Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
Ken Elben
Pastor of Family & Children
706-278-8494 ext. 102
kenelben@optilink.us
At DFUMC we want the whole family to be cared for, nurtured and brought up in the Lord. We want to partner with parents, grandparents and caregivers to see them win! We do this by coming along side you as you raise up your family to be followers of Christ. We can never take your place as the number one spiritual influencer in your child’s life, but know that we are in this together with you.
Believing that parents and the church should partner together, we understand that the church has about 40 hours in a given year to directly influence a child. An average parent has closer to 3000 hours in the same year. This is the 3000/40 principal. We are better together when it comes to raising our families up in Christ!
Dalton First United Methodist Parent Strategy: To equip parents and help them win at home and connect them and their families with our church. We want to keep it R.E.A.L. with our families! This equipping is accomplished through:
• Relationships (fostering caring relationships that stimulate growth for the whole family)
• Everyone Discipled (age appropriate & intergenerational experiences: teaching and activities)
• Authentic Programs (that foster intergenerational community with our church and other families)
• Leadership (equipping parents to lead at home, church and community)
Making disciples for Jesus Christ through:
Missions • Bible • Learning • Projects • Sunday School • VBS • Friends • Fun • Nursery • Worship
Sundays
Infant Nursery
Our babies, toddlers and two year olds are loved and cared for by a team of paid and volunteer staff. Children will be pampered, played with and diapered with the greatest of care. As you check your child into his or her classroom, please leave a cell phone number. You will receive a text in case you are needed. The nursery is available for all morning services for infants from 8:40 till 12:00 in room 1167. Toddlers and Two’s needing care during the 8:45 service may also come to room 1167.
Toddlers & Twos
It’s never too early to tell children about Jesus! Our toddlers and twos will here Bible stories of God’s creation and about how Jesus loves them! Located in room 1145.
Three Year Olds – Kindergarten
Children ages 3 through Kindergarten participate in an environment with loving small group leaders. These volunteers serve on a quarterly basis. Sunday School begins at 9:45 in room 1149. The children spend time with their Sunday School leader learning their Bible lesson of the day through stories, activities and play. The children will be offered a snack, then at 11:00 they will gather together for their won special worship time. They will learn to praise God through music, movement and object lessons. Children will learn to worship God in the special way that only children can. By the time children leave Kindergarten they will know:
• God made them!
• God loves them!
• Jesus is their friend, always and forever!
Elementary
Children in grades 1-5 will join their parents in corporate worship in either our traditional or modern service. They will be escorted to Noah’s Ark, room 3316, a unique and beautiful worship space created just for kids. Located on the third floor, The Ark offers an imaginative glimpse into what it might have been like for the animals who lived with Noah for a year. All children should be picked up in the Atrium following dismissal of adult worship.
Children’s Worship
We offer two opportunities for children’s worship: one for children ages 3-Kindergarten, and one for children in 1st through 5th grades. Located in room 1149
Wednesdays
(during school year)
Nursery (Infant – 2 year olds)
Babies, toddlers and twos can relax and play in the nursery in room 1167. You can attend a class or fellowship with friends knowing your child is cared for by our professional staff.
Three Year Olds – Kindergarten
At this young age children will learn to lift up their voices to God at Joy Choir beginning at 5:45-6:15pm. Bring your child to room 1142 for this fun time on Wednesday nights!
Elementary
1st-5th graders come praise God and make a joyful noise in Celebration Choir from 6:15-7:00 in Room 3316 on Wednesday nights!
Bible Study
We offer Bible Study for ages Preschool-5th grade, 5:45 – 7:00pm in the Noah’s Ark room (3106) on the third floor, during this time we dig into the Word of God and dive in to learn about the grace and love of Jesus for us.
FORMS