Sunday Worship
9:30 AM
Children
Birth through 5th grade
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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.
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Children & Worship runs September 17 through May 16, 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 (singing and offering). After, kids will be escorted to their classroom for the lesson and craft time.
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Schedule
10:50 AM Gathering Time (Children's Ministry Room)
11:00 AM Lesson Time (Education Wing Classrooms)
11:45 AM Dismissal
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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.
Community Indoor Trick-or-Treat
Tuesday, October 31 from 6:00-7:30 PM
Family Event • FREE • No Sign-Up Required
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Add us to your trick-or-treating route on Halloween! Knock on classroom and office doors in a safe, lit, warm building. Wear a costume and bring a candy bucket! This is an event geared toward the younger trick-or-treaters out there but all ages are welcome! There will not be anything scary, just some light-hearted decorations! For more information, click the button below.
We Three Kings: Family Escape Room
Wednesday, December 27 & Thursday, December 28
Family Event • FREE • Sign-Up Required
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Help the three Wise Men locate their gifts and follow the star in the East to meet Jesus. If your family loves puzzles and games, you'll enjoy this kid-friendly escape room! The puzzles will be geared toward ages 5-12, but all ages are welcome. Adults and kids will work together to solve their way out of the room. This free escape room will be available on Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28 with limited spaces.
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.
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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.
Check back in late spring for our 2024 class offerings!
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 2023, we charged $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 2-9 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!"