Welcome To Kids Ministry
Welcoming and loving each child in Jesus' name, growing with them as Jesus' disciples, and serving others together in His name.
We do this in the midst of a community that sincerely lives out the vows regularly affirmed at baptism, to provide a place where children can grow in Christian friendships, in knowing God's Word, in responding to Jesus as Savior and Lord, and in service to God's world.
Steller VBS
At Stellar VBS kids will launch on a cosmic quest where they’ll have a blast shining Jesus’ light to the world. Stellar VBS rockets kids on an out-of-this-world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun! Each morning children will participate in games, music, crafts, and more to learn foundational Biblical truths to grow in their love for Jesus! We can’t wait to see you!
Date: June 19-22, 2023 (Mon-Thurs)
Time: 9:30-11:45 AM
Location: The Bridge, 10025 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA
Ages: For children ages 4 years old (by 9/15/23) through Fall 2023 6th graders. (Students going into 7th grade or older are welcome to register as a VBS helper.)
Cost: $10 per child. Scholarships are available for those in need. If you desire information about a scholarship, please contact our church admin.
2022-23 Kids Registration
Summer Kids Connection
3...2...1 Blast Off
Into Summer Kids Connection
We invite children in preschool-upcoming Fall 2023 6th graders to join us on Sunday mornings as we explore God’s creation through age-appropriate Bible lessons and fun activities during the worship service!
Dates: Sundays, June 4-August 28.
*In recess for holidays on May 28, July 2, and Sept. 3.
Time: Students will start in the intergenerational worship service at 10:00 am with their family to sing and pray together. Kids will be dismissed to Kids Connection classes during the announcement portion of the service.
Room Location: All preschool-upcoming Fall 6th grade students will be meeting in the 1st floor Early Childhood Triangle space for the summer months.
Cost: Free!
Registration: No registration needed for children previously registered during the school year. New attenders are welcome to check in for the first time at our front desk upon arrival to church.
*For safety purposes, we kindly ask parents to check their child in using our kiosks in the main lobby to receive a student name tag and numbered safety badge. We also ask parents to drop off and pick up their children at their assigned classrooms at dismissal time.
Servants of the Day
Date: Monday, July 17
Time: 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location: Start at The Bridge – We will be traveling throughout the day serving in our community. We will arrive back to The Bridge by 3:00 pm.
Ages: Upcoming Fall 2023 5th and 6th graders
Cost: Free!
This is an excellent daylong mission trip in our very own city! This opportunity is geared for upcoming Fall 2023 5th and 6th graders to experience serving others in age-appropriate ways. We will visit and learn from public servants at the Unity Point Life Flight helicopter crew, serve at the local food bank, and clean up one of our local parks! Bring your own sack lunch. More information will be sent to registered individuals as the event draws closer
Church Beach Day
Date: Sunday, July 30
Time: 11:30 AM-2:30 PM (Come and go as you are able.You are also welcome to stay longer through the afternoon if you wish!)
Location: Big Creek Beach - Saylorville Lake in Big Creek State Park
Cost: Free! No registration needed.
Do you love the beach? So do we! Join us at a church-wide beach day! Bring your own picnic lunch, lawn chairs, & beach gear for your family as we spend time together and soak up the sun! A shelter house will be provided for our group. Look for The Bridge “Welcome” flag to find us on the beach!
Preschool and Early - Elementary Children
Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: The Bridge Cost: Free! Free concessions and open to the community!
No registration needed
Vivo, an animated musical adventure featuring all-new songs
from Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony, Grammy, and Pulitzer
Prize-winning creator of Hamilton and In the Heights. Vivo
follows a young girl named Gabi who bounces to the beat of
her own drum and a one-of-a-kind kinkajou (aka a rainforest
“honey bear”), who spends his days playing music to the
crowds in a lively town square. Though they are an unlikely
pair and do not speak the same language, Vivo and Gabi learn
how to communicate through the gift of music. Join Gabi and
Vivo on this epic adventure as they learn about putting others
before themselves! People of all ages will love this movie!
Bible Buddies
A BIBLE READING PROGRAM FOR KIDS!
Date: Sunday, June 4 - Bible Buddy Adoption Day Launch
Time: 11:15-11:45 AM
Location: 1st floor Early Childhood Triangle space
Cost: Free - No registration needed
Come along on a Bible reading adventure! On Sunday, June 4 we will hold our first ever Bible Buddy adoption day after church! Each day through the summer (from June 4-August 5) children and families will be challenged to read a Bible story or scripture passage to their Bible Buddy to promote the habit of daily Bible reading and spiritual growth! Suggested readings will be outlined, but we encourage families to choose a pace and age-appropriate Bible for their child(ren). Our goal is to support your family in this adventure!
