Ms. Paula is the SGL on the 2nd-5th Sundays. Ms. Paula has been at FUMC for over 20 years. She has been serving in Children’s Ministry for 14 years.

Ms. Paula has a huge heart for children. She loves to listen to them and watch them. She has incredible patience. Her gift is being able to spend time with kids and just enjoy their presence without getting frustrated or impatient.

In addition to serving as a Kindergarten/1st Grade SGL on Sundays in Children’s Ministry she also serves as a SGL on Wednesday nights.

For Ms. Paula the most fun part of being a SGL is seeing how the children interact with one another. If you want to hear how wonderful your child is, ask Ms. Paula. She sees each child as a unique and bright shining light! And we all need someone who sees us that way.

Her favorite Bible verse is –

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the
people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14

Our Kindergarten/1st Grade Small Group Leader on 1st and 2nd Sundays is Ms. Jan. Ms. Jan has been a member of FUMC for five and half years.

She’s been serving in Children’s Ministry for five of those. In addition to being a SGL on Sundays, she is also a SGL on Wednesday nights and…AND Thursday nights! Give that woman a raise! Am I right?

When she’s not busy influencing the faith of the next generation, Ms. Jan is often helping the Children’s Pastor behind the scenes with prep work and administrative duties. She also spends ample time comforting, petting and worrying about her elderly cat, Sadie.

During her time at FUMC she has served as co-chair of Team Haiti and head of the Missions Team.

For Ms. Jan the most rewarding part of being a SGL is witnessing children on Wednesday night quietly listening, semi-seriously responding, scripture reciting, praising, praying, eating, teasing, laughing, and then saying goodbye. She says that in the midst of the chaos, “[s]omehow I also hear Jesus smiling”.

The most fun part of being a SGL for Ms. Jan is when she engages in games with kids. It’s completely out of her comfort zone, and yet, her smile and laughter tell me that it doesn’t matter.

Her favorite Bible Verse is –
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Ms. Tammy is the 2nd and 3rd grade SGL. She has been a member of FUMC for 61 years on March 9th (her birthday)! She’s been serving in Children’s Ministry for 42 years! It’s truly remarkable. What a blessing to us she has been!

When she is not influencing the faith of the next generation as a SGL, she is busy three days a week babysitting her 5-month-old grandson and 3 1/2-year-old granddaughter at her daughter’s house in Collegeville, PA. She also enjoys scrapbooking and is pretty awesome at it if some of the cards she’s given me are any indication 🙂

Ms. Tammy retired 3 1/2 years ago after working at Letterkenny Army Depot for 38 years. Right now, Ms. Tammy is active in Children’s Ministry but she has also served on Nominating Committee, Christian Education, Building Study Team, and Staff Parish in the past. She’s also been involved in elementary school and Girl Scout activities, women’s softball, and co-ed volleyball.

The most rewarding part of being a SGL to Tammy is teaching the kids about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and seeing the knowledge and understanding they have to live a Godly life starting at a young age.

The most fun part? Watching them grow in their faith.
As for recommending the role of SGL, Ms. Tammy says, “Yes I would! You will be greatly rewarded by learning more about God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit through the eyes of the children! As Matthew 18:3 states, ‘And he said … unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

Her favorite Bible verse is –
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing…Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23 NIV)

Our 4th grade Small Group Leader is Ms. Alina. Ms. Alina has been attending FUMC for almost 14 years and began serving in Children’s Ministry in 2006.

In addition to Children’s Ministry she served on the worship team for close to 10 years assisting with the monthly communion responsibilities.

When she is not influencing the next generation as a Small Group Leader, she’s influencing them as a Girl Scout co-Service Unit Manager. If you love Girl Scout Cookies (and who doesn’t?), talk to Ms. Alina. She’s the Service Unit Cookie Manager.

She also volunteers at school by chaperoning band trips and serving in concession stand duties during football and soccer games.
She does all of this while working 7am to 4pm five days a week in the DC Metro area, which is 45 minutes from her home! Wow! We so appreciate Ms. Alina’s valuable time.

For Ms. Alina the most rewarding part about being a SGL is listening to the kids engage in discussion and answering questions. She doesn’t think she has helped them realize those answers. She credits other influences in their lives, but we know that even when they don’t know it, small group leaders are making an impact!
The most fun as a SGL Ms. Alina has is watching the kids participate in the activities by working together. She qualifies this by admitting that the kids get caught up in competition, but most of the time, they work well together.

Ms. Alina not only recommends being a SGL she says, “there is nothing more warm and fuzzy than to see the kids laugh and smile while learning about God and not realizing they are working together to teach each other.” She also added, “Oh and the Children’s Minister is pretty awesome!!!  I really like her!!  ;)”
And we like Ms. Alina too!

Her favorite Bible verse is –
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)

Ms. Anne is the Small Group Leader for 5th graders. She’s been attending FUMC for 24 years. She grew up in the United Church of Christ where the choir director was her voice teacher.  Her grandma always was a United Methodist member, and she and her husband Charlie attended First UM in Lancaster where they were married.

Ms. Anne has been serving in Children’s Ministry for 19 years. She also serves on the Sacred Spaces team, money-counting team and sings in the Chancel Choir. When she’s not serving at FUMC she works as a Physical Therapist and volunteers as CASHS Symphony Wagon treasurer and at theater events.

For Ms. Anne the most rewarding part of being a SGL is seeing a kid learn something new about God and it influencing how they act and live in that moment.

The fun part of being a SGL is realizing that the kids are growing in their walk with Jesus through their “deep thoughts” that they sometimes share. When asked if she recommends being a SGL, she answered with an enthusiastic, ‘Yes’!

Her Favorite Bible Verse is-
Not even the highest places or the lowest, or anything else in all creation can separate us. Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done. (Romans 8:39 NIRV)