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Children and Family Ministries

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SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Sunday Nursery Care

9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services: Infants – 4-years-old

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

Preschool: Room #127/129

Young 5, K & 1st Grade: Room #221/#223

2nd & 3rd Grade: Room #228

4th & 5th Grade: Room #230

Middle & High School: the PIT in the CLC

First and Fifth Sundays of each month are family worship. Sunday school will be paused for all grade levels on the First and Fifth Sundays of each month. Nursery care is available.

SUNDAY SCHOOL & NURSERY VOLUNTEERS

Sunday School Volunteer information:

SIGN UP

We invite you to volunteer with Children & Family Ministries to foster a safe and enjoyable environment for children during worship. We are looking for caring, fun, and enthusiastic individuals to support our preschool to elementary school-aged children. Please know that our staff will make volunteering SO FUN and EASY! 

We will provide prepared lessons, supplies and clear communication. It is through the dedication of families like yours that our programs thrive and we rely on your involvement to keep these valuable experiences running smoothly.

From September to May, please consider committing to one Sunday a month to teach Sunday school.  

Each commitment is ONLY 8 TOTAL SUNDAYS for the WHOLE YEAR!! You can do that, right?!  

Nursery Care Volunteer information:

If you have a passion for caring for our little babies by holding, rocking, and comforting them, we invite you to consider volunteering in our nursery. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Volunteer Application Process:

To insure a safe and effective experience, all volunteers working with children must complete the Volunteer Application Process and receive a brief training before starting. Additional information will be provided.

SPARK MID-WEEK CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Spark is our mid-week children’s program which runs in tandem with Children’s Choir rehearsals on Thursday afternoons from 4:15-6:00 p.m. in the Christian Life Center at Birmingham First. This program, tailored for children ages 3 through 5th grade, offers a fun-filled afternoon featuring joyful music and a variety of engaging activities such recreation, Bible stories, fellowship, and singing.

Children are welcome to join the choir without attending SPARK. Parents can drop off and pick up their children directly at their designated rehearsal spaces. Additionally, children can join the choir or SPARK at any time during the school year to accommodate sports seasons or other activities.

Visit our SPARK PAGE for more information, to register or to register as a Spark Student Worker or Volunteer.

KINDERGARTEN & 3RD GRADE BIBLE SUNDAY

Once your children enter Kindergartener and 3rd grade, they will be presented with a Bible at our worship service. Receiving a Bible at this time is a cherished tradition in our church. These Bible are given with love and care, reflecting the support and guidance of family members and our church family. Having their own Bible encourages children to explore their faith by reading the stories within while nurturing a love for reading and learning for a lifetime. 

Bible Sunday is October 20, 2024 during our 9:30 am worship service.

If you would like your Kindergartener or 3rd grader to receive a Bible, please reach out to Beth Torrey at btorrey@fumcbirmingham.org by October 13, 2024. She will send you the registration forms and help you complete the process.

UNITE 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL

MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION
Get ready to dribble, shoot, and score with Unite 3 on 3 Basketball! This one-of-a-kind league, designed for K-4th grade boys and girls and 5th grade girls, offers a blend of fun, fellowship, and basketball skills in a supportive, faith-filled environment.  Sessions are held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM to noon, running from January to March. Each session includes practice, skill-building, and games.  Don’t miss this slam dunk opportunity as registration for Unite opens at the end of October. So be ready to lace up those sneakers, register fast and spread the word to your friends in the community!  We look forward to seeing you there!
 
Volunteers are also needed for Unite! We’re looking for enthusiastic Volunteer Coaches to guide and inspire our young players, as well as Youth Referees (middle and high school students – it’s a paid position!) for this exciting league. If you’re passionate about basketball and want to be part of a rewarding experience, join us and make a difference!
 
Questions? Contact Beth Torrey at btorrey@fumcbirmingham.org

ACOLYTE MINISTRY PROGRAM

Acolyte Ministry Program

Acolyting is a meaningful leadership experience for children in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade.  This role offers a unique opportunity to take an active part in worship by lighting the Christ candles at the beginning of our services in the main sanctuary. As acolytes, children will wear a special robe and cotta provided for them. This important role not only enhances the worship experience but also often becomes a treasured part of their children’s church journey.

We generally ask our acolytes to commit to one Sunday per month from September to May. If your child is considering becoming an acolyte, please contact Megan Klapp at mklapp@fumcbirmingham.org for further information.

BIBLE BIRDIES

Help deliver baby blessings to the nest!

If you are interested in being part of a heartwarming outreach program, consider joining our Bible Birdies team.  This initiative involves delivering Huggable Baby Bibles and other small treasures to the homes of newborns and their families throughout the year. Our goal is to offer support, care, and connection during this special time in their lives. To become part of this meaningful effort, please reach out to Beth Torrey at btorrey@fumcbirmingham.org to sign up.

