CONTACT: Barb Grauberger, Director of Children's Ministry

(970)-482-2436 x24

Note: Click on a tab/button below to view each ministry category.

CONTACT: Barb Grauberger, Director of Children's Ministry

(970)-482-2436 x24

 

Note: Click on a tab/button below to view each ministry category.

 

Children's Ministry

Welcome to Sunday School at First Church!

Children's Sunday School: We believe that in order to grow authentic, lasting faith, kids need a place to belong and someone to believe in them. To that end, we employ the Orange strategy that combines the two primary influences in a child's life: the home and the church.  Alone, these two pieces work hard to ensure that every child has a better future, but when combined, they make the greatest impact!

 

Child Check-In: During our 9:30 a.m. worship service, all children from preschool through grade 5 are checked in at the Kid's Welcome Desk located at the south entrance. Following check-in, kids from preschool through grade 5 accompany their parent/caregiver to the sanctuary for the beginning of the worship service. Following the Children's Message, kids are escorted to their classrooms by either parent/caregivers (preschool) or shepherds (kinder-5th grade).  Parents/caregivers pick-up their children from their classes following the worship service.

 

First Kid's Club (the first Sunday of every month): Every first Sunday, kids in kinder-5th grade go upstairs to the Cinema Center following the Children's Message for an engaging, interactive, and super fun Large Group experience. Kids are then brought back to the Sanctuary just before communion so that they may participate in communion with their parents/guardians. Preschool children may be checked into the Nursery prior to the 9:30 a.m. service.

 

All other Sunday Mornings:

 

Ages 3-5: Preschool Children ages 3-5 are invited to encounter God's love weekly in first-floor classrooms. Parents/Caregivers check-in their children prior to the 9:30 a.m. service at the Kid's Welcome desk at the south entrance. Children then accompany their parent/caregiver into the Sanctuary. Following the Children's message, parents/caregivers may escort their children to Room 121.   

 

Kindergarten-5th Grade: Children in kindergarten through 5th grade are upstairs in The Village classrooms. They begin their time together with a Large Group experience in the Cinema Center, followed by Small Group activities in individual classrooms. We believe faith grows best in relationships.  We invite your kids to grow with us in community with each other and with God.

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR CHILDREN FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

 

 

VOLUNTEER!

No matter what your interests are, there is a place for you in Children's Ministry! Love to organize. Build things? Sing with kids? Contact Barb Grauberger for details on the many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children at FUMC!

 

Children and Family Events

The Children & Family Council at FUMC works to promote the spiritual growth of all children and families here by supporting them through diverse programs, parents' support, and child advocacy. The CFC sponsors events that encourage community through fellowship. Some of our annual events include:

 

Easter Egg Hunt: In April, this festive event encourages children in our church and community to come together to celebrate Easter with egg hunting, music, crafts, and treats!

 

Vacation Bible School: One week in June is set aside for a special themed VBS here at First Church, featuring engaging music, loving teachers, and creative ways of learning about the Bible and God's character!  

 

Children’s Sabbath: In this annual service to honor children, children help lead worship by serving as liturgists, ushers, greeters, and musicians to create a child-friendly and interactive service. Usually held in October. 

 

Third Grade Bible Sunday & class: All third-graders at FUMC in Fort Collins receive their very own Bible on Children’s Sabbath. After receiving their Bible, we begin a monthly class to educate our third graders on the Bible. We find this class helps with Bible literacy and begins the process of growing faith.

 

Acolyte Program: 3rd-5th graders can serve as acolytes during our weekly church services. It is a great way for kids to experience an important piece of worship at First United Methodist Church. Training is provided.

 

Advent Workshop: During this fabulously fun afternoon, families participate in making crafts to celebrate Jesus' birth. Other highlights include tunes by the Stover Street Stompers, a pizza lunch, and hayrides!

 

 

Nursery

Contact

Laurie Elliott, Childcare Coordinator

970-482-2436, ext. 124 

 

Mission statement

The mission of First United Methodist Church childcare is to establish a safe, secure, loving, and nurturing Christian environment for little ones to play and learn in. A child’s first experience of “church” is often in the nursery. Our goal is for the experience to be positive and rewarding for both children and parents. We believe that providing quality childcare is a vital part of our church’s ministry.

