Children

We believe children are important to God’s kingdom. Because of this, we take seriously our responsibility to reach and prepare the next generation. We desire for children to grow in love and knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Kingdom Kids, our children’s ministry, covers children from birth through sixth grade, and is a comprehensive year-round ministry that includes Sunday morning activities, mission’s activities, summer events, and programs that focus on the family.

If you have questions or need more information beyond what these pages provide, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The Kingdom Kids Staff

Nancy McMann - Director of Children’s Ministry
703.394.0568 or nancymcmann@mcleanpres.org

Melanie Janetsky – Assistant Director, Preschool & Childcare
703.394.0576 or melanie@mcleanpres.org

Rosie Forsyth – Nursery Coordinator
703.821.0800 or rosie@mcleanpres.org

Special Events

Vacation Bible School

What an amazing week we had at Vacation Bible School (VBS) this past summer!  It was a wild 5 days as we learned how God is WILD about YOU!   Children crawled into the belly of a whale and hid from Roman soldiers as they learned various Bible stories.  We are all still singing the fun and exciting songs from Pandamania.  You may have wondered why MPC looked like a bamboo jungle that week in July - pandas and all!    Most importantly, the children learned that God loves us - no matter what - and He sent His son Jesus to die for them.


Mark your calendars for this year’s VBS, July 9-13, 2012, where the sky is the limit to discovering the boundless possibilities of life with God!  VBS is open to children 4-years-old to rising 3rd graders and is held Monday-Friday 9:30am-12:30pm. Children participate in fun activities involving crafts, games, songs, and Bible lessons. Registration opens January 1, 2012. For more information please contact Melanie Janetsky at melanie@mcleanpres.org or (703)394-0576.

 

Extreme Makeover: D3 Edition

Putting Belief Into Action to Serve the CommunityDuring the same week that we offer Vacation Bible School for our children 3rd grade and under, our rising 4th, 5th, and 6th graders have an opportunity to serve the community in our Extreme Makeover camp through various projects.  We’re brainstorming projects for next summer and we are excited about the opportunities.   It is our hope that the children will experience the joy of blessing others through service.

This year the camp will run from 9:30am - 3pm during the week of July 9-13, 2012.  If you would like to assist in any way or would like more information to register, please contact Nancy McMann at nancymcmann@mcleanpres.org or (703)394.0568.

Click here for the Permission Waiver Form.

Performing Arts Camp

Join us on August 6-10, 2012 for a great week of music, drama, dance, instruments, puppets, scenery painting… and fun!

Performing Arts Camp is for rising 3rd through 7th graders who love to express themselves through music, drama and art.  MPC provides the facility and children for Kid-Shine, a non-denominational production company, who provides the staff and daily camp program  (9am - 3pm) which culminates on Friday night of camp week with a Christian musical presented to family and friends by the campers.  The cost is $150 per camper and includes a t-shirt. Go to www.kidshineonline.org for more information and to register.

 

Sunday Morning

Sunday Mornings at McLean Presbyterian Church

At Kingdom Kids we are committed to reaching and preparing the next generation. Children who attend Kingdom Kids Sunday school can expect to experience the love of Christ through their teachers and experience a developmentally appropriate lesson that is Biblically sound and reformed in its approach. Their learning environment will be safe and fun. Nursery and Sunday school are offered during both service times.

We also care about the safety and security of your child while they are here. We try to keep the classroom environment clear of all safety hazards. All teachers and assistants are members or regular attenders of MPC, and each has been screened with references checked. We have a two-adult rule for all our classrooms and follow our Child Abuse Prevention Policy.

When You Visit

On your first visit with us, please stop by our children’s Welcome Desk which is located on the lower level. A Welcome Desk volunteer will be ready to assist you and help you find the way to your child’s classroom. If you have any questions right now, please ask!

Kingdom Kids is divided into the following groups:

Nursery: newborn - 2yrs.
Pre-school: 2-4 yrs., kindergarten
Elementary: 1st-6th grades
Children’s Church: 4 yrs. - 2nd grade

Nursery

We seek to provide a safe, healthy, stimulating environment where infants and toddlers feel not only loved, but confident to learn and explore.

The following ages make up our Nursery:

Newborn – 7 months (includes a sleepers’ room.)
8 – 15 months
16 – 24 months

 

General Information
  • Nursery facilities will be open 15 minutes prior to and approximately 15 minutes after services.
  • Nursery bedding is changed after each use. Toys are wiped down with a germicidal solution after each session and sterilized regularly.
  • ‘Looking in’ on your child may cause unnecessary upset not only to your own child, but to others also.
  • The Nursing Mother’s room is located in Room 6.
Sick Child Policy

We want a safe, loving environment for ALL who enter our nurseries. Please keep your child at home when you note any of the following within 24 hours of a church event:

Fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit orally Persistent productive cough

Note: A child being treated with antibiotics should be on the drug for at least 24 hours before entering the nursery.

