Children & Family Ministry

Standing behind two wide-eyed shepherds during the 4:30 Christmas Eve service, I overheard one saying to the other, “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!” Indeed, at six and seven, they hadn’t. 2022 saw us return to many of our pre-pandemic patterns of worship and corporate life, but for the children of our congregation, these were new experiences and new opportunities to grow in faith.

Walking with the youngest members of our congregation, we have had the opportunity to experience anew the joy of gathering in the Sanctuary for corporate worship, the energy of dozens of children playing games at VBC, and the friendships that form over Oreo cookies and Goldfish crackers after Sunday School. Many of the projects and practices from 2020 and 2021 have helped us become a more flexible and adaptable program, prepared to imagine new avenues of ministry and meet the changing needs of families in our community.

Here are a few highlights from the Education Building:

• The year offered special events to foster community like our “Surprise Sabbath” and “Sanctuary Scavenger Hunt.”

• Opportunities to serve others and learn more about BMPC’s mission partnerships were woven into our curriculum and calendar. Third to fifth grade students had the opportunity to go off site on mission projects, and every Sunday School class participated in local mission projects and activities.

• Special programs for the youngest members of our church helped connect families and children as we celebrated baptisms, explored the Chapel, learned about Easter, and told the Christmas Story.

• 2022 inaugurated the new multigenerational Evening Worship Service on the first Sunday of the month. In addition, special family services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Christmas Eve created space for children and families to worship and lead together.

We are thankful for the volunteers who give their time, expertise, and energy to teaching, leading, welcoming, and encouraging the children of our congregation. Our volunteers stretch in age from 12 year olds helping at VBC for the first time to 97-year-old Prayer Partners.

In addition to teaching for more than 700 hours, volunteers have given time organizing Christmas costumes, stuffing Easter eggs, playing with three year olds, hosting family fellowship, helping with mailings and deliveries, popping popcorn, making crafts, walking a sheep, and building a new library. In each of these acts, volunteers have created something truly beautiful for the children of our church to continue growing in faith, hope and love.