Children's Ministries
Welcome to North Kids!
We love kids! Children hold a special place in the faith community at North Church. North Kids joyfully serves infants through fifth graders. If you’re a kid here, you’re a North Kid! It’s is a place where faith, imagination, and learning go hand in hand. We guide and encourage kids to grow in their faith and become deeply committed followers of Christ. Through creative age-appropriate Bible based experiences, times of Godly play wondering, and amazing music opportunities, we provide children with choices and chances to grow, pray, learn, serve, and have fun.
Caring for Children
Safe and Sacred Spaces
It’s important to us to provide safe and sacred spaces for every child. Take time to visit our rooms and notice the care given to provide an inviting, developmentally appropriate space where children worship, learn, and play. Our Child Protection Policy guides us as we seek to take care of our children. You can read more about it by clicking on “North Kids Guidelines.”
Childcare is staffed by professional childcare providers who have been screened and trained to provide care for our children. Volunteers also complete the customary background check.
We use the Kiddie Keeper system for our younger children. There are welcome tables located at each doorway for parents or caregivers to check older children in and out of classrooms. Our intention is to always have two approved childcare providers or teachers in every classroom with children and to never leave any child unattended.
Sunday Morning Child Care
We are grateful for parents and caregivers who trust us with their children on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. We open our rooms and arms to young children on Sunday mornings from 8:15am-12:15pm in rooms on the main level in our early childhood department. Children who are two years old-kindergarten age enjoy Sunday school 9:45am-10:45am, too. Childcare resumes after Sunday school until the 11:00am worship service concludes.
Mid-Week and Special Event Childcare
Any child, birth-fifth grade, is welcome to come to childcare during the week as parents and guardians attend meetings, classes, and rehearsals. Any group that needs childcare should notify Kat Russell, our Childcare Supervisor, at least one week in advance to assure adequate staffing will be available. For classes and meetings we offer childcare when at least two families need care for the same event.
Infants and Toddlers
Parents and caregivers bring infants to The Eden Room, our nursery and place of new beginnings! (Room 105) Babies love the creation mural and private space to rock with mom or dad. When you feel your child is ready for the Toddler Ones class, get on board in Noah’s Ark Room! Most children are confidently walking when they play in the Ark.
Let’s Learn and Grow!
Sunday Morning Education Opportunities
9:45-10:45 a.m.
Two’s, The Joseph Room
Two’s use a creative curriculum developed by the teacher, Kelly McKee. Kids especially love the rocking chair on the “Round Rug,” pretending to cook a meal in the home play area, and gearing up for fun at the activity circle center!
Three-Five Year Olds, The Egypt Room
This active group meets with Don Smith for an energetic morning in the Egypt Room. Using the LiveBig! Curriculum they learn Bible stories, watch a DVD with special characters, pray together and make amazing crafts! Children must be potty trained to attend class in this room.
Kindergarten children spend time with Dana Williams and Euphrasie N’Tala and also use the LiveBig! Curriculum. There’s lots of space in this big room for kids to do art activities, visit the reading corner, and dress-up in Bible costumes! For more information visit www.ilivebig.com.
First-Fifth Grades and Godly Play
Godly play is a Montessori-style approach to Christian Education and spiritual direction and formation aimed at children ages 3-12. In the fall of 2006 our first Godly play room opened and children crossed the threshold into a new kind of sacred space. In 2008 we prepared a second space for children to engage in Godly play. The fall of 2009 will complete the elementary grade transformation and transition to using the Godly play method of teaching children. You are invited to visit these sacred spaces on the second floor of the education building. You will be surrounded by the stories of God!
The goal of Godly play is to teach children the art of using religious language, parable, and sacred story to help them become fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives, as revealed in Jesus Christ. The center of the Godly play experience is the Bible story—told simply and beautifully by the storyteller. We use manipulatives such as wooden figures and fabrics to tell the stories, followed by a time of wondering about the story. Children can choose to play with story materials or work with art materials to respond to God about the story. We close with lighting and changing the light of the Christ Candle, praying together, and a blessing.
Our 4th-5th grade children add to their Godly play experience by visiting learning stations, making a Bible timeline, checking out maps, journaling on the computer, and looking at pics of the Holy Land and other important sites on the web. Experienced teachers and teen assistants complete this new format and setting for our older North Kids.
Read more about Godly play by clicking on these links:
A Grownup's Guide to Godly Play and www.godlyplay.org
Let’s Worship!
Alternative Worship
Children, kindergarten-3rd grades, are invited each Sunday during the school year to enjoy “Alternative Worship.” As we sing the Doxology in the worship service the children follow the banner bearer to the front of the sanctuary and then to a designated room for a great time together! The series for 1st-3rd grades varies from topics like making peace and caring for the earth to listening to stories that follow the lectionary. Children enjoy gathering in small groups to build stronger relationships, creating individual art pieces and gifts, and everybody-make-it murals and projects to display.