Summer Story Hour
FOR PRESCHOOL-EARLY ELEMENTARY CHILDREN
Dates: Thursday Mornings – June 1 through August 10
Time: 9:00-11:00 AM
Location: 1st floor Early Childhood Triangle
Cost: Free
No registration needed.
Simply check in upon arrival! If you plan to bring a large group of children please contact us by emailing Pastor Bep Reeves.
Join us once a week for a special story hour for preschoolers and early elementary kids! Each week there will be playtime for children, special stories and activities to help foster children’s creativity and relationship building, and adult conversation. This event has been created for children to attend with a parent, grandparent, or daycare provider. Story hour will be led by seasoned preschool teachers Jeanne Hirsch and Jennifer Haack.
Sunday Morning Kids Connection
(Preschool-5th Grades) September 11-May 21
Check In – Use our self-serve kiosks to check in! Check-in begins 15 minutes prior to each worship service. If you are a first-time guest visit our check-in desk located in the main entrance and speak with a check-in volunteer to get started!
Family Worship – 10:00 AM - Families worship together in the worship center for the first 15 minutes of the worship service. Sunday mornings are a great opportunity for children to experience part of our intergenerational worship service. Children see their parents, grandparents, and other important people in their lives living out their faith in tangible ways as they worship together as a family.
Dismissal to Kids Connection classes – Preschoolers-5th graders are dismissed to their age-appropriate classrooms for songs, story, and Bible application after the music and prayer time at the beginning of the service.
- A parent or adult must drop off their child(ren) to their assigned classroom and pick them up with their check-in badge after service.
Preschool-Kindergarten: Drop off to the Early Childhood triangle space on the first floor.
1st-5th Grade: Drop off to room 219 on the second floor.
Sunday Acolytes
(4th Grade)
Being an acolyte is a special opportunity for 4th grade students on Sunday mornings! The acolyte helps us to remember Christ’s presence in our worship and in our lives by ushering in Christ’s light as they light the Christ candle on the altar at the beginning of each worship service. At the end of the worship service they once again carry out the light of Christ as a symbol to be his light in the world around us. Acolytes are scheduled on a rotating basis throughout the school year.
Sunday Morning Nursery
(Newborn-3 year olds)
- Nursery care is provided for all Sunday morning worship services, special worship services (i.e. Thanksgiving) or for a special event when stated in the The Bridge communications.
- Each child must be checked in and be wearing a name tag on their back. Please see the Check-in information above for details on how to register your child or check them in each time you arrive to church.
Wednesday Night Kids
(1st-5th Grade)
We will be back in Fall of 2023
Adventure Club - On Break until Fall 2023
6:30-7:30 PM (1st-3rd Grade)
Adventure Club is an action-packed hour with large-group games, activities, and awesome Bible lessons such as the Fruits of the Spirit or The Ten Commandments. This program is designed to help give younger children a solid foundation using the building blocks they will need to rely on throughout the course of their entire life. We welcome students to bring neighbors or friends at any time along with them to Adventure Club on Wednesday nights!
Salt & Light - On Break Until Fall 2023
6:30-7:30 PM (4th-5th Grade)
Salt and Light is geared for 4th and 5th-grade students and aims to inspire wonder and curiosity about who God is in their lives! We offer a two-year curriculum rotation that 4th-5th graders LOVE.
Volunteer
Kids Connection Volunteers (Early childhood serves 3yrs-Kindergarten and Elementary serves 1st-5th grade) Serve on Sundays once every 4-5 weeks in teams of two; one leader and one helper. All supplies and training are provided.
Adventure Club volunteers serve on Wednesday nights 6:30 - 7:30 for 8 weeks in the fall and 8 weeks in the spring. All supplies and training are provided.
Salt and Light volunteers serve on Wednesday night from 6:30 - 7:30 helping 4th and 5th graders discover God through games, small groups and Bible-based learning.
Nursery Volunteers serve families of infants and toddlers by rocking, playing with and caring for these little ones on Sunday mornings once a month.
Weekday Preschool Ministry
Our weekday preschool has been a life-shaping ministry of our church since 1971! We offer an outstanding faith-based preschool program for 2-5 year-olds. We have been highly accredited by the Iowa Preschool Quality Rating System since 2012. Our preschool has an excellent staff who all have early childhood experience and love working with young children. They teach using a developmentally appropriate preschool curriculum that is designed to nurture each child's social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth with a positive introduction to the school environment. Check out our website for more information!