Nursery

On Sunday mornings, from 9:15 to just after the 11:00 worship ends, nursery care is available. The nursery is staffed with one paid staff person and one volunteer. We require staff and volunteers to undergo a background check. We want you to feel confident that your child is well cared for. When you drop off your child at the nursery, we will need you to check in and introduce yourself. We want to be sure who you are, both in case we need to reach you during worship, and when it's time to pick up your child afterward.

Children

Sunday School

At 9:30 am on Sundays during the school year, bring your child into worship with you for the first few minutes of the service, and a children's message (this is a change as of January 4, 2009). We want children to become accustomed to being in the sanctuary with their families and the whole congregation before going to Sunday School. Then the children godownstairs for story-telling, skits, and learning. Sunday School teachers and helpers are volunteers from the church. We always intend to have two adults in a room with children, and we work to use age-appropriate and fun ways of introducing children to the basic messages of the Christian faith.

If your child has special needs, we want to do our best to make her or him welcome. Please take the initiative to talk with your child's teachers about what are the best ways to work and play with your child. We are ready to provide extra helpers, and to make other adjustments as they're needed, but this is easier if we can share in knowing what will be most helpful.

Special events

Every year brings fun events built around children. All these events are free to you. Vacation Bible School happens for a week during the summer. We normally have at least a hundred children present, and they have a really great time.

We also have each year an Easter egg hunt, and a party around the kick-off of Sunday School in the Fall (usually the week after Labor Day). Children should be able to love coming to church, and think of it as a place where they are safe, have fun, and learn.

Junior church

Children are encouraged to stay in worship for the first fifteen or so minutes of the 11:00 service. That includes the singing time. When that ends, children through grade four are invited to go to Junior Church, which is a fun learning time designec for them. They'll stay there until the end of worship.

Young adults

We're not particular about what age this is--college or first job, settling down, married, single, it's all good. You're not the only one. If you're looking for people to hang out with, whether you want to study something, work on a project together, or just go out and socialize, this is your place.

Music groups

Come sing with the choir! Singing in a choir is proven to be good for your mental health (something to do with endorphins and vibrations in your skull). John Campbell directs the choir, and makes it easy for regular people to make real music. The choir sings through the school year at the 9:30 worship time.

If you play guitar, bass, drums, piano, or you like singing into microphones, talk to Jeremy about being part of the band for the 11:00 worship service.

If you prefer to be behind the scenes running the technology, talk to Joe Schnaidt, who is usually back at the soundboard during worship.

Adults

The church is normally open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 3:30 am, and also during evening activities. Stop in.

Women

Every year we have a women's retreat, which is getting bigger and better every year (so next year we may have to find a bigger retreat location!) and it's a great way to make friends and have a fun break away from the commitments of home and work. Women also go to events together around the state. There are always study and sharing groups you can join, and mission trips to be part of.

On the more traditional side, the United Methodist Women is a long-standing and strong women's organization, committed to study and support of mission needs around the world. The UMW has a great reading program, making available to you some of the best books you can read to broaden your horizons and your faith.

Weddings

Yes, our pastor sometimes does weddings for people who are not connected to the church, or who are from out of town. We're also willing to work with you if you want your wedding somewhere else in the Traverse City area. Here are some things you need to know:

• You don't have to be United Methodist, but if we do the service, or if it happens in our building, it will be a Christian service. We will read from the Bible and hear about Jesus. Why? Because it's who we are, and if you didn't want a Christian wedding, you'd call someone else. Besides, we believe that a faith connection will strengthen your marriage.
  
  
• We will need to meet with you a couple of times before the wedding, to get to know you and to talk about the ceremony itself. But we're not professional marriage counselors, and we require that you find a person who is, and work with them for some premarital counseling and evaluation. It is helpful and meaningful, and it's only a few hundred dollars. If you're in the Traverse City area, we recommend both Nexus Family Services and Wedgwood Christian Services.
  
  
• If you want to be married here, or if you'd like to talk to the pastor about the possibility, please call the office at 231 946 5323, or email tbumc@traversebaychurch.org. It's important to get on the calendar as soon as you can, and to find out more information than is posted here.
  
  
• We are in Grand Traverse County, so you need to get your license from the Grand Traverse County Courthouse if you are to be married at the church. If you are being married at a different site in the area, check to make sure you know which county your site is in, before you get your license!
  
  
• Seating capacity for our sanctuary is 225.
  
  
• No alcohol is permitted on the premises, and no smoking in or near the building. If you need these to be part of your ceremony, consider another location.