Children’s Ministry
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Vacation Bible School (VBS)
SAVE THE DATE!
VBS 2023 July 16-20 | 6pm – 8:15pm
As kids (called Heroes) experience Old & New Testament Bible stories through music, drama and storytelling, games, arts and crafts, science, and even snacks, they’ll learn that Heroes are called to Follow Jesus, Help Others, Work Together, Listen to God, and Show Grace! And, best of all, they’ll be invited to answer this call at VBS, at church, at home, and in every area of their lives.
Check out the Promo Video from Cokesbury!
At SCUMC, VBS is made possible each year through the gifts and talents of many church volunteers who work hard to make this a fun and successful event. Offered for children ages preschool through 5th grade, it is scheduled for one week during the summer (dates vary each year,) running from Sunday night through Thursday night. VBS is always sure to include cool crafts, amazing Gospel stories, fun games, great music, and exciting science activities! We close the week with an ice-cream party on Thursday evening where parents and friends can come to hear all about what we’ve learned and see photos from the week.
VBS coordinator is Jacquetta Owen.
REGISTER HERE
STEM Camps
Summer STEM Camps (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) focus on helping children to develop new skills through experimental designs and applications. Various classes are offered for two age groups (grades K-2 and grades 3-5) with small group sizes of only 5-15 children, so registration is required. Certified teachers and volunteers lead each session, and past topics have included robotic Legos, cooking, sewing, music, art, drama, and science.
Classes run for one week each, daily from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Fees are minimal, limited to only the cost of supplies, and scholarships are available.
STEM Camps coordinator is Jacquetta Owen.
Summer 2023 STEM Camps schedule:
Art Camp – June 19-23
Science Camp – June 26-30
Robotic Legos – July 10-14
Registration Form coming soon!
Trunk or Treat
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, October 21, 2023 | 1pm – 4pm
Our annual community Trunk or Treat is SCUMC’s major fall event! Held on a Saturday before Halloween in the afternoon, the church’s back parking lot is filled with vehicles with decorated trunks handing out FREE candy galore! Games, prizes, photo ops, and gift card drawings make it a fun afternoon for the whole family. Stephens City Fire Department sets up a truck for kids to explore and grab a photo with Sparky the Fire Dog! A costume parade concludes the event, escorted by Stephens City Police Department.
Trunk or Treat coordinator is Jacquetta Owen.
Easter Egg Hunt
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt, held at the Newtown Commons, is an event for the whole family! Open to the community and FREE! All are welcome.
With hunts for four different age groups (from toddlers to age 12) including a “challenge maze” hunt for the older kids, there are plenty of eggs stuffed with candy, prizes, and more to be found by each child in attendance. The Easter Bunny will be there for photo ops, Mayor Mike Diaz, Stephens City Fire Department with their truck and Sparky the Fire Dog, Stephens City Police Department for traffic control and oversight, plus there’s face painting, lots of yard games, Balloon Man Mike Bulley, Lolo the Clown, live music, food trucks, and more!
Be sure to check out the flower sale & bake sale being held at the same time by our United Women in Faith. A fun afternoon for the whole family! Don’t forget to bring your own basket and money for food.
Easter Egg Hunt coordinator is Cathy Barley.
Jesus Birthday Party
Everyone loves a birthday party! To help us celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are planning a party of our own for kids in grades 1 -5 and their parents. On Friday, Dec. 8 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm we will partake in pizza, a Christmas movie on the big screen, popcorn, a reading of the Christmas story and, of course, birthday cake. Due to food planning, you MUST REGISTER BY WED. DEC. 6. Register Here
Other Special Events
Interested in Church Camp for your child? Check out Camp Overlook just north of Harrisonburg, VA, a camp and retreat center sponsored by our UMC district! Traditional overnight summer camp offerings for rising 4th – 12th graders, day camps for younger children, and special camps like soccer camp (still following the church camp program.) Meet God on the mountain!
We’ll add more here soon!
