What if your service, your laughter, your simple act of showing up could make a difference not just for a Sunday morning, but for eternity? Do I sound like I’m just leading you on? I promise, I’m not!
Kid’s Ministry is all about relationships, not programs. Every interaction, every story shared (and every story listened to), even those smiles and giggles, they all plant seeds in a child’s life.
You might not see growth from one month to the next; sometimes you may never see the impact of your time spent with these kids. However, your faithfulness and your willingness to be a part of something more, something outside yourselves, well, that will reach further than you can ever imagine.
If you grew up in the church, chances are you went to nursery or Sunday School. Even if you didn’t grow up in the church, I bet you might have tried out Youth Group (what we call Student Ministry) with a friend or stopped by with your family to an event hosted at a church. Most of us have had these moments with Kid’s Ministry or Student Ministry to some extent.
Maybe you remember what it was like worshipping to camp songs, or perhaps you have that Youth Group Leader who remembers you years after you left their care. Even though you stopped spending time with them, they still smile at you across the church, flag you down, and remind you that you matter. Maybe now, they are investing in your children the same way they have always invested in you.
Part of what helps us hold onto the fond memory of faith in our childhood is the people who saw us, heard us, and reminded us how loved we are by them, and more importantly, loved by our Father in Heaven. Part of what makes a child listen to a Sunday School Leader, or even those in Nursery (when someday they will be too young to recall who cared for them)… part of what makes a child listen to them, is being listened to. Being noticed.
And I’m not just talking about once a month while you serve in their classroom. It’s walking by them after church, and helping them grab a cookie while their parents are talking. It’s asking them before church how their week was and following up on that prayer request about their football game or the test they had.
We’ve all heard it: the world is hungry for authentic, real relationships. For people who want to get to know them and invest in their lives, to simply care about them. When you invest in a child’s life, you are showing them the love of Jesus in a very real and tangible way. Telling them that you like their drawing or craft isn’t just to make them happy, but to create a safe space for them to come back to you next time with a question. Or perhaps, for them to feel comfortable enough to explore their faith in front of you, and to show them the experience of the joy of being in community with other believers.
This is where we are reminded that Kid’s Ministry (whether it be Nursery, Sunday School, the Kidz Zone on Wednesday, or walking through the church hallways) is not just about completing the lesson, or drilling in them another Bible verse. Don’t underestimate what a beautiful opportunity you have with these kids just by offering your presence, your time, and your love.
I am so thankful for each of you, and your unique and wonderful gifts that you bring to the children of Corinth. Your presence matters.
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
I hope this verse reminds you of how everything you do for God has a purpose: whether it’s singing songs of worship, reading your Bible, helping out a neighbor, making dinner at home, or joyfully connecting with the kids in your classroom (and around church).
I’ll say it one more time, because I really want you to hear me.
Your presence matters.
Key Upcoming Dates
- Sunday, October 11: Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Launch Sunday
- Boxes available through Collection Sunday or until supplies run out
- Wednesday, October 28 | 6:30 – 8 pm: Fall Festival
- View the Digital Invite Flyer Here
- View details for Hosting Table or Booth Here
- Sunday, November 1: Celebration Sunday
- Sunday School will be dismissed after this part of the service
- Sunday, November 8: Family-Style Worship Service
- All children will attend the service with their family
- Busy bags will be available in the Chapel Lobby
- Nursery will be unstaffed, but doors will be open for parents to accompany their children to the nursery if desired
- Sunday, November 15: Operation Christmas Child Collection Sunday
- Wednesday, November 18: Final Week of Community Nights
- Spiritual Disciplines throughout the fall: Celebration, Meditation & Fellowship
Updates & Reminders
General Reminders
- Lesson Prep: Lessons are emailed every Monday before you serve (for serving October 18, the lesson arrives October 12). Please review it ahead of Sunday.
- Attendance & Scheduling: Confirm or decline your scheduled times in advance, or block out dates in the Services app. Unconfirmed shifts will be assumed as confirmed.
- Follow-up Touchpoints: Look for a short email from me on the Monday after you serve—feel free to share any feedback, needs, or concerns!
Nursery Volunteers Arrival Time: Please make sure to arrive by 9:45 am to check in and settle before parent drop-off at 9:50 am.
Sunday School Structure – Click here for a reminder of our new Sunday School Structure for the year. See the section further down about why we are focusing more on breaking up classroom time and making sure to incorporate movement and activities into our small group structure.
Curriculum & Upcoming Lessons
Unit 2O: Jesus’ Ministry Began
- Description: John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry. God confirmed Jesus’ Sonship when He was baptized by John. Fully God, yet also fully human, Jesus was tempted by Satan, but He did not sin. As His ministry continued, Jesus invited others to follow Him as the only way to the Father.
- Big Picture Question: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is fully God and fully human.
- Key Passage: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from teh Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
- Lessons at a Glance:
- October 11: John’s Ministry Began (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; John 1)
- October 18: John Baptized Jesus (Matthew 3: Mark 1; Luke 3; John 1)
- October 25: Jesus Was Tempted (Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4)
- November 1: Jesus’ First Followers (John 1)
You will get the individual lesson for your week, emailed to you the Monday before you serve! If you need anything else, please feel free to reach out!
Why are we moving and transitioning locations more this year in Sunday School?
- Resets Focus and Attention Spans: Kids have a limited attention span, often smaller than we think. A physical move, even just from one room to another, acts as a mini “brain break”, often resetting their focus so they are ready to absorb the next part of their lesson.
- This is a great mental shift, and if your classroom is getting rowdy, try having them get up from their chairs or if the large group space is available, move your discussion time into the large group space.
- Channels Energy Positively: Movement gives kids a healthy outlet for their natural energy, turning what could be a classroom disruption or restlessness into a productive, structured activity.
- This is also why I like to let the K-2 classroom (and nursery rooms) color their page while I talk to them about the lesson. It gives them a place to focus and move (even to a small level), while talking to them. It might seem like a distraction, but I often get better engagement even if I have to ask the question to a couple of kids at a time and move around the room. Give it a try!
- Engages Kinesthetic Learners: Children learn in different ways. Incorporating movement caters to hands-on and active learning (kinesthetic), helping them engage with the ministry environment through more than just listening and sitting.
- This is why sometimes kids learn even more from a fun activity than Bible-based discussion. In fact, many of the suggested responses to explain an activity have the exact concept being both verbally taught and visually taught.
- Builds Community and Keeps Things Fresh: Whereas kids do thrive on routine, they also enjoy variation that prevents Sunday School from feeling rigid and makes it a dynamic, fun, and memorable place that they will want to come back to time and time again.
If you have any questions about transitioning from small group to large group to small group. Or if you have ideas of how you’d like to engage the kids with their lessons and activities, please reach out! When you get your lessons on Monday, this gives you time throughout the week to go through it. Perhaps you have an idea, and I can help make it happen!
Volunteer Spotlight
At Corinth, we know that the heart of our Kid’s Ministry doesn’t beat because of the staff or any one person —it beats because of you. Each month, we want to celebrate one of our amazing team members, share their story, and say a big “thank you” for the unique ways they serve our church family.
Read more below about this month’s Volunteer Spotlight:
Thank you again for all of you, and all the ways that you volunteer here at Corinth!
Bri Pastrick
Children’s Ministry & Communications Director