Sessions teach music, faith and manners, too

Youth Club in Girard is offered from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in two 10-week sessions, the first starting in September and running into mid-December and then from January to March.
Participants are grouped by age -- pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, first through third grades and fourth through sixth grades, the Rev. Doug Meek said. The weekly program includes a Bible story and activity such as coloring or using figures to act out a story, games, songs, sharing time and a kid-friendly meal.
Each session closes with singing of the hymn, "Father I Adore You," with children in a circle.
Popular toys are the flashing stun ball -- it flashes when squeezed -- which children hold and pass around to promote sharing, and the noodle ball yo-yo that's used as children share thoughts on the topic of the day.
Joining in to sing
The younger children, from 4-year-olds to third-graders, belong to the Church Mouse Choir and present a Christmas program. The fourth- through sixth-graders make up the RAD (Really Awesome Disciples) Choir, and they present a musical program in the spring in which they have speaking parts. The Church Mouse Choir provides backup.
The program averages about 70 children each week, the Rev. Mr. Meek said. It costs about $25 per child for the two sessions. Church members and parents sponsor children. "We have many generous people who sponsor numerous children," Mr. Meek said. Even if a child is not sponsored, the child is not turned away, he said.
As for the participants, it's a 50-50 split between children of church members and children from the community at large.
"Children may start attending church," Mr. Meek said after they become involved in Youth Club. "And then sometimes their parents follow and become part of the congregation. Sometimes that doesn't happen."
But the ministry behind the Youth Club is "to reach our to children. It's a way for us to show children that church can be fun," Mr. Meek said. "And it may be a way to bring new people into the church."
Helping the kids
But he emphasized that the Youth Club's mission is to benefit children.
"We see it as a way for children to learn about God. It's community-building ... getting to know one another and seeing everyone as a child of God," the pastor said.
For each age group, there is a lead teacher and two helpers. "They sometimes change from year to year, people new to the church get involved," Mr. Meek said. "They use their various talents and work as a team. Some have the gift of music, teaching or cooking. We talk about using these gifts for the glory of God."
Susan Taylor, who coordinates games, is a second-year volunteer. "I was actually at the church and in eighth grade when it [Youth Club] started," she said. "It was smaller then, now there a lot more kids." And among them is her own son, Jacob, 6.
"There's just something neat about it. It think it's a good outreach," Taylor said. "And it's a joy to do."
And it's more than just having fun -- it helps children practice table manners, learn to share and talk about their day.