Children's Ministry
Uptown is a body of believers that welcomes and encourages all ages to participate as we worship Christ together. However, we also believe that children benefit from teaching and experiencing worship in an age appropriate environment. Here at Uptown we encourage the entire body of believers to assist in the spiritual development of our children.
Learn more about Volunteer Opportunities in Children's Ministry.
Childcare and classes are provided by loving teachers and caregivers for infants through 5 th grade. Children are welcome in the sanctuary during adult worship, and, if the parent prefers, they may be dismissed for nursery care or Children's Church at the appropriate time.
VISION
Uptown is a church that seeks to know the full life found in Jesus Christ and to share that life with those in Charlotte and around the world. Each of our ministries at Uptown are called to reflect this vision. In the context of Children's Ministry, the goal of our church is to help our covenant children come to know the full life found in Jesus Christ.
Sunday Morning
9:00 am Bible classes during the Sunday School hour are offered for children ages 2 and a half through 5th grade. They share the gospel with our children in a way that is both relevant to age and engaging to hearts and minds. Teachers offer a variety of exercises aimed at the child's cognitive and social development, exercises that teach Christian truths and the application of that knowledge.
Childcare
Loving care by adult volunteers is provided for infants and children up to 2 and a half years old during the Sunday school and worship hours. Separate rooms are offered for infants with an area for nursing mothers, crawlers, walkers and toddlers.
Safety, security and hygiene are monitored carefully in these rooms. A separate room for care is provided for children 2 and a half up to 4 years of age during the worship hour.
Click here for the Nursery Handbook: Uptown Nursery Handbook
Click here to watch the Nursery Training Video: Uptown Nursery Training Video on YouTube
Children's Church, offered the second half of the Worship service, is for children 4 years old through 2nd grade. This class is designed to teach children how to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in an age-appropriate atmosphere.
Learning About Missions and Outreach
Children at Uptown will have the opportunity to learn what it means to embrace the Great Commission and to cultivate a heart for outreach and missions. They will be encouraged to give of their time and resources through World Missions and Mercy Outreach projects. Some of these will be carefully selected, child-friendly projects carried out through Children's Ministry, while others may be offered through the Mercy Department at Uptown. No matter how a child chooses to become involved, he or she will experience what it means to share the love of Christ with others around the world.
We use the Great Commission Publications show me Jesus curriculum in all of our Sunday School classes. It emphasizes prayer and challenges children to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. See GCP's Scope and Sequence for 2003-2004.
Special Kid's Events
Backyard Bible Club This fun-filled summer adventure is Uptown's alternative to VBS. The week-long outreach event is held in the two or three neighborhoods within Charlotte, utilizing the backyard setting at some of our Uptown members' homes. Both Uptown children and their friends gather for a week of Bible stories, crafts, games, music and other fun kid-friendly activities. Each BYBC is led by a group of volunteers who love to share the love of Christ with the children and desire to show what a life filled with Christ is all about!
One of our host families shares this, “The event has been so successful in our neighborhood that I have children asking me about Backyard Bible Club each year months in advance. They want to make sure their name is on the list of those attending, as they know the spaces are limited, and they fill fast!”
Birthday Party for Jesus - Another fun outreach event for the children and their friends. This event is held in December of each year. Families gather to celebrate Jesus' birthday just as they would any child's birthday. The time begins with crafts, games and pictures. Then, they enjoy a time of music and listening to the story of Christ's birth. Our celebration ends with wishing Jesus “Happy Birthday” with the traditional birthday song and sharing in birthday cake! As a way to reach out and share the love of Jesus with others in our Charlotte community, this event also is a time when we collect canned food items for donation to “Loaves and Fishes.”
Easter Egg Hunt Uptown's largest outreach event of the year! Children of all ages are invited to enjoy this annual gathering at Latta Park. Food, entertainment, and, of course, an egg hunt are all a part of the time together. We encourage the Uptown family to invite their neighbors and friends, along with inviting the entire Charlotte community, so they can hear the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Family Outings Three times each year the families at Uptown have the opportunity to gather together for a time of fun and fellowship. A picnic in the park with games, putt-putt golf, an afternoon at the water park or a family hike are just samples of the fun that may be offered. This time is planned for families to build relationships with one another and model that Christ-like community to unbelievers.
My First Visit… We welcome all visitors!
Those visitors with children are asked to arrive at 9:00 am for Sunday school and 10:15 am for the Worship service in order to register their children. This will allow plenty of time for children to get settled prior to parents' leaving them for the adult activities.
* Registration (first floor in the café). Parents will complete a Visitor's Registration card providing all information necessary for our caregivers to care for your child in the best manner possible during his or her visit.
* Each child is given a name tag with an assigned “call” number, and parents are given a claim check card with the corresponding “call” number. If parents are needed during the Worship service, the “call” number appears on an electronic reader system located in the front corners of the sanctuary. Parents are asked to respond immediately.
* When children are picked up, claim check cards must be presented before a child is released. Uptown staff will ensure that the card matches the appropriate child.
* Finally, we ask that both the name tag and matching claim check cards be returned to the registration table.
Regular Attendees
Regular Attendees check-in at the Children's Ministry desk in the Café prior to leaving and are issued a key tag to make pick-up and drop-off quick and safe.
Safety & Security
Our nursery area and classrooms are run completely by volunteers. All of these caregivers or teachers go through a thorough screening process, and background checks are required for all regular volunteers. We have a monitor who circulates during Sunday school and the Worship service helping keep our children safe each week.
Volunteer Opportunities
Do you have a passion for children? We'd love to have you join one of our ministry teams! Or maybe you've never worked with children and you sense God calling you to serve, but aren't sure how? We would love to share the variety of ways you can get involved. There are an endless number of possibilities from rocking infants to jumping around praising the Lord in Children's Church, from teaching each week to helping during one of our special events. Give us a call so we can explore the best way to put your heart and hands to work ministering to the most precious ones in God's kingdom. You may contact us by phone at 704.564.8185 or e-mail one of the Children's Ministry members.
Children's Ministry Staff
Shannon Arendt, Director of Children's Ministry
Lisa Ellis, Nursery Coordinator