Children's Ministry

Children are included in our weekly worship services.

Children at the worship service at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children entering the United Methodist Church at the start of worship service.
Children prepare for the children's sermon.

The children get their own message A Time with Young Disciples, during Sunday morning worship service. Presenters include Terry and Aaron Hannon, Howard Detweiler, Casey Brewster, and the pastor.

Casey Brewster presents 'A Time With Young Disciples' for the children.
Casey Brewster presents 'A Time With Young Disciples' for the children.
Pastor LaMont with children during the Sunday morning worship service.

Also read about our Children and Youth Groups for exciting news about activities for grades K-2, 3-6, and 7-12 and college.

Donna Bonath and Howard Detweiler handle the children's ministry one week, then Aaron Hannon on Palm Sunday.

Donna Bonath and Howard Detweiler with children during the Sunday morning worship service.
Aaron Hannon with the children during Palm Sunday service.
Aaron Hannon with the children during Palm Sunday service.
Aaron Hannon with the children during Palm Sunday service.

The children present an annual Christmas program during the Sunday morning worship service.

Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children's Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.

Children decorate a tree with Chrismons during Advent season.

Chrismons are symbols representing aspects of the person, life, or ministry of Jesus Christ and the ministry of history of the Christian church. The term "chrismon" is a contraction of the Latin Christi Monogramma meaning "monogram of Christ", the Chi-Rho symbol. Examples of common chrismon symbols include:

Ship — Represents the community of the church. The term nave for the main space of the church interior comes from the same Latin root as navy and naval, as the church is a "ship of souls".

Triangle or trefoil knot — The Trinity.

Dove — symbolic of peace and of the sign of the Holy Spirit in Christ's baptism.

5-pointed star — the ephiphany of Jesus.

Chrismon tree decorated with Chrismon symbols.
Children decorating the tree with Chrismons at the Paoli United Methodist Church.

Ichthys or fish outline — a common symbol of the early Christian church under persecution, used to denote Christ. Ιχθύς or ichthys is Greek for "fish". Additionally, ΙΧΘΥΣ can serve as an acronym for "Ιησούς Χριστός, Θεού Υιός, Σωτήρ", or "Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr", meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior". In ancient times the letters of ΙΧΘΥΣ were sometimes written superimposed within a circle, forming an eight-spoked wheel. Also, of course, see the Biblical references to the apostles being "fishers of men", to the miraculous feeding of the multitude with "five small loaves and two fish", and to some fishing metaphors Jesus used.

This Roman mosaic of a fish is about 18"x12" in size. This mosaic was made around 300 A.D., and while it was probably meant simply as a decorative design of an animal, it was re-used in a church in the following centuries. This mosaic is from the Detroit Institute of Art, and is in one of their galleries of ecclesiastical art.

Roman mosaic of a fish, circa 300 CE.

One year, the children's Christmas program had a Hawaiian theme.

Below, the children's and youth groups perform in a more traditional Christmas program.

Children and youth groups in the Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children and youth groups in the Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.
Children and youth groups in the Christmas program at the Paoli United Methodist Church.