Wayside Presbyterian Church, 600 Stony Battery Road, Landisville, is excited about its Family Ministry activities.

The trio overseeing the children and youths comprises Sonja Eckert, Rachel Holsey, and Michelle Hess. Eckert, who is the director of Family Ministry, has worked with Wayside for 13 years. She is supported by Holsey, who oversees youths in grades six through 12, and Hess, the nursery coordinator. The trio has an extensive slate of fall activities planned for community families with a focus on opportunities to grow, connect, and have fun together following Jesus.

The church's midweek program, IGNITE, began on Oct. 1 and meets on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Its goal is to provide a welcoming space for children and youths to build friendships, enjoy engaging activities, and explore their Christian faith in meaningful ways.

"IGNITE not only nurtures the next generation, but also reinforces the values and truths being shared in our adult ministries, creating opportunities for families to grow in faith together," Eckert explained.

Through interactive lessons, games, and age-appropriate discussions, young people are encouraged to draw closer to God while building lasting connections with one another.

In addition to IGNITE, a variety of family-friendly events have been scheduled.

A Family Game Night will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature snacks and friendly competition.

The church will offer a Parents' Night Out event on Friday, Dec. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The purpose of this event is to provide an evening of holiday activities for children while their parents have a few hours to themselves.

The newest program, Story Time, is for children ages 3 to 5. It meets for about an hour in the mid-morning on two Wednesdays per month for an interactive reading plus educational time through play, games, music, and more.

Earlier this year, the church also hosted a Holy Week Prayer Labyrinth experience, Paint Night, and vacation Bible school.

All these gatherings are intended to be opportunities to invite friends, meet new people, and celebrate being part of the Wayside family.

These events are free and open to the Hempfield-area community. Families can see the slate of activities by visiting https://waysidepc.org/events/. If activities require preregistration, forms may be completed online.