STAFF

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Lynn Kurjiaka, coordinator for preschool children’s ministry
lkurjiaka@hempfieldumc.com
717-285-5156, ext. 225

I oversee the Sunday morning Preschool Kids Konnection program, which includes children ages 2 years through those attending Kindergarten. I coordinate volunteers to staff the four preschool classes and the teaching team of teachers. We use a large group/small group format with the preschoolers. Bible stories are taught in the Bible Land room. This room is decorated to a theme with each unit we teach. These usually last four weeks. I make many props and materials to make this room exciting and appealing to the preschoolers. After hearing the story in Bible Land, children return to the classrooms to do activities with their leaders, known as shepherds, to apply the Bible lesson they learned about in Bible Land. I supply all the materials, make the activities, and provide the snacks that the children use in the classroom.

I also oversee the crèche ministry. For Christmas each child in Kids Konnection receives a ceramic piece of the nativity. During the year, volunteers clean, glaze, and fire the many ceramic pieces. Finally the pieces are gift wrapped and given to the children in December.

I am married to Joseph Kurjiaka. We have two teenage daughters, Kari and Kristin. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, scrapbooking, doing various crafts and spending time with my family. We enjoy traveling in the summer.

I graduated from Hempfield High School. After high school, I attended Millersville University and got my masters degree in special education. I taught special needs children for eight years. I left teaching when we had our second daughter. I have been employed at Hempfield United Methodist Church since 2003.