Children's Programs
Orchard is committed to providing loving and nurturing programming for all children where they can know Jesus through story and experience.
We welcome all children and celebrate the diversity of each child's needs.
Nursery
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Nursery care is available during our Sunday services for children from birth to 3 years old.
Our nursery staff lovingly welcome the children to a place where they can be safe and nurtured in Christ's love.
Children are signed in and out, and pagers are provided to parents in the event they need to be contacted.
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Our crib nursery is equipped for infants up to 2 years old; our Toddler nursery encourages creative play for children 2 and 3 years old.
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Our mother's room is adjacent to the nursery and is open for moms who need to feed their babies, change diapers, or get some quiet for their little ones.
Contact Tracey Huber, Early Childhood Director, for more information.
Sunday W.O.W.
W.O.W. = Worship Our Way
Preschool through 5th Grade
W.O.W. is our children’s worship experience offered during Sunday Services (9 am and 11 am regular season, 10 am summer season).
Children begin in the sanctuary with their families and are dismissed following the Children’s Message to participate in an experiential and age-appropriate worship service which prepares them to make the transition to adult worship.
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Parents & guardians sign in their child(ren) on the green clipboard at the Welcome Desk before heading in to the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings. This ensures we have the proper adult to child ratio for safety. ​Parents & Guardians then sign the children out after picking them up after service.
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For children who chose to stay with their family in our worship services, we have activity bags available at the Welcome Desk.
Sunday Classes
We offer classes for children during the 10 am hour on Sundays (from September through May).
Sometimes we have Bible learning classes and other times we offer special music, art and dance for children to express their faith through creativity. (Contact Colleen Aben for more info.)
In February of each year, we present our 3rd graders with their own Bibles and then offer a Bible Basics class to help them learn how to use this lifelong tool. If you have a child in the 3rd grade (or one in 4-5th grade) who has not yet received a Bible, please reach out to Colleen Aben.
Children & Music
Orchard gives children an opportunity to joyfully express their faith through singing, acting, and the use of a variety of musical instruments.
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Our children's handbell choir (Kids Bells) meets seasonally to prepare songs to play our Sunday Worship Services.
Our children learn songs during W.O.W. on Sunday mornings. Children who attend VBS during the summer learn a musical and then have performance on the following Sunday (more VBS details below).
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Contact Colleen Aben for more information about children singing in worship.
Contact our Director of Music, Jantz Black, for more information on the children's handbell program. ​
Family Events
​Orchard has a full calendar of events for the whole family throughout the year.
Our annual seasonal events are:
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an Easter Egg Hunt (10 am on Palm Sunday - April 13, 2025),
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VBS for a week during the summer (August 4-8, 2025),
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a Harvest Festival with music and crafts in October,
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Breakfast With Santa and the Santa Shop in December.
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We organize a Parents' Night Out each semester as well as the occasional Movie Night or other family excursion.
We also have a Family-Focused Worship Service at 9 am when there are five Sundays in a month (see our church calendar for when these occur).
Email or call the church office to find out what fun family event is happening next!
VBS
Vacation Bible School
One of the most vibrant pieces of our Children's Ministry is our summer Vacation Bible School. It's a week of joy and laughter and discovery as children hear and experience essential Bible stories even as they begin to figure out what those stories mean for their own lives. We always have great fun and learn so many things about Jesus!
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For more Information contact: kellysheckell@orchardumc.org
Safety Standards
At Orchard, safety is a top priority.
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We follow the UMC's Safe Sanctuary Policies.
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We conduct background checks for all teachers and volunteers.
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We have "Doors Open" and "Two Person" rules in place.
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We have check-in & check-out policies in place.
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Our children's wing is a nut-free zone.​​​
Read the UMC's Child Safety Policy here.
View the Michigan Conference's Policy for the Protection of Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults here.
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Volunteer Opportunities​
We are looking for helpers for W.O.W. and teachers for children's Sunday classes (10 am) as well as for summer VBS. Contact Colleen Aben, Children's Ministry Director, for more information.