Children, Youth & Family Ministry 

Nursery:

Our youngest get the same loving attention as children in other programs. Alex Roetman leads our nursery along with two other paid staff, Maddie Gerrard and Abigail Squier. All have completed Safe Church training and have approved background checks on file. They provide a caring, fun environment for infants and children up to 4-years old. The nursery opens each Sunday morning at 9:30am to 11:30am.

Children's Chapel:

This fall we will not offer both Sunday school and Children's Chapel, but will put a lot of energy and focus on an improved children's Sunday worship experience with a new Children's Chapel. All children Pre-Kindergarten thru 5th grade will meet at 9:45am in the Parish Hall for a healthy snack. We will then break into 2 small groups, Pre-K. thru 3rd grade will stay in chapel and the 4th and 5th graders will go to a different location. Both groups will read and hear the Gospel of the day and have some time to discuss and ask questions. They will then meet up together at 10:15 am for some music and movement and return in church by the passing of the peace.

** This is an opportunity for all Adults to get involved with Children's Chapel with either providing a snack or helping with the teaching, music or movement, you don't need to be a parent of a child currently in the program. We'd love to have your input! As they say...'it takes a village to raise a child!' **

For the parents of children in the program, we will have 2 printed stickers with your name on them ready for you to stick on our calendar for when you would like to either bring a snack/meal or help with teaching. If you can't make it on Sept. 9th, don't worry, we will put your sticker where there is an opening. We will send out reminder e-mails the week of when you are signed up.

Please bring your calendars, so you know when you can sign up on Sunday, Sept. 9th, after both services! 

Blessing of the Backpacks:

We at Ascension understand the importance of Back to School time for children.   And how blessing the bags also blesses them and lets them know that God and the Church cares about them at school. So all are invited on Sunday, Sept. 16th to bring their backpacks up to the altar and have them blessed by Buff.

The 4 Different Youth Groups at Ascension:

Tweeners 6th Grade Program:

This is a group of 13 young people that will meet on the 1st Sunday of every month up at Manwaring from 11:30-1:30pm. We will be putting a lot of effort into having them usher, acolyte, crucifer and help the altar guild set the table. There also will be many opportunities for them to do different types of outreach like the last Sunday supper, 30 hour famine and going to the food shelf. We will be asking parents to help with preparing a meal for us to eat together. Their 1st meeting will be Sunday, Oct. 7th, 11:30-1:30pm

Wednesday 7th & 8th Grade Program:

This is a group of 18 young people and they will meet every Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:00pm up at Manwaring. Because the group is so big we are not having the 9th graders included in this group. There program will be community building & socializing along with learning about teen issues of self-images, friendship, family, Faith, Values & decisions. Their group began on Wednesday, Sept. 5th, 6:30-8:00pm.

9th Grade Confirmation Program:

This is another big Confirmation Program with 12 youth involved. They will start meeting once a month on the 2nd Sunday of every month up at Manwaring from

11:30-1:30pm. Then in January they will begin the process of Confirmation with Buff & Mindy every Sunday afternoon. This group will be invited to attend T.E.C. (Teens Encounter Christ) in November and in April. They also will be involved with the 30 Hour Famine in Feb. We will be asking the parents to prepare a meal of us to share. The 1st meeting is Sunday, Sept 9th, 11:30-1:30pm.

10th-12th Grade Program:

This is our biggest group of young people where 30+ could show up. They will meet once a month on the 3rd Sunday of every month up at Manwaring from 11:30-1:30pm. They will meet with Brian Eckholm and Mindy Boynton and begin with a lunch prepared by the Parents. We will begin our year with a survey of how they want to design this group. Most have attended TEC and will continue in leadership along with a Peer Ministry program that will be offered to them in January. The 1st meeting will be Sunday, Sept. 16th, 11:30-1:30pm.

Please download and bring in the Youth Group Registration Form located on the AE website.