Family, Youth, And Children Ministry

Family, Youth, and Children Ministry
Sundays − 11:00am

Young people of every age are ALWAYS welcome in worship at Forest Hill. In worship, even very young children begin to understand that they are members of a larger church family in which they are known and celebrated!

Worship provides young people with an opportunity to experience songs and prayers; to hear the words of our ancient and living faith; to be in community with people of all ages. We encourage young people’s participation in worship by greeting/ushering or serving communion with their parents; by leading the Call to Worship or reading scripture; by playing instruments or singing with the Children’s or Chancel choir.

Our congregation and our sanctuary are “kid-friendly!” Sit anywhere you and your children are comfortable. You will find a Children’s Bible in every pew. As you come into the Sanctuary from the parking lot entrance, stop by Ted E. Bear in the Rocking Chair to pick up a children’s bulletin and worship activity bag that contains paper, crayons and other materials for our youngest worshippers. There is also a family-friendly seating area at the front of the sanctuary with kid-size tables and chairs where parents and children can gather.

We are committed to protect and advocate for children, youth and vulnerable adults who participate in the life of our church.

The church is entrusted to provide an emotionally safe, spiritually grounded, healthy environment for children, youth, and adults in which they are protected from abuse. Read our Safe Sanctuary Policy

We ask all parents/guardians to complete a registration form for each of their children who participate in our Children and Youth programs.

Register Now

Programming for Children & Youth

Childcare

Birth to Three Years | 10:45am – 12:15pm
Rooms 201 & 203

Two staff members, assisted by volunteers, provide loving care for our youngest children. Our childcare rooms are full of toys that support exploration, make-believe, creativity, and fun. We eat a snack together and may hear a story, play instruments, or create with play-dough. Parents and grandparents are always welcome to stay and play with their children. The worship service is live-streamed in the childcare rooms.

Children’s Program

Preschool – 5th grade |11:00am Worship
Sanctuary

Children begin the morning in worship with their families and leave the sanctuary with their adult leaders following the children’s welcome.

11:20am Children’s Gathering
Room 207, Art Room, or Family Library

We gather to build friendships and community! We share joys and concerns over snacks. We create art, play games, write puppet shows or build with Legos as we explore the stories of God’s people. We think about how we can live as followers of Jesus in our homes, at school and in our community.

Little Crescendos Children’s Choir

Preschool – 5th grade | 11:55am – 12:10pm
Chapel, Room 208

As we finish our morning programs, children move to the Chapel with their adult leaders to sing! Julie Minder, an experienced music teacher and member of our Chancel Choir, leads the group in fun and lively music and movement. The Little Crescendos sing in worship 4-5 times each year.

Youth Programming

6th -12th grade

YOUTH GROUP (Grades 6-12)

4-WEEK STUDY of PAUL
Sundays – April 7, 14, 21 and 28
9:15am – 10:15am in Room 104

Pastor John leads a 4-week study of Paul, a Roman Pharisee who persecuted early followers of Jesus. After a life-changing experience in which he had a vision of the resurrected Jesus, Paul converted to Christianity and became a missionary, spreading the Gospel as he traveled. He wrote many of the books (letters) found in the New Testament.

We’ll read selected verses from Paul’s letters to early Christian communities. Why is Paul important? Are his writings relevant to our lives today?

All teens are welcome! Please join us.

Questions? Contact Amy Wheatley

SOCK SUCCESS

Our children collected 774 PAIRS OF SOCKS for men, women and children during Lent for clients of University Settlement, a non-profit social service agency in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland.

Our sock project was a great way for children to put faith into action. We asked families to have conversations about people who do not have money to purchase socks; to think about ways they could use resources (allowances or money spent on family pizza night) to help others; to ask children to select socks to donate; and to pray for people who do not have warm, dry socks to wear at work or school.

Members and friends of FHC were also very generous, filling our “sock drawer” boxes every week with donations. Thank you for supporting this project and the children of FHC!