Children who are in kindergarten enjoy their own Alternative Worship – AW-K! During this transition year kids learn about baptism, communion, and more. During the summer the pastors, or special guests, invite children of all ages to come forward in the worship service. They spend time together talking about something that’s very important to kids. Grownups seem to lean forward so as not to miss a word of this important message!
Worship Bags and Bulletins for Kids!
At the entrance to the sanctuary there are children’s bulletins written for younger and older children. You will also find a worship bag filled with a clipboard, activity pages related to Bible stories, crayons, a “Pockets” magazine, and other surprises! Be sure and return them so we can prepare them for you the next time your child comes.
At North we value having our children in worship. We make room for children in worship by:
• Teaching about the importance of worship in our lives.
• Providing opportunities for children help lead worship.
• Giving children a chance to experience worship on their level.
• Learning about the elements of worship and the worship liturgy.
• Encouraging children to engage and participate in the worship experience.
ABCs of Children in Worship
Arrive in time to find a good place to sit. Sit near the front to provide younger children with a better view. Have toddlers stand on the pews when the congregation rises. Keep an arm circled around them as you hold the Hymnal or bulletin for the child to see. Point to the words as the reading or singing progresses.
Be aware of what will happen in the worship service. As soon as children can read at all, encourage them to hold their own bulletin, Hymnal, and Bible. Before kids can read, help them memorize the Lord’s Prayer, Doxology and Prayer for Illumination. Since we use these as part of the liturgy, each Sunday even non-readers can participate. Have beginning readers watch for words that they know and join in at those times. Find the Scripture reading and follow along in your Bible. Discuss at home what happened in worship. Prepare children for any changes in the routine. Take time to answer questions.
Children should sit with adults who will help them participate in worship. Sometimes this is a parent, sometimes it is another special grownup. Remind children to make stops at the bathroom and water fountain before worship begins. For very young children, pick up a children’s Worship Bag in the back of the Sanctuary before you come in.
Let’s Make Music!
Joyful Noise (3-5 year olds)
This is a child’s first opportunity to be involved in a musical group at North church. They meet the 2nd-4th Sundays of the month after the second service in the choir room with “Mr. Mark” Gilgallon for a time of singing, playing instruments, and learning how to sing praises to God in a group.
Carolers (5’s-2nd grade)
Children who are 5 years old may choose to participate in the preschool group or this choir. Each Sunday during the school year they rehearse immediately after the second worship service in the conference room. They share their songs in Sunday morning worship services on a regular basis. Denise Caraher directs the Carolers.
Choristers (3rd-6th grades)
This choir, too, requires no audition or choral experience and practices after the second worship service during the school year. Directed by Rosie Jordan, they rehearse in room 004 and sing on a regular basis in worship services.
Children’s Spring Musical
For more than 25 years Denise Caraher and Rosie Jordan direct a performance by the children. Many of these years Denise has birthed the concept, written the script, and composed and/or arranged the music. In 2008 it was RockStar! and in 2009 the children performed “NASCAR – The Speed of Love” (Now & Always, Serve, Care and Respect).
Christmas Eve Family Worship Service
Early on this special evening, our children and youth lead us in a Christmas Eve worship service. The children’s choirs sing and other children, too, participate in a traditional Nativity scene and pageant.
Let’s Celebrate the Seasons!
Children love to celebrate the seasons of the year! North Kids enjoy preparing and engaging in special events. Here’s a sample!
Sunday School Promotion
Education Picnic
Advent Festival
Epiphany Party
Lenten Activities
Palm Sunday Parade
Easter Retreat on Holy Saturday
Festival of God’s Creation and the Creation Fair
Vacation Bible School
Let’s Give and Serve
Opportunities for Kids to Give and Serve
Giving and serving is a way of life at North church. We encourage children to give of their treasure by providing them offering and tithing envelopes. We invite children to give of their time in serving their school mates and family during the week. We emphasize certain mission projects in the community and around the world and give kids chances to participate in making a difference in these places. Here’s a few examples:
Local Mid-North Food Pantry
North Church Bread ‘n Bowl weekly ministry
Kenya – The UMOJA Project
Kenya Pen Pals
Kenya Orphanage - Neema House
Heifer Project
Opportunities for Grownups!
A Note to Parents
Being involved with your child at church is an important part of their spiritual growth – and yours! You are encouraged to lend a hand for a special event, help on a rotational basis with Sunday School or Alternative Worship, or rock a baby in the nursery. Find your place to serve and notice your child following along in your footsteps.
A Note to All Grownups
Our children’s ministry depends on lots of people to help in lots of ways. Sometimes we need practical help like sorting and organizing or keeping attendance records. All these things take place during the week.
Make a difference in the life of a child! Here’s a few ideas to get going!
Childcare Volunteers
Sunday School Substitute Teacher
Keeper and Organizer of Supplies
Bulletin Board Decorator
Special Event Planner/Coordinator
Mission Project Coordinator
Click on “North Kids Volunteer Opps” for more info about these ideas and more.
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