UMC - Chicago Temple

“Come and see” how children experience the love of Jesus in Christian Education, Music, Worship, Service, and Fellowship. Dr. Cheryl Magrini is the Minister of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation who provides overall leadership and support for Children’s Ministries. She has many years of working with Children’s Ministries..

Energetic singing with Children’s Director Kristen Hower. She has the children singing Vacation Bible School type songs with lots of energy and high interest to the children. Parents are always welcome to join in the fun with the children. The music room is in the children’s fourth floor wing. 6th graders, who attend the middle school and junior high school class are welcome to come to this music program as leaders and helpers with Kristen.

Children’s Sabbath the second Sunday in October
December Nativity in worship
Palm Sunday – palm parade and singing!
Mother’s Day in May

We are happy to be using the LIVE B.I.G. curriculum in the children’s rooms. LIVE B.I.G. means: Live Believing In God! It is contemporary and begins with a short video clip with energetic characters that repeat each week to introduce the theme in skits and singing.

Preschool app. ages 3-4 taught by Betsy Benito, Cheryl and John Price, and youth with adult supervision
Kindergarten and 1st gr. taught by Danielle Szucalla and Nenette Alonzo
2nd-5th gr. multi-age room taught by Joscyln Tomaw and Elizabeth Taylor

We are proud of the quality of all of our teachers. They all have background checks and are trained in the curriculum teaching.

The Children’s Ministry is supported by the Children’s Christian Education Committee, chaired at present by David Arnold. Contact Dr. Magrini if you have interest in serving on this committee. The main activities are the Open House in September, the December Nativity, a mission project, and the May teacher “Thank you.” We are always looking for new ways to further minister to our children and to parents.

Music from 9:30-10:00am for 7th-12th grade is a hand chimes choir, directed by Jennifer Pollack. The choir does not meet on the 2nd Sunday of the month. The youth music is in the 3rd floor choir room. 6th graders are encouraged to participate as leaders in the children’s music program that meets during the same time – 9:30-10:00am

10:00am: Middle-School and Junior High meet in Pierce Hall, lower level, room 2. Taught by Anne and Bob Herman, teachers who have been with us for many years and have a wealth of energy and experience!
10:00am: Senior High School Sunday School meets in the 3rd floor conference room, directly near the choir room. This class is taught by new teachers with lots of enthusiasm to bring daily current events in conversation with the Bible and the lives of the youth. The class is taught by Katie Knaus and John Aquino.

Confirmation is taught this year by Dr. Magrini and Mr. Steve Hueppchen from October through May. Confirmation is a high commitment course and is open to any youth 7th grade or older. Each parent is asked to contribute $25 per child to cover costs of the program. Confidential scholarships are available through Dr. Magrini. Confirmation is a high commitment course not only for the youth but also for the parent. Each parent is asked to look carefully at the requirements of the program and are expected to get the youth to the events and to help the mentor process take place.

If a parent feels that the commitment to the entire process cannot take place at this time, then another offering of the course would be better. The course is offered every other year at Chicago Temple.

The 2nd Sunday of the month, the 6th-8th gr. class will begin at 9:30am, with Confirmation material. The official grade for beginning Confirmation is 7th gr., so the 6th graders get a preview of material to come. Repetition cannot be too much when it comes to faith and questioning at this age. Confirmation meets on the 4th Sunday of the month from 12:15pm-2pm in rooms 416 and 420A. Parents are asked to sign up to bring a light lunch for the whole group. Mentors attend the afternoon class as well. Mentor to youth relationship is a very important part of the Confirmation experience.

Also required for Confirmation: a field trip to expose the youth to other religions as we live in a world with many religions; a retreat at the end of the course, the mentoring relationship, a service project that has a written paper, and memorization of the Apostle’s Creed.

Parents will be asked to complete a registration form for Sunday school. A committee member coordinates parents bringing healthy snacks each Sunday. There are also room cleaning dates where parents help. Parents are encouraged to offer to be a guest story reader or craft helper at least two Sundays during the school year season.

Children are always welcome and encouraged to attend worship at either 8:30am or 11am. Dr. Magrini invites the children forward to the sanctuary front steps for a “Time for Young Christians” with a message just for the children. Worship activity bags are available in the Narthex.

Grades 5 and up may serve as acolytes in worship. We have two acolytes at the 11am service, one to light the candles and one to carry the processional cross. This is a highlight for many of the youth to serve as acolytes. Look for training dates in late August and in September, 2006. Two “check-in” parents and a parent scheduler work with Dr. Magrini to support this significant ministry.

Offering is collected in Sunday school and the children decide the recipient of the offering. In the past offering has gone to the Homeless Hospitality Ministry and to the United Voices for Children fund.

All children like a party! We celebrate open houses during the year and a grand party in May before the summer break. These are times when parents get to know the teachers and one another.

A reference library of topical brochures to help parents is available in room 420A, a seminar room where the Sunday school class, “Parents of Young Children” meets. Any parents are welcome to join this class at 9:30am. There is usually a strong pot of coffee brewing! Dr. Magrini also has resources available for parents on topics of loss, grief, divorce, a new baby arriving, and moving, just to highlight the main topics. She is also available to parents who desire a confidential conversation.

Dr. Cheryl Magrini, Minister of Christian Education, can be reached at 312-236-4548, ext. 122 or by email at cheryl@chicagotemple.org.

Children and Youth grow in discipleship and learn about discipleship for today in Christian education, music, worship, and service.