Children, Youth, & Family

Godly Play - 4 yrs to 2nd/3rd grades 
(Lower Level, Classroom 5)  

Children have an innate sense of the presence of God. The Godly Play approach helps them to explores their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience through wonder and play. Based on Montessori principles developed using a spiral curriculum, the Godly Play method serves children through early, middle and late childhood and beyond.       

Chrysalis Club - 3rd/4th to 5th grades

(Lower Level, Classroom 4+)  

Looking at the universe--from the tiny cells that make up a hand to the majesty of the Milky Way--can tell us a lot about the nature of God. The whole wide world is full of beauty and wonder. In fact, the Bible says you and I are beautifully and wonderfully made. How can the study of science help us grow closer to God? As we transition from the children’s program to youth ministry, we will explore questions about God, ourselves, and what it means to be a Christian. 

C.O.R.E. Youth - 6th to 12th grades

(2nd Floor, Donnenwirth Lounge) 

C.O.R.E. Youth Group is a community of 6th to 12th graders who want to build real relationships with each other. Everyone is included! C.O.R.E. stands for connect, own, reveal, and empower. We strive to connect with God, ourselves, and others. We take ownership of our lives: our decisions, words, responsibilities, and attitudes. We feel safe to reveal our authentic selves. We empower others to be their best and healthiest selves.

On the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, Middle School students meet in Donnenwirth and High School students meet in the Fellowship Hall Classroom. 

C.O.R.E. Youth Center is a virtual place for youth! Are you looking for online faith resources for your youth (6th to 12th grades)? King Avenue UMC's Children and Youth Education Program created an inclusive and affirming website to fit this need. Think of this as a home base as you stretch, grow, and explore your faith and your identity as a Jesus follower. What you believe, think, and feel will change during your Middle and High School years. And your journey will not end when you graduate. Our faith journeys continue for our whole lives. Check out the CORE Youth Center Website and contact Gwendolyn DeRosa at gwen@kingave.org if you would like to help create new content.

Real Life, Real Parents - Open to all parents and caregivers (2nd Floor, Fireside Room)

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of all ages, with children of any age, will find a safe and inclusive space here. This Sunday School class is drop-in and there is no required preparation. Topics depend on the participants of the class. Authentic fellowship, intentional support, and faith development are key components. An optional Facebook Messenger chat is available for connection throughout the week.

*Please note that on the First Sundays of the month, children up through 5th grade & parents/caregivers are invited to Family Godly Play (L4).

Children connect with God in so many different ways. Worship Connections is offered for a portion of both the 9am and 11am worship services for our younger children. During this worship time, children will experience the Bible through songs, stories, scriptures, crafts, and prayer.

Sunday Worship Childcare, Birth – Age 3, Sundays from 8:45am – 12:15pm

We are happy to provide free, drop-in childcare for children birth - age 3 during worship on Sundays and during various church-sponsored events (as available). Our nursery is located on the Upper Level. Each child that spends time in the nursery with our trained childcare staff must be checked in through our secure, check-in system.  Children will sing songs, participate in creative play, read books, hear Bible stories, create art and get to know one another in a safe, comfortable atmosphere, that celebrates our diversity and the beautiful differences in our King Avenue families, while Parents and Caregivers attend worship. 

Worship Connections

• 9:00am - 4 yrs to 3rd grade (lower level, classroom 4)

• 11:00am - 4 yrs to 3rd grade (lower level, classroom 4)

*Please note that there's No Worship Connections on the First Sundays of the month (Communion Sunday) so you can attend worship as a family.     

Children connect with God in so many different ways. Worship Connections is offered for a portion of both the 9am and 11am worship services for our younger children. During this worship time, children will experience the Bible through songs, stories, scriptures, crafts, and prayer.

Children's Moments, Children of all ages, during the 11:00am Worship

The Children’s Message is a brief moment during the traditional 11 am service when children are invited up to listen to an inter-active message. The Children’s Message is often an appetizer to the main meal of the sermon. The theme is connected to the scripture reading and usually introduces the sermon.

Discipleship Program, Grades 4– 12, Sundays at 9am & 11am                             

Youth in grades 4-12 may assist teachers in Worship Connections on a rotating schedule (after training). The goals of this program are: spiritual maturity in the faith, responsibility and participation in the church, and building authentic relationships with other ages in the church community. 

Confirmation, Grades 6 and up, Call Church Office or Email Gwen at gwen@kingave.org                         

Confirmation is the act of “confirming” or “saying yes” to one’s Baptism and to personally accepting God’s gift of love. At King Avenue, we offer a Confirmation program for 6th graders and up, which includes classes, field trips, guest speakers and service projects. Through the Confirmation program, which is taught by Gwendolyn DeRosa and the associate pastor, young people are led to conside

Serve as an Acolyte - If you are in 4th - 12th grade, you are invited to serve as an acolyte during 9am or 11am worship. Contact Pastor Karen (karen@kingave.org) or Pastor Andy (andy@kingave.org) for more details.

Fellowship for Children, Youth & Families                           

At King Avenue, we love to have fun together! Opportunities for connection and fellowship are coordinated year-round, so we can strengthen our community and celebrate each other in safe and welcoming environments for kids and families of all ages. Annual family activities include MAD Camp, Fall Kick-off, Trunk or Treat, Potluck and Open Mic, Easter Party, CYFM Retreat, Columbus Pride March, movie nights, and more! We also join together for service-based fellowship activities throughout the year.   

CORE Youth Group & Fun Night, Grades 6 – 12

Authentic connections are made when you spend time together in meaningful ways. Faith is cultivated and deepened when you surround yourself with friends that you trust and care about. We are dedicated to providing to our ‘tweens and teens at King Avenue a safe space to grow their friendships, be themselves, explore their faith and enjoy fellowship with other kids who share the same values and appreciation for diversity that they do. We welcome all kinds of kids from all kinds of families and situations to our bi-annual overnights, nerf wars, CYFM retreat, and intergenerational events. King Avenue UMC is committed to inclusive ministry where safety is our top priority.  

Children, Youth, and Family Ministries Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in supporting the faith development of children and youth? There are many opportunities for volunteering once a month in the nursery, with Worship Connections (in either services), and with Sunday School classes at 10 am. There are also opportunities to volunteer at CORE Youth Group events and overnights and other CYFM activities. CYFM volunteers participate in training every July/August. All volunteers are required to fill out an application and complete a background check. Contact the Director of Student Ministries, Gwendolyn DeRosa, with any questions at gwen@kingave.org.

REALM, our King Avenue connection tool, allows our congregants to receive targeted communications, interact with members of small groups or classes to which they belong, check personal giving, use the security check-in and event registration system for our children and much more! REALM is important for our kids and families. You will log into REALM to access our children’s security check-in system, update contact information, complete medical forms, and make life-saving allergy information available to caregivers at King Avenue UMC. 

The safety and security of our children and youth is one of our highest priorities at King Avenue UMC. REALM is where you will register for children, youth and family programming like Parent’s Evening Out, Vacation Bible School and Youth social events.

We strongly encourage families with children up to age 18 to check-in their children with REALM every time they are at King Avenue UMC. This allows us to account for all children in the building, gives us quickly accessible contact information for parents in case of an emergency and can send specific messaging to families regarding event changes or reminders. 

All children participating in nursery care, Worship Connections or Sunday School must be checked-in to REALM and wear their nametag visible on their shirt.   Help us keep your kids safe - check in with REALM every time you are at King Avenue UMC!  

All volunteers and staff working with children under the age of 18 complete a required Safe Sanctuary safety and security program training and must pass a background check. 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT REALM.