Sunday Worship
9:30 AM
Children
Birth through 5th grade
Nursery (Ages 0-2)
Nursery care is provided for children ages 0-2 during the service. Our nursery is located on our lower level. Head down the main stairs to sign-in your child(ren).
All volunteers are required to pass a background check. There are always 2 volunteers present in the nursery (one must be 18 or older). If you're interested in volunteering in the nursery, please get in touch with Director of Children's Ministry, Rachel Exoo.
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Children in Worship
Children in Worship is offered to kids ages 3 through 3rd grade during the worship service. Kids start in the service for gathering music and words, and then are invited to the front for a children's sermon. Afterward, they are dismissed down to Children in Worship.
Children in Worship runs September through May, every Sunday. During the summer, kids are encouraged to grab supplies from the worship supplies station in the narthex for use during the service.
Sunday School
Sunday School runs from September-May. Ages 2 through 5th grade start together in the Children's Ministry Room, located in the lower level Education Wing, for Gathering Time, where kids sing and learn music for in-service performances. After, kids will be escorted to their classroom for the lesson and craft time.
Schedule
10:50 AM Gathering Time (Children's Ministry Room)
11:05 AM Lesson Time (Education Wing Classrooms)
11:45 AM Dismissal
Parents of children please note:
We ask that you bring your children to the Children's Ministry Room at the start of Sunday School and then pick them up at the end of Sunday School from their classrooms. In the break between worship and Sunday School, please provide an opportunity for your child to use the restroom and get a snack upstairs. Food and drink should not be taken to the classrooms. Thank you!
Family & Community Events
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Saturday, July 19 ● 10:00 - 4:00 PM
Registration Required
Do you have what it takes to work together to escape the room? In this Feeding the 5,000 themed escape room, you will have to work together to find all the loaves and fishes in time to feed the crowd that's crossing over by boat right this minute. For details and sign-up, click the link below.
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Friday, August 1 ● 6:35 PM
Sign-Up Required
Enjoy a night at the ballpark with church friends and family! All ages are invited to attend. There is a limited number of tickets available for purchase ($16/each), so if you want to attend, you'll need to sign-up in the narthex.
Summer Programming
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Camp Thornapple
Ages 7-12
"Providing practical skills & educational opportunities for kids with a Bible-centered focus." It's our belief that God has blessed each and every one of us with special skills and talents that can be used to further His kingdom. And that's what we want to share with your kids! Camp Thornapple is a series of classes taught by different members of the congregation, each with a different focus or skill. Kids are then empowered and encouraged to go home and continue learning and practicing that skill for the glory of God. In the past, our classes included cake decorating, art, letterboxing, cooking, woodworking & metalwork, knitting, sports, card-making, outdoor exploration and more.
But, what do things like letterboxing or cooking have to do with building God's kingdom? Last year, we talked about how letterboxing encourages time spent in nature with others; being in community with people and with God's creation. Or take cooking: the act of providing someone a meal who may be in need or showing hospitality directly mimics Biblical principles. We encourage kids to go beyond thinking of the skills as just a skill, but as a way to be God's hands and feet on earth.
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2025 Referral Program: Refer a friend and get $5 off your total Camp Thornapple cost! If you mention a friend in the referral portion of the registration form and they sign-up for a class, you will get $5 off your total.
This offer is good for up to 2 referrals ($10 total off); $10 not applicable to the same class, must be used across two classes. $5 off is applicable to one class. The friend you mention does not benefit through a discount from your referral. Your referral can refer a friend and then take part in the benefits. The person you refer must be new to Camp Thornapple (never before attended).
2025 "The Rachel" Discount: Sign-up for all 6 classes, get one class free! ($10 value).
This offer can be used in conjunction with the Referral Program discount as well.
FAQ
How do I sign up my child(ren)?
When registration opens on April 19th, all class sign-ups will be found right here on this page. You'll follow the prompts to register online. As long as you get a confirmation email afterward, you're all set!
Is there a cost to Camp Thornapple?
Yes, there is a low cost to participate in classes. We charge $10-15/class to help cover a small portion of the material cost of running a class. For that price, you'll receive anywhere from 2-3 hours of instruction as well as materials used to teach the class, and sometimes some take-home materials, too. In 2025, we have two programs for discounts.
Is class space limited?
Yes, space is limited! Some of this is due to physical limitations, but mostly it has to do with how many kids one facilitator can feasibly teach at once. As classes get bigger, it's harder to give kids the focused attention and quality instruction needed. This is also why we have a small cost to the program to have some skin-in-the-game to hold your spot. We do have a waitlist that will open as people ebb and flow.
Where does Camp Thornapple happen?
Mostly, on-site here at Thornapple! Some classes may take us off the property, which will be clearly listed in the course description.
"Thank you for the time and effort you invested in these camps! What a great ministry!"
"I can’t thank you and your team enough for providing such a wonderful summer program for the kids. My kids look forward to spending time being creative and learning new things."
"[My daughter] is so sad it's over. She said she's going to miss her second family!"