CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING IN WINTER (DEC/JAN)
We slow our pace during the shorter seasons (Winter and Summer), which means we suspend most programming apart from our Sunday morning worship services. Here's when programming for children will be available during the Winter (Dec/Jan):
Preschool Programming will continue as normal during our 10:30 worship service.
Elementary Evenings will be every Wednesday Evening in January from 6-8pm.
Youth will resume as normal on January 5th.
Preschool, Elementary, and Youth
…the LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deut. 6:4-7
We believe that Scripture calls parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children. With this in mind, our Preschool, Elementary and Youth ministries aim to partner with parents in teaching their children about who God is—and who we are as a result. Below you will find information about all of our regular activities for kids at The Parkway Church, from Preschool to High School.
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Preschool Ministry (Birth - 5 years)
Sundays from 9:00a-10:15a (during Theological Equipping Classes)
Sundays from 10:30a-12:00p (during our Worship Service)
Programming for children from birth to 5 takes place during our Theological Equipping Classes as well as our Worship Service on Sunday mornings. We spend our time teaching from the Scriptures, singing, and playing. We also provide resources to equip parents to continue to engage their kids with the truth of who God is and what He has done for the world through the work of His Son, Jesus.
All volunteers in the Preschool are thoroughly vetted, trained, and screened before serving with children. We maintain strict teacher-to-child ratios to ensure the safety and security of every child.
Child Wellness Policy:
For health standards, and for the sake of all involved in our Preschool Ministry, we require that children be free from fever or symptoms of contagious disease for 24 hours. If your child is ill, he/she will not be able to participate that week in our Preschool Ministry. Some of the symptoms that might preclude a child from participating in Preschool Ministry are:
Fever
Diarrhea
Persistent runny nose with substantial discharge
Lethargy
Hacking or wet-sounding cough
Frequently Asked Questions:
What measures do you take to maintain the safety and security of the children?
At check-in, each family is provided with a random alpha-numeric security sticker that matches their children. Children will not be released without the matching security sticker. Our volunteers are trained on security measures in the case of emergencies, and we have a uniformed police officer on duty in the building during Sunday morning services. Additionally, there is always a minimum of 2 adult volunteers in each classroom at all times.
How will I be notified if I am needed while my child is checked in?
There is a paging screen at the front of the sanctuary. If a parent is needed, the alpha-numeric security code will be displayed in bright red. If this fails to get the attention of the parent, a staff member will text the parent or personally find them in the sanctuary.
Who is allowed to serve with this age group?
Volunteers who serve in the Preschool Ministry are all either covenant members of Parkway, or those who are in the covenant member process. These people are interviewed, vetted, background checked, and trained to ensure that safety and security are of highest priority.
What are you teaching?
The curriculum we teach to the 2-5 year olds was written in-house and teaches the narrative of scripture from Genesis - Revelation over the course of 1 year. While we are teaching biblical narratives, we try to distill these down to these five "Focus Truths": 1) God Made Everything, 2) God is in Charge of Everything, 3) God is Good, 4) Jesus Came to Save Sinners, and 5) The Bible is God's True Word. Infants and 1 year olds do not receive overt teaching while they are in the Preschool Ministry, but are individually prayed for by the volunteers during each service.
Elementary Ministry (K - 5th grade)
Programming for this age group takes place in two different environments, depending on the season. During the Spring and Fall, the Elementary Ministry takes place on Sunday mornings during our Theological Equipping Class. During the Summer and Winter, Elementary Ministry takes place during Elementary Evenings, which meets every Wednesday night during the months of January and July.
Sundays from 9:00a-10:15a
Programming for Kindergarten - 5th grade students primarily takes place during our Theological Equipping Classes (TEC) on Sunday mornings from 9:00a - 10:15a. We typically spend our time singing songs of worship, having a large group teaching, and finishing with small group discussion, scripture memorization, and prayer. We provide resources for parents to know what was taught/discussed in order to help them continue the conversation throughout the week.
Elementary Evenings
During the months of January and July we spend a month looking at a more topical subject (Fruit of the Spirit, Attributes of God, etc).
Frequently Asked Questions:
What measures do you take to maintain the safety and security of the children?
At check-in, each family is provided with a random alpha-numeric security sticker that matches their children. Children will not be released without the matching security sticker. Our volunteers are trained on security measures in the case of emergencies, and we have a uniformed police officer on duty in the building during Sunday morning services.
How will I be notified if I am needed while my child is checked in?
There is a paging screen at the front of the sanctuary. If a parent is needed, the alpha-numeric security code will be displayed in bright red. If this fails to get the attention of the parent, a staff member will text the parent or personally find them in the sanctuary.
Who is allowed to serve with this age group?
Volunteers who serve in the Elementary Ministry are all covenant members of Parkway. These members are interviewed, vetted, background checked, and trained to ensure that safety and security are of highest priority.
What are you teaching?
The curriculum we teach to the Kindergarten - 5th graders was written in-house and teaches the narrative of scripture from Genesis - Revelation over the course of 3 years.
Youth Ministry (6th - 12th grade)
Sunday Nights, 5:30-7:30p in the Chapel
Programming for 6th - 12th grade students takes place on Sunday nights, where we typically gather for a time of worship through singing, large group Bible teaching, and then break up into smaller groups (by age and gender) for community, accountability, further study, and prayer. We finish our time each week with some organized games/activities. Drop off and Pick-up takes place at the South doors. Youth is suspended during the months of June and December.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who are the leaders with this age group?
Volunteers who serve in Youth are all covenant members of Parkway. These members are interviewed, vetted, background checked, and trained by the Family Pastor.
What are you teaching?
The teachings in Youth change each year and rotate through these topics:
Systematic Theology (1 year)
Books of the Bible (Genesis - Revelation in 2 years)
Applied Theology (1 year)
Who does the teaching?
75% of the teaching is done by our Family Pastor, Carl Brower. The other 25% is done by men who are covenant members of Parkway and vetted by the Family Pastor. This is primarily the Staff, Elders, and Deacons of Parkway.
Does Parkway go to summer camp?
Parkway Youth currently does not participate in any summer camps.
*Our Elementary Ministry , Theological Equipping Classes, Community Groups, and Youth Ministry do not officially meet during the months of December and July.
For more information regarding our Preschool, Elementary and Youth Ministries, email our Marriage & Family Pastor, Carl Brower at carl@theparkwaychurch.com.