Moms & Dads,
We think you are awesome!!
By God’s design, we believe you have been given the opportunity to be most influencial for passing along faith to your children. Columbia believes this so strongly, we have re-designed ministry to come alongside our parents and grandparents to encourage, equip and empower you to fulfill your calling as parents! As your church, we are here to help you to reestablish your home as the primary place where faith is nurtured and to be a loving community that supports those efforts. Let’s bring the transforming power of Christ-like living to our familes today!
Preschool
Nursery - K's
Preschoolers are always learning! So there is no better time to introduce our littlest ones to our loving God. Through play, exploration, art, drama, games, and Bible Stories, our preschoolers will be introduced to a God who loves them by caring teachers who partner with parents to nurture their first steps toward faith.
Grade School
Grades 1 - 5
Just like the foundation of your home, the spiritual foundation that is laid in the hearts of children is critical to everything that follows. The spiritual foundations we lay help to shape who they will be for the rest of their lives. In Children’s Ministry, we seek to ignite, in young hearts, a faith that will grow by offering exciting, fun-filled weekly programs, special events and camps that ultimately lead to a faith that informs and transforms the lives of children.
Middle School
Grades 6 - 8
It’s time for our youth to get Wired! Wired is a high energy and active ministry for Columbia’s middle school students. Wired gives our middle school students solid spiritual grounding while providing a safe environment for developing social connections with other students. There are tons of fun and energetic events and retreats throughout the year.
High School
Grades 9 - 12
Our High School students live on the Edge. The Edge is Columbia’s high school ministry, where students are given a safe place to be and explore faith on a deeper level. At the Edge, students have the ability to question and think for themselves and are given opportunities to own their own faith. This includes developing a Godly worldview through worship, fellowship, small groups and retreats during the year.
College
Ages 19 - 25
College is a busy time for young adults and it’s hard to find a place to belong. Columbia’s college ministry is a place to be connected with other college students, to study and discuss God’s word and how it applies during this transitional time in your life. The ministry encompasses both local students as well as those who are away at school and return during breaks.
Ignition Groups
We call all Bible-based studies here at Columbia Ignition Groups. These gatherings Ignite Passion for Jesus Christ by revealing God’s character and redemptive activity as recorded in Scripture and lived out in community. Ignition groups for children and students meet Sunday mornings at 9:45am and 11:15am.
Childcare Available
- Sundays: 8:15am - 9:45am
- Wednesdays: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Saturdays: 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Child Development Center
Celebrating our 39th year, Columbia’s Child Development Center is a Christian based preschool teaching children about God’s unconditional love. Our teaching philosophy is learning through play emphasizing spiritual, social, physical, cognitive and emotional development. Children are challenged to grow and learn at an unhurried pace from caring and qualified staff members concerned about the whole child. All children attend Chapel (a child-oriented worship service), music and movement classes and Spanish classes.
Our center welcomes children age 2 1/2 and potty trained through Pre-K. We operate both a morning program (9 am to 12 noon) and a full day program (7:30 am- 6pm) year round. If you are an “at-home” parent and need a little extra time to run errands or have moment of peace, we also offer a cooperative parents day out program called Little Lambs. For Grade School Children during the summer months, we offer a Christian based Summer Day Camp led by committed Christian college-age counselors. Each camp week features a special theme and weekly field trips related that week’s theme.
For more information about our Child Development Center, please visit the Child Development Center webpage or call Kris (703-534-5740 x270)!
2009 Calendar of Events
| Jan. 18 |
Family Matters resumes for adults |
| Jan. 29 |
Middle School Snow Tubing |
| Feb. 1 |
Super Bowl/Chili Cook Off |
| Feb. 13 - 16 |
High School Ski Retreat |
| Mar. 29 |
Celebrate Life Musical |
| Apr. 4 |
Children’s Easter Event |
| Apr. 18 |
Middle School Retreat |
| May 16 |
Middle School Paintball Outing |
| May 17 |
Children’s Spring Musical |
| May (TBA) |
College Retreat |
| Jun. 15 - Aug. 14 |
Summer Camp |
| Jul. 13 - 17 |
Vacation Bible School |
| Aug 3 - 7 |
CentriKid Camp |
| Aug. 4 - 8 |
Student Life Camp |
| Oct. 17 |
Middle School Corn Maze |
| Oct. 31 |
Trunk or Treat |
| Nov. 22 |
Thanksgiving Dinner & Service |
| Dec. 12 - 13 |
Christmas Musical |
| Dec. 24 |
Christmas Eve Services |
|
For More Information
Lora Gravatt, Pastor for Children and Family Life, 
Chris McPeek, Minister to Students,
Kris Solberg, Director, Child Development Center,
Linda Chenault, Family Life Ministry Associate,
Bethany Sweatman, Childcare Coordinator,
Resumes on
January 11th at 5:00 pm
Annual All Congregation Business Meeting
for the Adults in the Sanctuary
Regular Activities for Students and Children
in their Assigned Locations
Reception at 6:30 pm
Featuring Multicultural Foods in Stephenson Hall.
Please bring an "American" entree to share.
Be sure to check out the new Family Matters Brochure for details on program details, contacts, and schedule.
Opportunities to Serve in Family Ministry
Do you have a flair for the arts? Are you creative? Do you love to make things sound good? The Family Ministry Team is looking for YOU! We have multiple opportunities and a variety of levels of commitment to serve in our Sunday evening program! We are searching for talented folks who like led or participate in drama and skits, musicians and vocalists for our Praise Teams, Painters and Designers for sets, props and costumes and those technically minded to help set up and/or run our audio video for large groups. We have openings on the Children's Ministry, Middle School or High School Ministry Teams! For more information on Praise Teams, please contact Carlton Gravatt at
. If you are interested in Drama, please contact Rob Link at
.
WANTED: Happy People! The Family Ministry team is looking for Happy People who love to help others! Our new Greeter team is now forming to assist children and students AND their parents to find their ministry rooms, get checked in safely and help them meet new people at Columbia! Ministry opportunities include Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, 10:45 am and Sunday nights at 5:45 pm. If you love to smile and point the way, we need you for about 30 minutes for your chosen ministry session! For more information on this ministry, please contact Becky Mancuso at .
Who will teach the children? Deuteronomy 6:10 says that we are to "diligently teach our children" to love the Lord! The heart of our Family ministry is teaching children and students and so we are inviting all gifted teachers to join us in this life changing ministry to children birth through college. If you love the Lord, love kids and have been given the gift of teaching or are willing to develop your gift then we have a place for you to live out your calling! Teaching opportunities 
(teachers, assistants and substitutes) available on Sunday morning and Sunday evening for Nursery, Preschool, Grade School, Middle School and High School age kids as well as College and Career young adults. The contacts for these areas are:
- Newborns thru Preschool:
- 9:45 - Denita Relaford,
- 11:15 - Tracy Yates,
- Grade School: Elizabeth Trumbull,
- Middle School/High School: Chris McPeek,
- College & Career: Joel Trotter,
