First Steps | Kids at Athens First
Sunday Mornings in the Nursery
Childcare is available for infants through four-year-olds at each service, 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The nursery is located directly inside the Washington Street entrance. All of our nursery staff are certified in CPR and first aid.
What to Bring
If your child is in diapers or potty training, please bring 2-3 diapers/pull-ups and wipes for your child. All belongings (bags, cups, lovies, etc.) should be labeled with your child’s first and last name. Our goal is for each child to feel loved and get excited about coming to church. If your child has a lovie, blanket, or special stuffed animal that comforts them, you are more than welcome to bring it for them to have while they are here.
What to Expect
Our goal is to provide a safe and loving environment for our children. Please be sure to check in (using Realm) before dropping your child off in their class. If your child has difficulty dropping off, our childcare team will work with them to help acclimate them to the room. Most children are only upset for a few minutes before jumping into play time. Please do not linger in the room or the hallway where your child can see you. If they do not settle down within 10 minutes, we will call you.
Room Information
Infants (Birth until walking proficiently) Room 142
Toddlers (Walking Proficiently up to 2-year-olds born after 9/2/2022) Room 128
2 Year Olds (by September 1, 2024) Room 134
3 Year Olds (by September 1, 2024) Room 140
4 Year Olds (by September 1, 2024) Room 141
9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Differences
9:30 a.m. Sunday School Hour/Worship Service
Sunday school for two, three, and four-year-olds includes a Bible lesson, craft, music, and snack. Parents are asked to volunteer twice a year in their child's classroom. A loving environment is provided for infants through toddlers.
11:00 a.m. Worship Service
Two, three, and four-year-olds are given the opportunity to learn and play. Activities may include coloring, singing, storytelling, and gym time. A loving environment is provided for infants through toddlers.
Baby Recognition | December 15
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also celebrate the babies born into our church family in the last year. We hope you will join us during the 11:00 a.m. worship service on December 15 as we recognize your precious baby and family. We will gather in Hancock Hall at 10:30 a.m. for a reception and time of fellowship before we move to the Sanctuary for worship. Families, please RSVP by Wednesday, December 11, to let us know if you will be attending worship, and how you would like your family’s names to be printed on our commemorative Baby Recognition card. For more information, contact Traci Lowry.
When children are baptized in our church, we make a promise to walk alongside them in their faith journey. One way to support a child’s faith journey is by serving in the Nursery on Sunday mornings. If you want to serve in the Nursery, please click the link below.
Beginning in September, we ask that parents of children in the two-, three-, or four-year-old classrooms help in their child's classroom at least two Sundays a year. The role of a parent volunteer is to help children have a positive experience on Sunday mornings and allow our teachers to focus on leading the lesson.
On your Sunday to serve, please arrive at 9:15 a.m. It is a gift to be in ministry with you and your children!
Baptism is the first of several faith milestones in our church. A faith milestone is a significant moment in the faith journey of a child. We receive our identity from others, from the expectations of friends and colleagues, from the labels society puts upon us, and from the influence of family. To become a Christian is to receive a new identity. Baptism celebrates becoming that new person.
Baptism is a sacrament of the United Methodist Church and an outward, visible sign of inward, spiritual grace. Through baptism, we are initiated into Christ’s holy church and given new life through water and the Spirit.
At Athens First United Methodist Church, it is required that parents be members of this congregation because infant baptism is a covenant that is made between both parents and church members to support, raise, and love the child being baptized. Parents can join the church the same day that their child is baptized.
To schedule an infant baptism or learn more about membership, contact:
Julie Robinson |
| 706-543-1442
Athens First UMC uses an online ministry tool called Realm. It helps our church connect with you, and you connect with us. We use Realm Check-in for all Kids and Students programming. Parents can check in with their families at the kiosks in the Galleria, Hancock Hall, or Student Area (grades 6-12 only). Visit one of the Assisted Check-in stations if you are visiting with us for the first time, and a staff member or volunteer will help you create your profiles and check-in. If you are a member or repeat visitor, you will type in your name at the kiosk and follow the instructions to check kids into their groups. At the check-in station, you will receive printed name badges for children up to 5th Grade to wear during programming and a guardian receipt to provide at pick-up. Please drop off and pick up your children at the entrance to their classroom. With a Realm account, families can update their profiles, register for events, control their giving, keep in touch with their groups, and more. To receive an invitation to create an account, contact or call the church office.
