Youngsters

Youngster Program

For the 2024-2025 program year, the Youngster program will utilize a “choose your own adventure”/activity stations model (loosely based on the Sparkhouse “Rotation” curriculum). We will start our class time by hearing a Bible story as a group, and then transition to smaller activity groups for application, reflection, and community building. Depending on teacher availability, we may have one or multiple stations available each Sunday.
Possible station themes include:
  • Legos (inspired by Building Faith Brick by Brick)
  • Art
  • Bible Skills and Games
  • Cooking
  • Creative Drama
  • Music
  • Science
  • Video
  • Digital Media & Technology
Grownups are also welcome to join their Youngsters in class–as an observer, an assistant, or teacher! We embrace new perspectives on the Youngster lessons. If you’d like to sign up to lead one of the weeks’ Bible stories or activities–or be an assistant/second pair of hands in class–please email youngsters@houseofmercy.org or sign up here:

Mission

The mission of the House of Mercy Youngster Program is to point youngsters to the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ by the following means:

  • Learning the story of Jesus and the story of God’s dealings with the Hebrew people
  • Exploring & experiencing the classic elements of Christian worship
  • Celebrating God’s gifts of creativity by making songs, images and stories
  • Fostering an ethic of care and a sense of responsibility for each other and for all of creation

Motivation: Free, Inquisitive, Creative Faith Instead of Religious Manipulation

At its best, the Church in its history has been moved by the Holy Spirit to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Good News of God’s radical love and engagement with the world. But at its worst, the Church has used tactics such as manipulation, fear, and shame. Since children are especially vulnerable to such tactics, we believe that we must pay great attention to our attempts to teach our children about faith. While our community is far less than perfect, our aim is to create a climate of trust and to foster receptivity to the love of God as revealed in Christ and experienced in worship. That is, we aim to have no other agenda than simply pointing to the free, radical, and life-changing grace of God that is given to us in Jesus Christ.

During the Sunday service, an unstaffed nursery space (AKA the Rumpus Room) is available for infants and toddlers in the back of the sanctuary. There are lots of fun toys!

Youngsters  participate in the beginning of the church service and leave for class via the Youngster Parade. The Elder Youngster (youth) program is for middle and high schoolers. All ages are also welcome to stay during the service, or enjoy the nursery space (AKA Rumpus Room) at the back of the sanctuary.

Please register youngsters, infants through high school. Even if your child will not be attending class on a regular basis, we’ll make sure you stay in the loop about events or information. (We’d also like to spell their names correctly!) Find a registration form at the kiosk at the back of the sanctuary.

Baptism is offered throughout the year. Please contact Rev. Russell for more information or to schedule a baptism: russell@houseofmercy.org

For more information or if you’re interested in helping with or donating to the Youngster Program, please contact Nancy Abts, Youngster Program Coordinator, at youngsters@houseofmercy.org. Or, find her sitting near the back of the church on Sundays before the Youngster Parade, giving out ’10-peace’ with her daughter 🖐️🖐️  instead of the ‘2-peace’ you might find in other pews ✌️ !