 

Childcare staff

Our childcare staff is experienced and love children. We have assembled a dynamic, diverse group of caregivers to help meet the varying needs of your children. The staff is CPR and First Aid certified. A minimum of two staff members are scheduled for all church services and specific events. We follow licensure rules closely, but we are not a licensed program. This means that YOU CANNOT LEAVE THE BUILDING while you are in the nursery.  

 

My child’s experience

We provide safe, age-appropriate toys and books, which are sanitized regularly. Older children have access to crayons, paper, art supplies, games, and puzzles. Our changing table, high chairs, and cribs are clean and safe. The nursery is also equipped with a fenced-in outdoor playground with age-appropriate equipment for outdoor fun. 

 

Snacks

Snacks are served if needed or if a child is in the nursery for more than 90 minutes. Parents are more than welcome to provide their children with a snack. Please inform the caregivers if your child needs a bottle or a snack at other times. Inform caregivers about any allergies your child might have.

 

Parents as partners

Your children will be welcomed into the nursery by a childcare staff member. If needed, we are available to help your child transition to the nursery as easily as possible. Please sign your child in by filling out all of the information on the sign-in sheet. We need the child’s name and age. Please make note of special comforts, blankets, pacifiers, bottles, etc. Make the caregiver aware of any allergies or health issues. LABEL EVERYTHING! Including your child! You will also be given a pager if you choose. We CANNOT let a child go with anyone except the person who signed them in unless prior instruction has been given by the person dropping off. We encourage parents to remain outside of the gate when dropping off. This is a matter of safety for the children.

 

What to bring

Change of clothes, 2 diapers, bottle/sip cup, security items, special comfort items, and a special snack if needed. 

 

Healthy and Happy  

As a childcare facility, we provide care for many different children which leads to many different germs. We are diligent in our efforts to keep the nursery as clean and healthy as possible.

 

Health Care Procedures

We request that parents keep their children out of the nursery if they exhibit any of the following symptoms within the last 24 hours. The following list is NOT all-inclusive but are general guidelines:
*Fever
*Green/colored runny nose
*Questionable rash
*Coughing
*Diarrhea
*Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
*Sore throat
*Open sores
*Chicken Pox
*Persistent biting

If a caregiver suspects any of these conditions, you will be asked to pick up your child immediately. If your child demonstrates or is diagnosed with a childhood disease (Measles, Mumps, Chicken Pox, Pink eye, etc.) after being in the nursery within the previous week, please notify the Childcare Coordinator immediately. This allows us to notify other parents of children and staff regarding potential health issues. When a child is on antibiotics, he/she should be on the medication for a minimum of 24 hours prior to attending childcare.

 

Contacting the Nursery 

It is our goal to provide childcare in the nursery for church events on an as-needed basis. There is always childcare provided for church services. If you are unsure whether childcare is going to be provided, please check with the office or Nursery Coordinator. If you need to schedule childcare, please do so by the 15th of the month prior. Forms are available in the office or you may contact the Nursery Coordinator directly.

 

Preschool

Contact

Ali Gessler, Preschool Director

 970-482-0343

 

About the Preschool

 

Website: Preschool Website

 

First United Methodist Co-op (FUMC) Preschool has provided a high-quality, nurturing, and professional preschool program for children of the greater Fort Collins region for 50 years. Parents and teachers of FUMC Co-op Preschool work together to provide a quality, developmentally appropriate preschool program for children. Parents assist as classroom helpers, serve on committees, and may serve on the Parent Advisory Board.

 

 FUMC Preschool is licensed through the Colorado Department of Human Services. It is an outreach program of First United Methodist Church (FUMC). Members of FUMC see our preschool as a way to live out the message of God’s love in the community. It is a ministry of the church which cares for children, shows concern for families, and provides support and nurturing for its congregation and for the surrounding community. 

FUMC Preschool offers a variety of class days and times to fit your schedule. The maximum class size is 18 children for each class. We have a teacher and two parent helpers in each class every day, giving us a low adult:child ratio of 1:6. Our school year is from Labor Day to Memorial Day and we closely follow the PR-1 school calendar throughout the year. 

