Children
At First UMC, ministering to and with children is a TOP priority! Our children are changing the world!
Sunday School Children’s Sunday school is offered every Sunday (year-round) between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. for children age 4 through 5th grade. Classes begin following the Children’s Message during the 9:30 worship service. On the first Sunday of every month, the children remain in the worship service to take Communion with their families. All children, including vis
itors, are welcome to join us in Sunday school. Parents are asked to pick up their children following the worship service. Sunday school is fun! We use the “Hands on Bible” curriculum, which presents each bible lesson using a variety of learning styles such as art, dance, music, drama, and games. Your child’s safety is important to us. We have adopted a Safe Sanctuary policy to ensure the safety of all children and their leaders. To be allergy safe, we do not provide any snacks during Sunday school.
Special Events We have programming and events for children and their families throughout the year, such as a Christmas Pageant, special Lent/Easter activities, movie nights, and a new children’s choir. In addition, our children are active “children-in-mission” in our world and in our local community. For instance, we have joyfully walked to end hunger, have served as Reading Buddies, have collected school supplies for local agencies, helped to rebuild a Sunday school classroom in New Orleans that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, and have contributed to the purchase of mosquito netting to help end the threat of malaria.
Vacation Bible School
Each summer we offer a vacation bible school program. In 2012 we joined with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and the Park Ridge Community Church to present Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a Kid. Over 60 children participated, along with many adult and junior volunteers from all three congregations.
First UMC Park Ridge is a place where all are welcome! Click here to learn what to expect, how to get here, and MORE!
At First UMC Park Ridge, “welcoming all” means that we see all persons as created in the image of God and bearing sacred worth and dignity. We invite all persons to participate fully in the life of our church regardless of age, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental condition, marital status, family situation, or economic standing. 
