We commit ourselves to: Interactive Engagement of all ages in every aspect of our common life in which the experience of the community is more important than one’s individual preferences.
Church of the Beloved believes children and youth are an integral part of the Body of Christ and have much to share with us. The Beloved community knows that we must learn, by observation and experience, how to live like a child for we know that we must “enter the Kingdom of God as a child.” Without children being present as part of the community, we will never have that opportunity.
Children are welcomed and encouraged to worship God at their own developmental level during the 9:30am worship celebration. The more children participate, the more they will experience what it means to worship a loving God who created them to worship him.
Church of the Beloved provides safe and nurturing environments for children and youth to discover and experience what it means to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. Because Church of the Beloved values children and youth, the programs that we offer are not an afterthought to bring the adults into church. Church of the Beloved has built quality, engaging programs for children and youth from the very beginning because children and youth are not only the future of the church but are a vital presence of today.
2007-2008 opportunities:
Beloved Beehive (Sundays)
FaithQuest (Weekdays)
Worker Bees (9-12 Youth Group)
Metamorphosis (12-15 Youth Group)
Fusion (9-15 Youth Group)
for Flyte (15-18 Youth Group), go to the Adults link
Beloved Beehive (Christian Formation)
Christian Formation (Sunday School) for Adults and Children follows the hospitality time immediately following worship. Because our primary Christian Formation for children is offered during an hour and a half mid-week session (see FaithQuest), Sunday morning opportunities are more focused on those visiting expecting “Sunday School”.
Church of the Beloved realizes that families have other lives that require them to be away from time to time; for that reason, when Charlotte Mecklenburg School System (CMS) allows a long Holiday Weekend or the church has extra worship celebrations, the Beehive is closed. At Church of the Beloved, the phrase “When will the Beehive be open again?” is a much more desired response than “Oh, we have the Beehive again???”
Older teens (15+) and adults meet for 20 minutes for a topical study led by the staff. Children meet for 20 minutes with Beekeepers who are parent volunteers for a story about Jesus or the traditions of the Christian Church and, for the youngest children, light craft/drama/song/art project.
Church of the Beloved believes in acknowledging the developmental needs of each child and places based on age and development instead of grade; “promotion” occurs at the time of the child’s birthday and does not follow the traditional school system age policy.
Beloved Beehive Honeycomb #2 (children potty trained/3-6)
Content: In the Fall of each year the focus is on Creation; in the winter our focus shifts to the Life of Jesus; in the Spring we conclude with a unit on How we worship.
Beloved Beehive Honeycomb #3 (children 6-9)
Content includes the Apostles Creed and Baptismal Covenant, Lord’s Prayer, Confession of Sin and Absolution, Beatitudes, Ten Commandments, Gifts of the Spirit, Maxims and Eucharist rotated on on a three-year cycle.
Beloved Beehive Honeycomb #4 (children 9-12)
Content includes Lives of the Saints (character of living holy lives), Old Testament Characters and New Testament Characters rotated on a three-year cycle.
Beloved Beehive Honeycomb #5 (children 12-15)
Content of this beehive focuses on the Sacraments and Sacramental Rites of the Church. In year 1, the focus is on Baptism and Eucharist. In year 2, Reconciliation, Unction (healing) and the chaste Married/Single life. Year 3 focuses on themes of call: Baptism (revisited), Confirmation and Ordination.
Initial registration this year will be on September 9, 2007 following worship and is ongoing throughout the year. The enrollment is open and you are welcome to participate any of the Sunday mornings that Beloved Beehive is offered! Click here to see Calendar.
In addition to Sundays, FaithQuest and Youth Groups are offered for children and youth during the week. Many of these require advance registration.
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FaithQuest (weekday Faith Formation)
This experiential faith formation opportunity for children age 3-15 is offered as an hour and a half, midweek afternoon or morning, weekly, fee based program at 
Beloved Garden. A three-year cycle of presentations, based on the developmental needs of the child, about Jesus’ teaching and about how we worship are offered to children ages 3-6; 6-9; 9-12 and 12-15 years. For a better description and more information, click here.
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Worker Bees (9-12 Youth Group)
Church of the Beloved welcomes those ages 9-12 to a youth group called Worker Bees. Worker Bees meets on select Fridays for a Movie Night at Beloved Garden from 6:30-9pm. Movies are usually rated G or PG and include discussion of a theme usually related to living a better life as a pre-adolescent. (Movies are not disclosed until the night of the event so participants don’t choose to attend based only on the movie choice). Because parents provide a light meal (cost $3 per child) and friends are always welcome, a reservation by Thursday evening before the Movie Night is requested. Reservations can be made via email or by calling Beloved Garden at 704-752-8989.
This group with its sister group, metamorphosis, meets to form Fusion when the groups gather together to work on a project that involves meeting the needs of those in the community. • Return to top
Metamorphosis (12-15 Youth Group)
Church of the Beloved welcomes those ages 12-15 to a youth group called metamorphosis. metamorphosis meets on select Saturdays for a Movie Night at Beloved Garden from 6:30-9pm. Movies are rated from G to R (no extreme violence or sexual activity) and include discussion of a theme related to the life of teenagers and their role in making the world a better place. (Movies are not disclosed until the night of the event so participants don’t choose to attend based only on the movie choice). A $3 contribution helps defray the cost of a light meal (usually pizza or sub sandwich). Friends are always welcome and no reservation is required.
This group with its sister group, Worker Bees, meets to form Fusion when the groups gather together to work on a project that involves meeting the needs of those in the community. At certain times, due to age restrictions required by the social agency, some 12 year olds in metamorphosis meet with the Worker Bees doing a related project.
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Fusion
What do you get when two youth groups merge together? Fusion. Fusion projects indicate that both youth groups (Worker Bees, ages 9-12 and metamorphosis, ages 12-15) are coming together to work on a larger project meeting the needs of those who are forgotten or powerless. • Return to top
for Flyte (15-18 Youth Group), go to the Adults link
