Milestone Ministries

We want the parents and children to have the opportunity to return to the Baptismal Font to celebrate each stage of their children's faith life. Children are not tommorrow's church, rather they are part of today's church and we are proud to include them in our Worship Experience.

Special Events for Multiple Ages

EVERYONE - RALLY SUNDAY

Blessings of the backpacks and the blessing of teachers, helpers, music leaders and guides during church services.

3 YEAR OLDS THROUGH 4TH GRADE

Communion preparation class with children (under the fifth grade level) and their parents. This class is only for families wanting their children to participate in Holy Communion at a younger age than fifth grade.

3 YEAR OLDS THROUGH 6TH GRADE

Children make wooden block Nativity characters.

5TH GRADE - ADULT

Congregation members write in Bethlehem Baptismal book the date of their Christian birthday.

Milestone Events By Age

Director: Vee Williams

Baptism

Handmade wood faith chests, given at the baptism service, contain a quilt square for godparents’ signatures, baby’s footprints, etc. Items can be added as the child grows in faith.

1 YEAR OLD

Party with parents where they are taught how to bless their baby every night and are given a stuffed bear with talking prayer.

2 YEAR OLD

“Happy Birthday, Jesus” party for 2 and 3 year olds with parents. Children make a sock doll in a sandwich bag for cradle. Child can bring Jesus a gift for our church nursery (optional). Send a small book to child with Bethlehem’s picture on the front cover.

3 YEAR OLD – PRESCHOOL

Blessing of the 3 year olds during a church service. “Happy Birthday, Jesus” for 2 and 3 year olds with parents. Children make a sock doll in a sandwich bag for cradle. Child can bring Jesus a gift for our church nursery (optional).

4 YEAR OLD – PRESCHOOL

Children make a small banner “Jesus Loves Me” in Sunday school and sing song with entire pre-school department during a service.

5 YEAR OLD - KINDERGARTEN

Children are given a prayer quilt with a pocket sewn on it with prayer cards tucked into the pocket. Parents will be encouraged to pray with their children. The quilts will be blessed at a church service.

FIRST GRADE

Children make a prayer placemat with parents; placemats are blessed at a church service. Magazine ads showing child’s favorite foods will be on the back and table prayers on the front. New prayer cards will be given for last year’s prayer quilt.

SECOND GRADE

Children will have a special prayer unit session on making your own prayer. The class will write a class prayer that will be written in the church bulletin for the congregation to read during the prayer time during the church service.

THIRD GRADE

“Used” Bibles presented during a church service. Previous 4 weeks will be Bible study.

FOURTH GRADE

Pastor leads baptism unit with parents invited. It is a celebration of the Christian birthday with candles and cake.

FIFTH GRADE

Children will begin communion unit study with pastor and parents. Banners will be made and blessed in church service. At communion, congregation will be served the bread baked by the fifth graders.

SIXTH GRADE

Introduction to prayer with the class making and presenting their prayer for both church services. The class will be split so half of the class will do first service and the other half will do the later service. The study of prayer will be with the seventh grade class.

SEVENTH GRADE

Blessing at church service on the start of confirmation. The study of prayer will be with the sixth grade class.

EIGHTH GRADE

Present the “Operation Christmas Child” boxes at church service. Eighth graders help wrap, aid in assembling, and deliver boxes to area drop churches.

NINTH GRADE

Ninth graders help with the blessing of the quilts that the quilters have made throughout the year. Students bring donated materials down to the dining room throughout the year.

TENTH GRADE

Tenth graders are confirmed in Fall. They work with the quilters to help make quilts and deliver them to the organizations as needed. This would be a “full circle” of start to finish project.

ELEVENTH GRADE

Eleventh graders are given “Keys of Responsibility” blessing during church service. Students and parents are blessed and students are given a Christian key chain and coupon for a free car wash.

TWELFTH GRADE

Blessing of the seniors during church service. A “comfort” quilt is draped onto the shoulders of the student, and they are given a quilt square with the church’s email to remind the students that they are still part of the Bethlehem Family. Future ideas would be for the parents to meet with the quilters to make a square for their child’s senior quilt.

COLLEGE AGE

Between Christmas and New Year is the WELCOME BACK Party for our college members. Current high school youth are invited to ask questions and share ideas.