Children’s Ministry
Children’s Fellowship
Children’s Fellowship (traditionally called Sunday School) meets weekly on Sundays during the 9:30 am service. The children and their families join everyone in the Sanctuary for the start of the service. They are then dismissed to Children’s Fellowship, which runs until 10:30 a.m. The children are brought up to the Wesley Room to meet their parents during Connections fellowship time.
We invite children in kindergarten through fifth grade to come to a safe place where they can enjoy fellowship with others, learn about God, and grow in their faith. Our curriculum provides a wonderful way to share the love of God with children and to teach children how to share the love of God with others.
Kids With Purpose
On the third Sunday of each month (in lieu of Children’s Fellowship), we gather together to do a service project to help people in need in the congregation or the wider community. Past projects have included Advent wreaths for people who are homebound, meals for local homeless shelters, Care Bags to hand out to people in need, and more. We welcome the participation of children of all ages and their parents!
Nursery Care
Two experienced caregivers are employed every Sunday morning to care for infants and toddlers through age 3 in the nursery (Room 212). The nursery is open from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Childcare is sometimes available for other church activities on an as needed basis. Please contact the church office at (301) 652-8700 if you need childcare for a church activity.
Acolytes
Children and youth who are age 7 or older assist in the traditional worship service as acolytes on a rotating schedule. They wear robes and lead the processional and recessional. They light the candles on the altar at the beginning of the service and then carry the light of Jesus out at the conclusion of our service. Experience is not necessary. We will train anyone who is interested.
Special Events
We have the following special events each year:
Blessing of the Backpacks each Fall
Christmas Pageant that is open to children and youth in the community as well as the church
Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter and for children in preschool through grade 5. Older children and youth are invited to help.
Vacation Bible School
We have a week-long morning program the week after school gets out in June.
Safe Sanctuary Policy
Chevy Chase United Methodist Church is a Safe Sanctuary. We have adopted an abuse prevention policy for children and youth and have established procedures to demonstrate our absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all our children and youth, as well as those who work with children and youth. We follow safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers, including thorough background checks through a third party organization recommended by the Baltimore Washington Conference; we implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events; and we educate everyone who works with children and youth regarding appropriate policies and methods (including first aid and methods of discipline). More details are available in the church office.