Children’s Ministry & Discipleship

We value worshipping together as a family and cherish the participation of our youngest members.

When children participate, it signals to them that they are full members and that this is as much their church as any grownup’s. Research has shown that including kids as full participants in the church—through intergenerational relationships, teaching, space for doubt and partnerships with families—increases the likelihood that children will remain in the church when they graduate high school.

We encourage even the smallest worshippers to see themselves as a part of the greater body. They should watch and hear parents sing and pray. Children should have questions about what we are doing in the liturgy, and we should be prepared to explain. Their questions should not be seen as unnecessary interruptions, but as opportunities for teaching. This has always been received as an important part of the formation of Christian children. Furthermore, we encourage all children upon entering third grade to participate as acolytes—to recognize that they have a very important function in the life of our church.

  • We offer Nursery care during the service for infants and toddlers through the age of 4. Our littlest worshippers are cared for in a clean, safe, loving environment by our paid staff and volunteer parishioners. There are opportunities to play as well as to engage in age-appropriate singing and reading activities that begin to acclimate them to the rhythms of our worship.

  • Children aged 5/K through 5th grade are welcome to come to the Children’s Formation class during the Formation Hour. In this class, children experience a rhythm and liturgy that covers prayer, story, and an art response. Each child has a role to play, whether it is to set the altar or to light the Christ Candle. 

    We use a curriculum called God’s Big Story (GBS), which helps kids to hear many of the stories in the Bible and see how they all tell the story of who God is, and that they are a part of the story of who God is. GBS uses a hands-on approach to teaching the Bible, makes space for contemplation and communion with the Holy Spirit, instructs about the church calendar and the sacraments, and implements liturgy into weekly time together. 

    To read more about God’s Big Story, visit their site.

  • We recognize that many families might experience hesitation to attend church knowing their child might be “too much” or not fit in with the classroom and sanctuary model of church.  At Light of Christ,  we want to be a church that welcomes families for all children. 

    For children we offer interactive, sensory toys to play with during the service, as well as books and activity sheets that can be found as you enter the Sanctuary. 

    During the church service, we offer Nursery care for infants through 4 years of age.

    Finally, we do have a noise-proof family chapel that families can enter and worship in during the service. Of course, families are welcome to sit anywhere and we want to be a church that is noisy and full of children learning (which also means wiggling and whispering loudly). We are grateful for space to come and pray together. Please join us!

  • We take safety seriously.

    Each year, all our children’s ministry volunteers attend a mandatory training that is tailored towards best practices for creating an environment that is safe and allows our children to flourish. As a church and diocese, we aim to have very high standards for how we program our children’s ministry and the volunteers associated. We require background checks, and provide trainings in sexual abuse awareness, active shooter situations, first aid, and more. This is because we love our kids, we love their innocence, and we want to honor their childishness by protecting it. Our children’s childlikeness is as sacred as it is vulnerable, and we seek to protect this vulnerability without exception.

For more information about our Children’s Ministry, contact Kenda Mullert.