Welcome to FIRSTKIDZ
We value each child and family that comes to First United Methodist Church of Gilbert!
FIRSTKIDZ is a special place designed for kids from 6 weeks through 6th grade. We believe each child is created to have a relationship with God and with unique talents and abilities to influence their world and community. We are dedicated to helping each child become a deeply devoted child of Jesus!
We recognize that no one has more influence over a child than their family. Because of this, we believe that what happens at home is more important than what happens at church. We are committed to partnering with families by providing a plan that will give them the tools they need to support their children spiritually. Please feel free to contact us at anytime with questions: email Children’s Ministry or call 480-892-9166. Click here for the Children’s Registration Form
We look forward to meeting your family! Click on the links below for more information about each area.
FIRSTKIDZ Sunday School
9:30 am
Preschool-Kindergarten – Room 144
1st-3rd Grade – Room 205
4th-6th Grade – Room 203
All Sunday School Students: Parents must fill out a registration form.
We believe the Bible should never be boring, good leaders always care, and worship can be really fun! Through weekly large group and small group settings, FIRSTKIDZ is designed to guide children to put their faith in Jesus.
Once you are in the classroom and greeted by your child’s Small Group Leader, your child will be introduced to one of the classroom greeters. Classroom greeters will make sure that your child has someone to sit with and is part of the group activities. At the end of the service you will return to your child’s classroom(s) and sign them out. Your child’s Small Group Leader will make sure you have any parent information available.
The preschool classroom is in the East Education Wing. These classrooms are specifically designed for young children in mind. Please remember in order for your 3 year old to attend Pre-K3’s they need to be potty trained and be 3 before August 31. In order for your 4 year old to attend Pre-K4’s they will need to be potty trained and be 4 before August 31.
Their weekly small group leader is focused on making these 3 truths stick:
- I need to make the WISE choice,
- I can TRUST God no matter what
- I should TREAT OTHERS the way I want to be treated.
We use the First Look and 252 Basics curriculum from the rethink Orange Group.
In an effort to maintain and provide a safe, loving environment for all children participating in activities on our campus here at First United Methodist Church of Gilbert, we have implemented Safe Sanctuary. Safe Sanctuary in part conducts background checks on all of our employees and volunteers who work with children and establishes safe classroom policies. All classrooms will be clearly visible from the outside (blinds will not be closed).
FKParents
We want to partner with parents to strengthen all our families! To connect with parents weekly we email the Parent Insider. In each issue there is information about what we are doing in FIRSTKIDZ, and topics about parenting. Every Sunday we make available to parents God Time cards and the Parent Cue so that what we learn on Sunday can be taken home for Monday through Friday.
All Sunday School Students: Parents must fill out a registration form.
Parent’s Night Out
Join Us for a Fun Night Out!
Mark your calendars for Friday, February 21, 2025, from 5-8 PM at the Gilbert UMC Preschool. This exciting event is open to children from 1 year old through 5th grade. For just $25 per child (with a family cap of $60), your kids can enjoy an evening filled with fun activities while you take a well-deserved break. All proceeds from this event will go directly to support the Gilbert UMC Preschool. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to contribute to a great cause and ensure a memorable night for your little ones!
We look forward to seeing you there! ?
Children’s Choir
10:00-10:25 am
Music Director’s Office
Children ages 5-12
For any questions, please email Randy Van Der Pol or contact the church office: 480-892-9166 or secretary@gilbertumc.org
June 2-6, 2025
9 am – 12 pm
331 S. Cooper Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85233
Join us for this fun week of music, crafts, games, and bible stories as we learn to love like Jesus!
The “Live It Out” VBS theme combines the fun and adventure of camp life with hands-on learning that inspires preschool to elementary kids to follow Jesus’ example. Get ready to make this summer unforgettable for your kids! At Vacation Bible School (VBS) children learn about Jesus through fun, age-appropriate activities. Vacation Bible School helps children build a lifetime of memories and friendships. Children will enjoy stories from the Bible, singing, crafts, games, snacks, and exciting skits.
We welcome children who are Potty-Trained Preschool and Pre-Kinder children and Kindergarten- 5th grade students. All grades are for the 2025/2026 School Year. Through April 30th $40 per child/ $80 Family Max. Starting May 1st $45 per child/ $90 Family Max. Youth and adults are welcome as volunteers. If an adult volunteers, a discount is available or additional financial assistance may be available by contacting children’s ministries.
After reserving your child’s spot, payment will be required by going to the FUMCG payment site: http://bitly.com/gilbertgiving before your registration is complete.
Family and Student Camps on Mingus Mountain!
Established in the late 1940’s, Mingus Mountain Camp & Retreat Center has nurtured and nourished generations of campers and families under its towering Ponderosa pines and night skies splashed with countless stars. Since its inception in 1947, Mingus’ camps have been staffed by volunteers drawn from the ranks of pastors, youth leaders, educators, and church volunteers. In addition to its regular cycle of children’s, youth, and family camps, Mingus hosts local church retreats, school band camps, and small group meetings. Mingus Mountain United Methodist Camp is a beautiful mountaintop retreat encompassing 110 acres in Ponderosa pine forest. Located near Jerome, the camp is at the 7,700 foot summit of Mingus Mountain within the Prescott National Forest. Our rustic environment and open grassy meadow make the camp especially popular for youth and family oriented church camps. Our spacious new retreat cabins are ideal for adult groups too.
Summer Camps information is available!
For more information and camp schedule visit the Desert Southwest Conference Mingus Mountain Website
SCOUTING FOR EVERYONE!
Girl Scouts
In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. Troops from Daisy through Cadettes are currently meeting at the church, with the girls coming from all over Gilbert. You do not need to be a member of the church for your child to participate in one of the troops.
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouting is fun for the entire family – girls and boys, grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade! As a Cub Scout, you will be part of your own den. The pack is divided into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight scouts. Girls and boys are in separate dens, to recognize developmental differences and encourage individual growth and learning. All of the Cub Scouts in your den are in the same grade, but may go to different schools. The Cub Scout Pack is open to all young people, regardless of church affiliation, culture, or background. The Pack is committed to having good adult leaders (who go through background checks and mandatory training), a place to meet, and exciting things to do. The Pack gets help from the Boy Scouts of America, which is part of the World Scouting Movement. Pack 88 is currently one of the largest traditional Cub Scout Packs in the Lost Dutchman District (Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, and San Tan Valley).
Scouts for Boys and Girls
The Scouts (BSA) is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. All youth ages 11-17 are eligible to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Scouts BSA will be single gender – all girl troops or all boy troops. BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness. For over a century, BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through over a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society Troop 88 is one of the largest traditional Boy Scout Troops in the Lost Dutchman District (Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, and San Tan Valley) and has been serving youth for over 90 years.