Sunday Worship
9:30 AM
Children
Birth through 5th grade
Nursery
Nursery care for ages 0-3 is provided during worship to give parents an opportunity to enjoy the service, while knowing their child is safe. The nursery is located on the lower level. Stop by the Parent Check-In station to sign your child(ren) in and to grab a pager!
If you’d like to volunteer in our nursery, please sign up below!
All our volunteers are subjected to a background check. We require two volunteers in the nursery at all times.
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Children & Worship
Children & 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 & Worship.
Children & Worship runs September through May on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month. During the summer and on even-day Sundays, kids are encouraged to grab supplies from the Kids Corner in the Narthex to aid their attention spans 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 (singing and offering). After, kids will be escorted to their classroom for the lesson and craft time.
Schedule
10:50 AM Gathering Time (Children's Ministry Room)
11:00 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!
Community Events
Take a look at our upcoming community events happening at TCC! Take special note of each classes' sign up requirements and costs by clicking on the buttons below.
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Family Escape Room: Joseph's Jail Cell
Saturday, June 24 & July 22
Family Event • FREE • Registration Required
Can you solve your way out of Pharaoh's prison?
If your family loves puzzles and games, you'll enjoy this kid-friendly escape room! The puzzles will be geared toward ages 5-10, but all ages are welcome. Parents and kids will work together to solve their way out of the room.
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. Last year, our classes included cake decorating, art, letterboxing, cooking, woodworking & metalwork, crafting and outdoor exploration.
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.
Camp Thornapple 2023 Classes
Hand-Knitting
July 11-13
Ages 10-12
$15
Letterboxing II
June 21
Ages 7-12
$10
FAQ
How do I sign up my child(ren)?
When registration opens on May 1st, 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. In 2022, we charged $10/class to help cover a small portion of the material cost of running a class. For that price, you'll receive anywhere from 2-9 hours of instruction as well as materials used to teach the class, and sometimes some take-home materials, too. We also offer scholarships so that every kid gets to participate, regardless of financial status.
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?
Right here on site at Thornapple Community Church! We have a wonderful property inside and out that gives us plenty of space and resource for all sorts of activities.
"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!"