Christian Educational Opportunities

In all we do, our desire is to live out the vision statement of the church, "Alive in Christ, and it shows!" We are excited that you may be interested in experiencing some of the educational offerings here at the church. If you have questions about any of the programs, please feel free to contact the church and we will do our best to help you find a home here in this congregation.

We hope you consider our educational offerings in your weekly schedule. It's a great way to build community.

Here is a brief description of Educational Ministries at VUMC for children, youth, and adults:

Nursery Care
Nursery care is a vital ministry of this congregation. Care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is available at both services on Sunday mornings and during the church school hour.

Two rooms are available. One is for children birth through age 2 and the other room is for older toddlers through preschool age children. The staff is trained and ready for your child to be a part of this caring environment!

Elementary Age Students
Preschool through 5th grade children meet at 10am Sunday mornings in the Preschool Classroom for songs and prayer with Lisa Coe. At 10:15am kids head to their respective classrooms.

Preschool children are led by Katie Geiger and Heather Fenwick and meet in the Preschool Classroom. Tamara Young leads the Kindergarten/1st Grade class in room 125 (the fish room). 2nd/3rd Grade meet in room 122 (the castle room) with Lisa Coe. Deb Sponseller leads the 4th/5th Grade class at the back half of room 125 (the fish room).

Learning takes place from the "Rock Solid - Building a Heart of Faith" Curriculum.

Vacation Bible School
Each August we host a week of Bible School for kids aged 3 through 5th grade. In 2010 we will be exploring the mighty love of God through "High Seas Expedition".

Middle School Students
This class, led by Mike Oswalt, is for those in the 6th, 7th, & 8th grade. The class meets in room 119. This group will grow in faith through the "Student Life Bible Study" - Life Changes. God's Word Endures forever.

High School Students
Kids in 9th-12th grade meet each Sunday morning in room 107 (The Shed) and are led by Hank Stamm, our Youth Director. High School students will be diving into a Biblical study of the Screwtape Letters.

Adult Offerings

• Marriage, Parenting and Family Life: Married with children? Single parent? Challenged by the joys and frustrations of raising a family? This class offers participants a supportive network and a place to learn some faith tools for those challenging days of parenting. Meeting in the library, the folks in this class would love for you to join them for conversation and a cup of coffee.
• Friendly forum: Religion and Ethics a weekly PBS series is a frequent discussion point for this class. Each week is different, making it ideal for drop-in attendance. This class frequently brings in speakers who touch on a wide variety of issues. If you enjoy discussing the intersection of faith in our culture, this is a good class for you. During the summer Friendly Forum will meet at the house of Judy Inmanse at 11am. Please call the church office for more information at 269/649-2343.
• Adult Bible Study: A group of adults formed this class a year and a half ago. They have studied the Book of Romans, and most recently Max Lucado's take on the Book of Luke. This class also appeals to all ages. Brad Hanson leads this class in room 123 (next to the castle room).
• Prayer Class: A group that gathers to read and discuss how prayer is central to our personal lives and the life of the church.
• New Beginnings Classes: A group that gathers to ask questions of faith and doubt. New believers, doubters, of believers, all are welcome to share. Several groups throughout the year.
• Disciple Bible Study Classes: A series of classes that allow you to really jump in to the Bible. Through daily readings, you will get a total immersion in the Bible. Weekly discussion classes help build Christian community, where you can talk about what's on your mind. There are no "dumb questions" in Disciple. People from all walks of life feel welcome in Disciple classes, no matter where they are in their journey of faith. Click here to learn about the different Disciple Bible Study Classes.
• Membership Classes/Membership Inquiries: Are you interested in learning more about United Methodism, or becoming a member of VUMC? This class is for members and non-members alike! Pastor Buff leads participants through a discussion of United Methodism; who we are and what we believe. The class meets 4-5 times during the year (usually a 4 week class). Contact church office for next session. You DO NOT have to be a new member... all current members are welcome to join to learn more and have questions answered!

For more information on any of the above classes or when and where they meet, please contact our church office at (269) 649-2343 or