Sign-in & Check-out Procedures for the Nursery
  • Newcomer children are given name-labels to wear and regular attenders will have reusable clip-on nametags.
  • All parents are given a pager.
  • Labeled diaper bags are given to a nursery worker. (Ask for an MPC nursery tag if your bag is not labeled).
  • Sign-in sheets are located in the doorway of each nursery. Please list the pager number and any special instructions next to your child's name.
  • Following sign-in, hand your child over to a caregiver. Your quick departure will make the adjustment easier for your child.
  • The pager will vibrate during the worship service if the caregiver needs assistance with your child.
  • Children will be released only to a person possessing the correct badge/nametag and pager.
Diaper Bag Checklist

Please label all diaper bags and items in your child's diaper bag:

  • 2-3 diapers, wipes
  • Wipes
  • 1-2 bottles and instructions for feeding
  • Pacifier
  • Change of clothes and a plastic bag for wet clothes

Preschool: age 2-Kindergarten

We have classes for younger and older two & three-year-olds, four-year-olds and kindergarteners. Enrollment in a class is usually based on age as of September 30 for the current school year so that children will remain with their school peers as they move through their elementary school years. Please check with our Assistant Director, Melanie Janetsky, and she will direct you to the appropriate class for your child.

Sign-in & Check-out Procedures for Preschool

For our regular attenders each child and their parents are given name badges. Our newcomers will be given name tag labels to wear. All parents are given a pager when they sign in their child. If we need to reach the parent for any reason, the pager will vibrate. Sign-in sheets are located at each doorway. When you arrive with your child you will sign them in and enter the correct pager number next to the child’s name. Your child will be released only to a person possessing the badge or name tag and the correct pager. Quick departures make adjustment easier.

Elementary Sunday School: 1st-6th grade

Elementary classes are taught by grade-level using engaging, interactive curriculum.  We place a high emphasis on not only acquiring knowledge of the Bible and God, but also on developing a relationship with our Triune God.  In 1st and 2nd grade, children read Bible stories which are the basic components of our entire curriculum.  They learn who Jesus is and why He came to earth.  In 3rd-6th grade, we continue to explore what the Bible says about who Jesus is and our relationship to Him.  We also discuss Bible history and the development of the people of God from the Genesis account through the story of the early church in Acts.  All lessons, in Old and New Testaments, emphasize that Jesus Christ is central to God’s kingdom and we have a great need for Him as our Savior.

We have goals for each level of our Sunday School department. Our goals for elementary students are:

  • To be introduced to and experience some of the height and depth of love and mercy of God through Scripture and relationship with their teachers and church family
  • To receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
  • To grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Word
  • To become dedicated servants of the Lord Jesus and to experience his transforming work in their lives
  • To grow in awareness of Christian love and responsibility
  • To develop healthy attitudes toward self as image-bearers of God
Communicant’s Class

Every spring the Communicant’s class is offered for children in 6th grade and up who have made a commitment to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior or who are exploring their faith.   The Communicant’s class is taught by an Elder of our church and is held for 12 weeks. The class is offered during the 9:15 Sunday school hour beginning in February of each year. The focus of the class is to ensure a clear understanding of who Christ is, what it means to have a personal relationship with Him, and what it means to be a ‘communing’ member of the church. The class materials are written to be a partnership between the home and the church.  Children who complete the Communicant’s class and make a public profession of faith in Christ are considered full members of the communing body and are received officially during a worship service in June.

Children’s Church

Children’s Church, which corresponds to corporate worship both in topic and tone, meets during both services from September through June. Here, children ages 4 through 2nd grade learn what we call our ‘faith tradition’ which includes hymns, creeds, catechism, prayers and elements of worship. The scripture lesson and sermon are discussed in a child targeted way. Children are dismissed to children’s worship just prior to the sermon. (During July and August, Children’s Church is available at the 9:15 service only.)

Mom's Day Out

MOM'S DAY OUT is a co-op program for children 18 months through preschool age. Registrants need not be MPC families. The goals of MDO are to provide fun play, learning, and the development of first friendships for children. Sharing and caring is emphasized. Mothers gain camaraderie, teaching experience and some free mornings! Mothers teach on a rotating basis and follow a general preschool-type format. Children enjoy circle time, books, games, outside play, snacks, and a craft. Each month focuses upon a new color, shape, letter, number, and theme. Central to the child’s MDO experience is learning that God made us and God loves us. The fun morning concludes with a packed lunch brought from home. Please note that MPC is a nut-free environment. Two groups – Tuesday and Wednesday, meet weekly from September through June. A summer session also meets for five weeks from July through August. The calendar generally follows the Fairfax County Public Schools calendar for vacations and closings.

Contact Info

Want to learn more? Contact Paige Farrington-Himes at mpc@mcleanpres.org.

How to Join

Registrations are on a rolling basis with vacancies being filled from a waiting list.

