At The Local Church, we help kids discover a faith that grows with them.
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Our aim at The Local Church is to foster positive relationships between children, their families, and God, as well as with others in our community and the world. By doing this, we hope to instill in our Local Kids the same mission of “love where you are” that our faith community upholds. We're proud to include our Local Kids in our worship services while also providing them with their own special time for spiritual formation. Additionally, our children take an active role in many of our community service projects, serving as Jesus' hands and feet. Our instruction is grounded in Biblical teaching, and we prioritize values such as wonder, gratitude, compassion, inclusivity, justice, and kinship in our spiritual formation curriculum.
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When children and families arrive, they are warmly welcomed at the Local Kids' Check-In Table. To ensure safety and accountability, children attending spiritual formation classes are signed in. Various items such as coloring/activity pages, fidget toys, books, and more are available for kids to help channel their vibrant energy.
During the worship service, Local Kids can sit with their families or on the kids' rugs located at the front of the space. After about 20 minutes (before the sermon), the kids are sent off for their own time of spiritual formation. Once the class is over, Local Kids return to their families to receive Holy Communion and conclude the worship service. Children are always welcome to participate in Holy Communion!
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On Sunday mornings, we offer three separate classrooms for Local Kids of different ages so they can learn and grow together in age-appropriate ways. We have a toddler class for ages 3 and under, an early elementary class for ages four through first grade, and an upper elementary class for second through fifth graders.
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We offer a Local Table for Kids and Families, which is a small group that allows fellowship, meaningful discussion, and community-building among our families.
We involve our Local Kids in various service projects like writing notes of appreciation to teachers, assembling care packages and hygiene kits, and collecting Christmas gifts for Angel Tree recipients.
We are also always open to new spiritual formation teachers, and no prior experience or credentials are necessary as we provide lesson plans and guidance. However, we do require a volunteer application and background check for all interested individuals.
Meet Krista
Krista Jett gives leadership to our Kids and Family Ministries at The Local Church. She works hard to coordinate each week’s time of spiritual formation, recruit volunteer leaders, and organize super fun events for Local Kids — and kids at heart!