Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Eclipse recently announced it will be offering a preschool program to the community when it opens Ebenezer Christian Academy Preschool in January.

After years in the making and with dedicated staff and member planning, organization and training, the preschool will offer a half-day program through May 24, followed by a summer program starting June 25 and both full-day and half-day options beginning Sept. 4, 2012.

For the past 18 years, Ebenezer UMC has been reaching out the children of its community through sports and arts ministries. This is another way to positively affect the community, Pastor Carl LeMon said.

“We routinely reach over 1,200 children each year through our programming,” he said. “However, we have recently come to understand that there is a need for faith based pre-schools in our community and, given that 95 percent of brain development takes place before the age of 5, we now realize we need to start much earlier in our programming. Folks tell us we do what we do so well. With our rich and long experience in kids’ ministry, we are confident we will provide an exceptional educational experience saturated with faith, arts, music and discovery.”

Initially, the school will offer a half-day program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon starting Jan. 4. Children eligible for the program range in age from 2.5 to 5 years and must be potty-trained. Registration is underway for the Jan. 3 opening, which costs $45 per week per child. The school will follow the Suffolk Public Schools schedule.

The program will add a full-day Summer Camp option weekly June 25 through Aug. 24 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a full-day school session, in addition to continuing the half-day program, beginning on Sept. 4, 2012 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to register, call Connie Schau at 238-2359 or connie@ebenezerchurch.net. To learn more about Ebenezer UMC, visit www.ebumc.net.