"Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov 22:6 RSV)

At Saint Francis, we are committed to growing disciples for Jesus Christ. This is true even for our youngest members!  Our goal is to give our children the spiritual tools they need for a life-long faith journey. We do this through exciting programs that are designed with today's kids in mind.

Saint Francis is a Safe Sanctuary church.  This means that we have policies and procedures in place that are designed to reduce the risk of abuse of children and youth at all church activities.

Sunday School
          Sunday School meets every Sunday morning at 9:30am. 

Preschool – Our preschoolers gather for Bible stories that focus on beginning faith concepts. We explore these stories with games, music, snacks and more!

Elementary Grades - Our Elementary-age children explore their faith through the Live B.I.G. curriculum series. The purpose of this series is to help children live out their Belief In God through a variety of learning activities. Each week, our children experience the Bible story through games, crafts, discussions, Bible readings and more. Classes are designed with today’s children in mind – full of energy and meaningful lessons. Classes are grouped as follows: Kindergarten- First Grade, Second – Fourth Grades and Fifth – Seventh grades.

For more information on our children's classes, please contact our Christian Education Director, Lisa Richards.

All kindergarten – 5th graders are invited to join Explorers!  Explorers come together once a month, outside of the Sunday School hour, for education, service and fellowship opportunities. Once a quarter, Explorer families also enjoy fellowship with one another. There is always lots of fun to be had at Explorers gatherings! Recent events include a Veggie Tales Movie Night (complete with all sorts of silly games!) and a Kid’s Night on the Ark (focus on Noah!). Explorers Contact: Wendy Williams.

Sunday Morning Worship

Our children are an important part of Worship! To help our children participate in the Worship experience, we offer:

Children's Bulletins - a guide for our children that explores the day's message.

A Time with the Children - children are invited up to the front of the sanctuary for a special message designed especially for them!

Children's Church - for those children not in nursery, but still not quite ready for a full Worship Service, we provide a Children's Church that takes place approximately mid-way through the 10:30 Worship Service. During Children's Church, we have a brief lesson and lots of play!

Acolytes - elementary-aged children are invited to serve as Acolytes during our 10:30 Worship Service.

Nursery care is provided each Sunday from 8:30-11:30am.

For more information on Sunday Morning Worship opportunities, please contact our Christian Education Director, Lisa Richards.

Music Opportunities

Cherub Choir

Our preschoolers (age 3 - kindergarten) gather together for Cherub Choir on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:00pm from September through April. Our Preschool Director, Pam Cook, leads our children in fun and active Bible story songs!  Our Cherubs perform during Worship throughout the year. For more information, please contact Pam Cook at 704-846-6177.

God's Notes Choir

All elementary-age children (grades 1-5) are encouraged to join the God's Notes Choir which meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:15pm from September through April. This choir is encouraged each week by their director, Beth Smith, to sing unison, 2-part & 3-part anthems; learn different languages; play rhythm games; and most importantly have fun singing in praise of their God. The God's Notes choir provides musical selections for worship throughout the year.  For more information, please contact Beth Smith.

Special Events

There are always lots of activities on our Children’s Ministry calendars. Below are some highlights.  For more information on our special events, please contact our Christian Education Director, Lisa Richards.

Advent Workshop

Families come together on the first Sunday in Advent to prepare their hearts and minds for this important time of year. We gather to make Advent wreaths and other items to help teach our children the Christmas story.

2008 Advent Workshop - Sunday, November 30 @ 4:00-6:00pm

Join us as we make fresh Advent wreaths, Christ candles, and Chrismon ornaments for your tree!  We'll also sing some of our favorite Christmas carols and enjoy fellowship with Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, and apple cider.  This is a great way to kick of the holiday season and begin our season of anticipation and hope.  For more information, contact Lisa Richards.

Christmas Play

All children, ages preschool – 6th grade, are encouraged to participate in our annual Christmas Play! The Christmas Play is a great opportunity for our children to become part of the Christmas story and then to share it with others.

2008 Christmas Play - Sunday November 14 @ 6:00pm

All children, ages 4-youth, are invited to participate in our Christmas play.  This year's play is "Follow Me to Bethlehem" and was written by our youth.  Join us as our children and youth lead us to Bethlehem.

Rehearsals will be Sundays, November 23 & December 7 at 4:00pm.  For more information, contact Lisa Richards.

Lenten Bible Study / Easter Play Practice

All children, ages 4 – 5^th grade, are invited to participate in four weeks of Lenten Bible study and preparation for our Easter morning performance of the events of Holy Week. Practices are designed to help our children experience the Lenten season through age-appropriate lessons and activities.

Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt

Preschoolers – 5th graders gather for an Easter Egg Hunt, Palm Sunday lesson and then process into the Sanctuary waving palm branches at our 10:30 service! Hosanna!

Easter Sunday Butterfly Release

This is a great Saint Francis tradition. A few weeks before Easter, children receive a caterpillar. Families enjoy watching the caterpillar grow and eventually go into chrysalis. Then, families wait with anticipation as new life emerges from the cocoon – a butterfly! We release these on Easter Sunday in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.