Children

At Highland, our hope and mission is that children will experience the love of God, encounter the transformative story of Jesus, and participate in God's creative work of Love in the world as they grow and explore the faith.

All of this happens as children participate in all aspects of ministry in our community of faith. Children are continually learning as they encounter Biblical stories in age-appropriate ways and as they learn the songs of faith through singing, movement, and playing instruments. They are being nurtured spiritually through prayer, worship education, quiet reflection, and as intergenerational relationships are built. Children at Highland are active leaders, sharing regularly in worship and guiding the community of faith to make a difference in our world.

Opportunities for Forming

Children’s Bible Study Classes (K/1st, 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th, Sunday Morning)

Children’s Choirs (K-5th, Wednesday Evening)

Children: Opportunities for Forming 

Children’s Worship

Children in Kindergarten thru 2nd grade are invited to join us during 11 am worship, just before the sermon (see bulletin instructions), for a specific time of worship designed just for them.  Together, we learn new songs, engage with the Biblical story being shared in worship that day, collect an offering, and learn more about the seasons of the church year and the weekly elements of worship.   Children’s worship does not meet on Communion Sundays so that our children become familiar with the important ritual of remembrance that occurs as we come to the table together as a community of faith.

Annual Opportunities

Festivals and Fellowship

Each year, we gather together for fellowship opportunities that connect families and their children together through activity.  Celebrations like AutumnFest and our Easter Festival help us ring in the seasons of Autumn and Spring with energy and joy.  In the past, we have also gathered pool-side for an afternoon of fun, celebrated the Back to School season, organized picnics on our church playground, and enjoyed movie nights together.

Life Markers & Transitions

At various points during a child’s development, we honor the ways in which children are growing and changing and what that means for families who are growing and changing with them.  Often, this takes place in a worship service but also in other ways.  We honor the gift of a child entering a family’s life by birth or adoption through dedication rituals in our worship service.  We honor Kindergarteners embarking on the journey of elementary school in the days leading up to the school year’s beginning.  And we celebrate with 5th graders as they graduate from elementary school and move into middle school and the youth group.  Various activities for children, classes for parents, and conversations around these important life markers take place at appropriate times throughout the year.

Vacation Bible School Camp

VBS Camp has become a treasured hallmark of childhood here at Highland.  Children who have completed Kindergarten thru 3rd grade are invited to join us for a 3 day, 2 night retreat at a nearby retreat center for our annual summer Vacation Bible School experience.  Parents, grandparents and other volunteers join us at camp to teach and cook and chaperone.  Children experience a full 5 sessions of VBS, along with a trip to a nearby community pool and an evening of water games.  We spend time creating crafts, playing games, engaging with Bible stories, learning how we can make a difference in the world, and having fun – all of which helps us understand what God’s love is all about.

PASSPORTkids!

Also during the summer months, children who have completed 4th-5th grades are invited to travel with us to PASSPORTkids!  Held at various locations (no more than 3-4 hours from Louisville), we travel to join with other churches as we encounter Christ in new ways, experience community, and learn more about participating in loving the world as God does.  It is one of the central formation experiences of the summer and the entire year for older elementary school children, and we have fun while learning!  More information about PASSPORTkids! can be found at www.passportcamps.org.

For more information on children’s ministry, contact Renee Purtlebaugh.  To find HBC Children and Family Ministry on Facebook, click here.