Kids Ministry

FLOURISHING IN KIDS MINISTRY

The Kids Ministry cares for Kindergarteners through 5th Graders (remember to check out Preschool Ministry, too!), partnering with families to instill in children the love of Jesus. We do this primarily through corporate worship, Kids Discipleship, and various means of equipping families to grow in faith together. Each time we gather, kids are introduced to the Gospel Story through fun activities, lessons, videos, and music with committed Large and Small Group Leaders. In sharing the truths of scripture, our goal is to make it simple, make it stick.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON SUNDAYS

One of the cornerstones of our life together as a church is corporate worship. God promises to use the preaching of his Word, the partaking of sacraments, and the fellowship of believers to transform us into the people he wants us to become. And in the Bible, we see so often that God’s perfect plan for discipling his people includes passing on faith within families. As such, we see both corporate and family worship as critical means of discipleship for kids of all ages! 

If the thought of enduring an hour of quiet, focused time next to a squirmy, noisy, or impatient child makes you break out into a cold sweat, we’re here to tell you we’ve been there — and it’s going to be ok! The Kids Ministry staff is here both to equip parents and help kids transition from a nursery setting to participating in “big church.” One way we do this is through a program called Kingdom Kids, which takes place during the sermon portion of Sunday worship (both the 9 AM and 11 AM services). During Kingdom Kids, age 4 through Kindergarten head to a large group room for a time of learning the ins and outs of what worship is, why it matters, and how they can participate. This is a place where questions like “isn’t it weird to eat the body of Jesus?!” and “why do the pastors dump water on babies’ heads?” get our full attention! After the service, parents pick up kids from Kingdom Kids in the Cornerstone Building, Room 300. 

WHAT TO EXPECT ON WEDNESDAYS

Kids Discipleship on Wednesday Nights is our primary program for hands-on instruction and passing on a faith that sticks. Kids ages 4-5th grade learn alongside peers primarily in a small group setting. Small Group leaders are dedicated to the spiritual care and nurturing of these kids, and show up week-in and week-out to lead lessons, teach memory verses, direct discussion, and simply be present with and for your child. We start the night off with a large group teaching time and of course we pack in plenty of fun! 

Kids Discipleship starts at 6 PM, and rehearsal for Westminster Singers (Grades 3-5) begins at 5 PM (check-in at 4:50 PM). Kids taking part in Westminster Singers will transition to Kids Discipleship at 6 PM, and pick-up for all kids is at 7:30 PM. Be sure to check out the details for Kids Discipleship before you come!

PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES

We believe that every stage of a child’s development matters, and as kids grow, their parents are growing, too. We love to come alongside parents as they navigate how to raise godly kids by providing community, offering opportunities for education, and encouraging specific ways for families to grow in their love for Jesus together in their daily lives. We also seek to give parents respite and time to care for their own spiritual and relational needs as they participate in the life of the church. Keep your eyes peeled for Family Worship Guides that we publish regularly, parent seminars at the beginning of the school year and during big transition years, and special learning environments geared toward equipping parents. To learn more about what’s available right now, reach out to Catherine Payne, Director of Kids Discipleship.

CELEBRATING MILEMARKERS

Few things rock our world more than the milemarkers we experience as children and with our children. From the birth of your first baby to Kindergarten graduation, a child’s first communion to heading off to college, we want a front-row seat to the joys you celebrate as a family, and we’re here to cheer you on through each stage! It goes without saying that some milemarkers are bittersweet, and some are hard-earned. As you roll up your sleeves and dig in to the more challenging aspects of parenting, we want to be a resource and support system, helping you to discover beauty and truth even when parenting gets tough. After all, it’s just a phase, so don’t miss it.

SAFETY & SECURITY

Welcoming kids into a space where they can flourish requires our utmost care for safety and security. Protecting our kids includes attentive care by our leaders and staff, thorough cleanliness, and of course a comprehensive system for securing the floor. The doors leading to the Kids Floor are secured at all times. All volunteers and paid caregivers are required to attend training and complete a background check prior to serving. 

Upon arriving for Kids Discipleship, a member of our welcome team will check-in your kids at the car and print off a name tag for each child along with a security tag for you. You will need to show your security tag when returning to pick up your child. If this is your first time visiting with us, a volunteer will get you squared away with a temporary tag, and on your next visit, you will have a printed tag like everyone else.

Lastly, in order to protect our children with food allergies, we maintain a nut-free facility. If your child has an allergy or carries an epi-pen, please notify us.

Embrace Ministry for kids with additional needs

At the heart of our ministry is a desire to see all members of our community have opportunities to participate in the life of the church. If your child has additional needs or would benefit from personalized support in the Kids Ministry setting, please contact Cara Rock, Director of Embrace Ministry. Embrace Ministry offers many kinds of support and respite, including two sensory rooms staffed by trained caregivers, one-on-one support, and monthly date nights for parents of children with special needs and their siblings. We would love to talk to you about creating a personalized care plan for your family! 

WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?

Take a look at upcoming programs below to get a sense for where you might want to plug-in. If you’re coming to one of our special events or weekday programs, we’d love to set you up with a host to help you navigate campus and get introduced to other families with young kids. To get set up with a host, contact Catherine or Courtney. In the meantime, please fill out a brief info form for your kid(s) so we can be ready for your visit!

Kids Ministry Staff

Courtney Armstrong

Director of Kids Ministry

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Hannah Sims

Administrative Assistant

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