JOURNEY GROUPS FOR MOMS

Joining a Journey Group is a great way to positively impact your faith. New and returning moms are invited to join our Mom’s Group, which meets weekly for encouragement, support, faith formation, and connection with other moms. We warmly invite you to explore a group that fits your schedule and needs. Visit our JOURNEY GROUPS page for group descriptions, leader contacts, and sign-up details. We look forward to seeing you!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School 2025

Save the Dates: June 23 – 27, 2025

Join us for the best week of summer on an ultimate Alaskan adventure, where we’ll point kids to Jesus—our faithful friend and True North. 

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey!

For more information, please visit our VBS page.

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES & FORMS

Missions

Families with children gather to make sandwiches, prepare hot lunches, ride bikes to generate energy, shred paper or beautify the green space. Even the youngest family members can do something to help!

Visit our MISSIONS page to see how your entire family can get involved.

Looking for a form?

All NEW families or current families with new changes to their information are asked to complete a Family Registration Form to identify anticipated participation in programming.

All participants must have a Medical Release form on file. If you have completed a medical release form since June 2024, you do not need to submit an updated form.

Click the button below to find one of the following forms: Medical Release Form, Family Registration Form, Consent to Release Form

Click here to find a form.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

 

Zack Dunlap
Pastor of Next Gen Ministries Birmingham Berkley First
zdunlap@berkleyfirst.org
248-646-1200 ext. 3150
248-399-3698, Berkley First

 

Megan Klapp
Special Events, Children & Families Ministries
mklapp@fumcbirmingham.org
248-646-1200 ext. 3131

 

Beth Torrey
Coordinator, Children & Families Ministries & Unite
btorrey@fumcbirmingham.org
248-646-1200 ext. 3144

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Office: 248-646-1200/Fax: 248-646-2661
1589 West Maple Road, Birmingham, MI 48009
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Chelsea-Rose Jabboori

My name is Chelsea-Rose and I am excited to be teaching in the Turquoise Room.  This is my first year teaching at First Kids.  I have many years of experience in child care and as a nanny.  I started my education with OCC and finished my CDA with TeachStone.

I come from a large family.  I am the oldest of six siblings.  We had many wonderful adventures over the years, traveling to most of the United States and some of Canada.  I have a love for nature and adventure.  I really enjoy long road trips, outdoor activities and camping.  I am an artist who enjoys painting, poetry and doing crafts.  I love to study children’s psychology and herbology.  With gentle guidance and compassion, I encourage children to explore and learn.  Children have always been my passion in life.

I am an active member of Berkley First and am happy to now be connected with Birmingham First.

I am looking forward to learning and growing with your children this school year.

Brooke Lynch

My name is Brooke Lynch, and I am excited to be your child’s classroom teacher!  This is my fourth year as a parent at First Kids Preschool and I look forward to joining the teaching staff this year.  I have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Miami University.  I taught first grade for seven years in Chicago.  I then worked for five years as Director of Operations for a charter school management company here in Michigan.  I decided to take some time off from work once my husband Joe and I welcomed our third baby.  After two years at home with Kyle (6), Grace (4), and Griffin (2) I am thrilled to return to the classroom.  First Kids is such a special place and I feel so honored to now be part of the community as both a teacher and parent.  I can’t wait to partner with you to provide a wonderful year of fun and learning for your child!

Jillian McDonald

My name is Jillian McDonald and I am thrilled to be teaching in the Green/Orange Room.  This will be my first year teaching at First Kids Preschool.  Previously, I taught three and four-year-old preschool in the Birmingham Public Schools for six years.  Before that, I was a first grade teacher in Detroit.  Between teaching positions, I took time off to raise my three children, Madelynn, Riley and Delaney.  Madelynn and Riley are twins and will be starting their first year of college in the fall.  My daughter, Delaney will be a senior at Groves High School.  In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, reading, and going to my cottage in Northern Michigan.  I am so excited to be working with the four-year-olds.  As an early childhood educator, I love to make my students’ first experiences with school very memorable.  I enjoy helping them build their independence and self-confidence.  I like to encourage the building of a classroom community to promote social skills and conflict resolution.  I am so happy to begin this journey of learning with you and your child!

Gloria Fulton

My name is Gloria Fulton, and I am very excited to be teaching at First Kids Preschool.  I also work in childcare for Children and Family Ministries at Birmingham First United Methodist Church.  I am a member of the Garden of Faith Missionary Baptist Church where I currently teach Sunday school and assist with the youth choir.  For two years, I was co-leader of the Brownie troop at Upton Elementary, where my daughter attended school.  I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University and am currently working towards my Child Development Associate.  I  enjoy miniature golf, walking, traveling, and spending time with my family.