 

Classes

Our goal is to provide a safe, happy, and developmentally appropriate place for your child to cultivate his/her own unique talents during his/ her preschool years, to develop socialization skills that will assist him/her in interacting in a school environment, and to encourage an appreciation and awareness of God’s love. Our school and curriculum are Christian-oriented but do not emphasize a particular denomination. The preschool day includes a balance of guided play activities, creative artwork, music, outdoor play, conversation, storytime, dramatic play, snack, and group activities. Our teaching emphasis is on socialization and developing self-confidence, a love of learning, and a curiosity about the world.

 

Primary Classes

(must be 3 years old by September 15th) 
Monday & Wednesday...........9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 
Tuesday & Thursday.............9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 
Monday, Wednesday & Friday..9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

 

Pre-Kindergarten Classes

(must be 4 years old by September 15th) 
Monday, Wednesday & Friday..9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
Monday - Thursday..............9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

 

Parent's Day Out

CONTACT

Contact Form: http://www.mothersdayoutfumc.org/contact-us/

Phone: 970-482-2436

Address:  1005 Stover Street  Fort Collins, CO 80524

Website: Parent's Day Out Website

Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 

 

 

History

Parent's Day Out started out 35 years ago as an outreach program of First United Methodist Church. The goal was to provide a safe and nurturing place where parents could feel good about leaving their children for a few hours while they kept appointments, shopped, or just had some time alone. Thirty-five years later, Parent's Day Out continues to provide a valuable service to the community, by providing excellent child care on a drop-in basis, allowing parents to a few hours off time, and offering an environment where young children can grow in mind and body.

 

Ages

Parent's Day Out offers Fort Collins daycare for families looking for drop-in or part-time child care. We serve children ages 1 and fully walking through 6 years of age. Children are placed in age-appropriate classrooms staffed with caring teachers.

 

Hours

Parent's Day Out follows the Poudre Valley school district calendar and is open when school is in session. We are closed on the days when Poudre Valley school district is closed.

 

For age 1 and fully walking:
Tuesday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

For age 2:
Tuesday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

For ages 3-5:
Tuesday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

 

If your child is staying past noon please bring a sack lunch.

 

Kid's Closet

 

The Kids’ Closet is now open Wednesdays 3 p.m.–6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Armario los niños ya está abierto los miércoles 3 p.m. a 6 p.m. y los sábados 9 a.m. al mediodia

 

Requirements:

• Face mask or face covering
• Hand sanitation
• Medical survey
• No children under 18
• If you cannot comply, clothing can be requested and delivery arranged. Contact .

Requisitos:

• Una máscara
• Saneamiento de manos
• Encuesta de salud
• 18 años de edad o más
• Si no puede cumplir, se puede solicitar ropa y organizar la entrega. Contacto .

 

Donating to the Kids' Closet 

The Kids' Closet is accepting gently used donations. Items need to be laundered, pet fur-free, and folded in plastic bags. Please do not drop off donations in boxes.

 

We also accept donations of new children’s socks, new children’s underwear, and disposable diapers in all sizes. The Kids’ Closet is also accepting monetary donations to purchase these items (your donation goes further as we can buy items tax-exempt). Donations can be dropped off at the northeast entrance of the church anytime during the Kids' Closet's hours of operation.

 

Due to space limitations, we do not accept toy, furniture, or household items at any time. Thank you for your caring and understanding!

 

About the Kids' Closet

The Kids' Closet is an outreach ministry of FUMC that provides gently used clothing for children sizes newborn - 16 to community members at no charge.

 

(Un ministerio de el Concilio de Niños y Famila de la Iglesia FUMC, ropa usada muy moderada—para niños de todos los tamaños sin ningún costa para usted).

• We are open Wednesdays (Miércoles) from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays (Sábado) from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 
• Located in the basement of the church, in the administrative wing.
• We are always looking for volunteers! If you have a heart for children in our community, please consider becoming involved in one of the following ways:
  • Volunteering to host a shift as your schedule allows!
  • Helping get the word out at schools and community resources – please refer local families to the Kids’ Closet!
  • Donating children’s toys/books/crayons/coloring books so children have something to do when they visit with their parents!

  • Please contact Liza Judd-Salimbeni at 970-482-2436 if you are interested in volunteering or have questions!

 

Please stop in and visit us, and spread the word in the community about the Kids' Closet!

Thank you!