KFK Children's Choir

Kids for the King

This children’s choir, involving over 70 children from ages 4-12, is a high-quality training program for musical excellence and worship. Rehearsals are Sundays from 4-5:15pm. Kids for the King sings in worship monthly from September through April, presents a Christmas concert and a spring musical, and also sings for residents of a local retirement home.

How to Join

Please contact Pam Burns, our Director of Choral Music, at pam@mcleanpres.org.

D-Cubed

Mission/What to Expect

D-Cubed is a discipleship and outreach ministry to our 4th, 5th and 6th graders.  We meet a couple of times per month on Sunday evenings for games, worship, Bible study, small groups and a light supper in order to build relationships with God and each other.  Special events are held several times a year for opportunities to serve our community. 

Contact Info

For more information, please contact Nancy McMann at (703) 394-0568 or nancymcmann@mcleanpres.org.

How to Join

If you have a 4th, 5th or 6th grade boy or girl, we would love for them to join us!   You may fill out the registration form and send it to nancymcmann@mcleanpres.org.

Here's our revised 2012 winter/spring schedule:

March 3: No Saturday night event
March 11: 5-7pm | regular meeting
March 18: Missions conference
March 31: Family Seder Event – click here to RSVP asap!
April 22: Attend the Kids for the King Concert
April 28: tba RCE Walk-a-thon – D-Cubed will participate
May 6: 5-7pm | regular meeting
May 20: 5-7pm last | meeting & end of year party (good-bye to fellows!)

Click here for our registration form.

Sunday School

We offer a combined 5th & 6th grade Sunday School class for boys and girls during the 9:15am and 11am worship services. Your children are welcome to join us anytime!

Kids on Mission

At Kingdom Kids, our children’s ministry at MPC, we have a two-pronged missions focus:

  • That our children learn about and support the work with street children through the work of StreetChild Mission International, a ministry of Mission to the World (MTW).
  • That our children learn about and support ministry to orphaned special needs children in Romania through the work of Romanian Christian Enterprises (RCE).

StreetChild Mission International

StreetChild Mission International was established by Mission to the World (MTW), the global missions agency of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). The mission of StreetChild is to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the children entrusted in their care. As a Christian ministry, they provide support to some of the world’s 150 million abandoned, abused, and homeless children. Throughout the year, your child will be learning about the street children and the ministry that is being done with them in the following locations: Acapulco, Mexico; Manila, Philippines; and Nairobi, Kenya. The offering collected during our Sunday School and Children’s Church is sent to StreetChild Mission International.

Inbumi and Martha founded the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Kibera, a very large slum outside Nairobi where an estimated one million people live in one square mile. Most of the people in Kibera are women and children, and it is estimated that 1 in 3 people are HIV positive. Pastor Makuku ministers to the people of Kibera through the church providing spiritual, physical, and emotional resources. There is a weekday school at the church that educates and feeds 200 children.

Sponsor a Child

OneChild, the Mission to the World child sponsorship program, currently has children in need of sponsorship. For only $30 per month you can help provide for the physical and spiritual needs of a child in Africa or Asia. MTW provides bi-annual letters from your sponsored child as well as a new photograph and update once a year. For more information, contact MTW StreetChild via email at streetchild@mtw.org or (678) 823-0004, ext. 2452.

Prayer requests for StreetChild:
  • Pray for Victor, our child that Kingdom Kids sponsors. Pray for him to do well in his academics and to come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
  • Pray that God will use the Kibera church in the lives of parents who are now attending church in large numbers.
  • Pray for the construction of the new Shunmen girls home. Pray that the progress of the construction will go smoothly.
  • Pray for the Shunem housemothers, Caroline and Purity, and Kibera school teachers, that God will be very close and dear to them.
  • Pray for God’s provision for the children who are in need of food and medical care.
  • Praise God for the completed classrooms in Kibera that keep children warm.
  • Pray for the mission team that will be going to Kenya March 4-13, 2011. Pray that the folks God desires to go will answer the call and that all the funding will be received for the team. Pray for the medical and construction work the team will be doing.

To read an interview with Pastor Makuku, click here.

Romanian Christian Enterprises (RCE)

RCE is a ministry that has its grass roots at McLean Presbyterian Church (MPC). RCE’s programs are dedicated to placing orphans in families, preventing suffering and additional abandonment for at-risk families, and providing education and physical therapy for children with special needs. As a mercy ministry, RCE is committed to restoring God’s order for children and families by equipping and assisting the local church in acts of mercy and grace. RCE has seen how seemingly small efforts can make a huge difference in the lives of Romanian orphans and needy families. With God’s provision, RCE will continue to reach out, offering mercy and hope. Our children at MPC have adopted a classroom at the Sunshine School, a place supported by RCE.

Click here for more information about RCE’s mission and pictures of Darius House.

Click here for stories and pictures of children that have been placed in adoptive homes.