Children's Christian Education
9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Childcare for infants and toddlers available 8:00-12:15 p.m.
Grace Church's commitment to revitalizing Children's and Family Ministry is paramount, with children's Christian Education and Sunday School at the forefront of that commitment.  During worship on Sundays, safe, loving childcare for infants and toddlers is available 8:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.  Sunday School is available for children ages two through 5th grade at 9:30 a.m. in various age-appropriate classrooms.  At 11:00 a.m., youngsters are invited to join in a special children's time with Pastor Bob Atkins during worship in the sanctuary, followed by Children's Time in the Chapel with an adult leader.  Year 'round, children explore God's Word and learn how to live God's Word through music, crafts, Bible stories and other age appropriate activities. Youth 6-12th grade are integrated into our Youth Ministry program.  

Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School, every July, sees hundreds of children participate in a week-long morning program for preschool and kindergarten through grade four. Vacation Bible School includes Bible stories, drama, music, mission projects and crafts to help children learn more about our Christian faith.

Human Sexuality Classes
Every winter a course for parents and children in grades 5 and 6 offers information on human sexuality in the context of a loving relationship with a caring God. The 6-week course begins in January with three parent sessions. The classes meet on Sunday afternoons.

Throughout the Year...
Because Grace is committed to providing events and opportunities that enrich the entire family, we offer "Fun in Faith" events for children and their families throughout the year, including a Fall Festival Celebration in the fall, our Advent Wreath Making event in November, "Kids Camp In" events throughout the year (when kids "camp in" with food and fun activities while parents go out!), age-appropriate mission opportunities, and our All Church Picnic in July, which features games and activities for children, a Moon Jump, and lively children's entertainment. 

Youth Ministry
Summer 2011 Youth Schedule:  Sunday School 9:30 a.m. (incoming 6th-8th graders Room 233; incoming 9-12th graders Room 234; college students Room 226).  Beginning June 29, Youth Fellowship and Bible Study combine on Wednesday nights, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Room 234 or outside (weather permitting). 

During the school year, youth meet Sunday mornings for classes. Sunday evening Youth Fellowship (5:30-7:00 p.m. for grades 6-8 and 7:00-8:30 p.m. for grades 9-12 in Room 234) features informal fellowship time, crazy games, friendship, faith exploration and issue studies. On Wednesday evenings, Cafe 234 opens to youth at 6:00 p.m. for dinner, followed by Bible study. Monthly events include retreats, lock-ins, Bible studies, and mission and service opportunities.

Adult Christian Education
9:30am and 11:00am 
Confirmation Parents:  9:30am Sundays, Room 232.  For parents of confirmation students; focuses on parenting issues, tenets/history of United Methodism, teen safety, etc.
Grace Seekers: 9:30am Sundays, Room 224.  Open to all ages, singles and couples.  Studies a broad range of contemporary Christian writings, supplemented with Bible references.
Faith and Family: 9:30am Sundays, Room 250.  Couples and singles. Challenging discussions dealing with issues such as faith, discipleship, marriage, and parenting.
Forum: 9:30am Sundays, Fireside Room.  Mature couples and singles. Spirited lessons including guest speakers, Bible study, class discussion, and thought-provoking audio/visuals.
Questors: 9:30am Sundays, Room 254.  Adults. Long-standing, open-discussion class focusing on contemporary Christian issues, Bible studies, and practical application of faith.
New Connections  9:30am Sundays, Room 227.  Open to all ages, new people welcome.  Join this dynamic new class, engaging in thought-provoking studies and discussions throughout the year.
Holy Conversations  9:30 a.m. Sundays, Room 250.  All ages, couples and singles.  Follows book-based studies, engages in stimulating discussions. 
Parent-to-Parent 9:30 a.m. Sundays, Conference Room.  Open to parents and guardians at all stages of the parenting journey.  Christian fellowship, guest speakers, parenting and family topics, social outings, local missions.
Open Hearts and Minds  11:00 a.m., Room 250.  Led by Revs. Don Niswonger and Dr. Carol Findon, this class focuses on ground-breaking Christian studies that explore what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world.
College/Young Adult Sunday School  9:30 a.m. in Room 226.  Open to college students or young adults between the ages of 18-25.

Special Guest Speakers Throughout the year, noted theologians and/or clergy visit Grace and address all of our adult Sunday School classes as a whole, typically at the 9:30 hour.  These speakers are often clergy men or women from other states or countries, and many of them preach from the pulpit at a Saturday or Sunday worship service during the time of their visit. 

Disciple Classes
Disciple is a program of disciplined, in-depth Bible study over a period of 30+ weeks, focusing on the disciples as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer and servant. 

Disciple Classes offered in the year 2011-12:
Disciple I Monday evenings, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Room 233--Covers the Bible story from Creation to the New Jerusalem.
Disciple II:  Into the Word, Into the World Thursday mornings, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Room 254-Concentrates on Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts, emphasizing the rhythm of coming to God and going for God, approaching all experiences of life as opportunities for faithful witness and service.  
"Living the Questions" Monday evenings, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Room 254 --This 30-week study (which can be taken in separate sections of 10 weeks each or all three sections) looks at the tough questions "thinking" Christians have, but were afraid to ask, and goes beyond the traditions and rote theologies into new and challenging territory.  Participants should have already taken Disciple I and II classes.

Mid-Week Small Group Studies
College/Young Adult Group, 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the home of Josh and Christine Freeman.  Meets every other week at various times of the year for Bible study, dinner and fellowship.
Monday Afternoon Sisters Study, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Room 254.  Intergenerational group of women engages in spirited discussions of books and studies focused on spiritual formation.
Wednesday Night Sisters Study, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Fireside Room.  Women of all ages follow an in-depth Bible or book study that explores how the Bible applies to women's lives today.
Wednesday Night Study Group, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Meets in members' homes on the first and third Wednesdays of the month for Christian book study and discussion.