

• Grades 3-5 
  Camping out in tents on the property of one of the youth leaders in Sunbury, roasting marshmallows, playing games, grossing each other out, and sharing about Jesus Christ... It doesn't get much better than that, right?

Pageants:

•     Our most recent pageant, "Rock Solid," was performed on March 15, 2009.

Bibles for Second Graders:

• Each year in September, just after the school year begins, we honor second graders by presenting them with a Student Adventure Bible (NIV). Sometimes this is the first Bible a child will receive.  It gives them a real sense of responsibility and it gives them a new place in the family of faith at Northside, a step up from "little-kid status" so-to-speak.

Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child

• Each year we join with Samaritan's Purse with their Operation Christmas Child Program, filling shoeboxes with items and wrapping them to send to children in need internationally.  We encourage parents to involve their children in this project, letting them pick out the items, understanding the importance of each thing, how the children that receive these boxes will cherish each piece. This is always a favorite mission amongst the children. It gives them a tangible experience in the "mission field."