Our Philosophy for Children’s Discipleship
The Children’s Ministry of Golden Isles PCA seeks to assist families in the spiritual formation and discipleship of our Covenant Children so that we see them grow to be engaged worshipers and biblically sound church members. In order to accomplish this task we have instituted the following programs:
Nursery
The nursery at GIPC is for children from birth - 4 years old. The children in the nursery are cared for by at least one paid nursery worker and the support of volunteers. All staff are at least 21 years of age, and all volunteers are church members and at least 15 years of age. In order to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the nursery space, no children over 4 years old are permitted in the nursery space. We also provide a limited variety of snacks for the children in the nursery. (Covid Update: There is no Nursery at present.)
Younger Kids: "Gospel Project for Kids"
The children’s Sunday school hour is a time when we seek to expose our school-age children (ages 4 years - 3rd grade) to the story of Scripture. Our goal is to see our Covenant Children become biblically sound. At this time, we are utilizing the Gospel Project curriculum to achieve this goal. The Gospel Project for Kids immerses children in the gospel through every story, theological concept, and call to mission from Genesis to Revelation. Ultimately, the gospel message changes everything; heart transformation can only take place when a child experiences the gospel. Through the Gospel Project for Kids, children will understand the Bible is not just a collection of stories, but one unified story - God’s story of redemption. (February 2021 update: 9:15-10:00 a.m.; masks are required and social distancing guidelines are followed.)
Older Kids: "What's Up? Discovering the Gospel, Jesus, and Who You Really Are"
"Using illustrations, stories, and interactive activities to help kids understand why the gospel really is good news, What’s Up answers the real questions of identity and purpose that begin to unfold in middle-school hearts and minds. Revealing God’s love, forgiveness, and power to change, What’s Up helps fourth through eighth-grade students understand that the gospel is all about God making us into who He meant us to be all along. As they learn how to lean wholly (and happily) on Jesus through these formative years, their lives are changed from the inside out." (February 2021 update: 9:15-10:00 a.m., for kids Grade 4 and up; masks are required and social distancing guidelines are followed.)
Children’s Church
We desire to see our children become engaged worshippers. To that end, during the morning worship service, children ages 4 - 2nd grade are dismissed before the pastoral prayer for Children’s Church. During this time, we use the “Teach Me to Worship” curriculum. By presenting and explaining common elements of worship that the universal church has used throughout the ages, the curriculum aims to familiarize children with the worship service and prepare them to be a part of corporate worship.
Additionally, we want to help parents pew train their children, so we have worked to provide several resources. First, we have a children’s bulletin available for families. This bulletin contains the order of worship with interactive questions and activities to help children become active listeners and participants in the worship service. We also realize that children can struggle with sitting still and being quiet. We have “quiet bags” available in the children’s ministry hallway. These bags contain some quiet fidget busters and activities to help control the wiggles. (Covid Update: There is no Children's Church at present.)
Vacation Bible School
(In 2021: to be determined. Please check back for updates.)
- - -
New City Catechism Class
(Please check back for when the next catechism class will be offered.)
As a Presbyterian Church, we believe that it is important that the children of the church be baptized and given the sign of being part of the covenant people of God. More than simply being a ritual or merely symbolic, we believe that a child’s baptism is truly a means of grace and demonstrates that the parents are claiming for this child all the benefits of being part of the community of faith.
However, we also believe that the child must “improve” his or her baptism. We believe that it is important that a child be brought to a position in which they own the Christian faith and profess an active trust in Jesus. It is at the point of that profession that we welcome our children to join us at the Lord’s Table and as a member of His church. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 that anyone who comes to the Lord’s Table for communion must be able to understand what the bread and the cup represent and they must be able to articulate their faith in the substitutionary atonement of Christ.
As we think about bringing our children for membership, that is the profession that we are looking for. Now, we understand that for a child this will look and sound different than it will for an adult, but essentially, we are looking for a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
To get our children to that point, GIPC Children’s Discipleship partners with and equips parents. We offer a Sunday School class for children 3rd grade and up that reviews the New City Catechism over the course of one year. We also have take-home materials for parents that allow you to reinforce at home what your child learns during this time. Our hope is that at the end of the year, our covenant children will truly understand what a profession of faith means and that they will be ready to become communing members of the church.
The Children’s Ministry of Golden Isles PCA seeks to assist families in the spiritual formation and discipleship of our Covenant Children so that we see them grow to be engaged worshipers and biblically sound church members. In order to accomplish this task we have instituted the following programs:
Nursery
The nursery at GIPC is for children from birth - 4 years old. The children in the nursery are cared for by at least one paid nursery worker and the support of volunteers. All staff are at least 21 years of age, and all volunteers are church members and at least 15 years of age. In order to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the nursery space, no children over 4 years old are permitted in the nursery space. We also provide a limited variety of snacks for the children in the nursery. (Covid Update: There is no Nursery at present.)
Younger Kids: "Gospel Project for Kids"
The children’s Sunday school hour is a time when we seek to expose our school-age children (ages 4 years - 3rd grade) to the story of Scripture. Our goal is to see our Covenant Children become biblically sound. At this time, we are utilizing the Gospel Project curriculum to achieve this goal. The Gospel Project for Kids immerses children in the gospel through every story, theological concept, and call to mission from Genesis to Revelation. Ultimately, the gospel message changes everything; heart transformation can only take place when a child experiences the gospel. Through the Gospel Project for Kids, children will understand the Bible is not just a collection of stories, but one unified story - God’s story of redemption. (February 2021 update: 9:15-10:00 a.m.; masks are required and social distancing guidelines are followed.)
Older Kids: "What's Up? Discovering the Gospel, Jesus, and Who You Really Are"
"Using illustrations, stories, and interactive activities to help kids understand why the gospel really is good news, What’s Up answers the real questions of identity and purpose that begin to unfold in middle-school hearts and minds. Revealing God’s love, forgiveness, and power to change, What’s Up helps fourth through eighth-grade students understand that the gospel is all about God making us into who He meant us to be all along. As they learn how to lean wholly (and happily) on Jesus through these formative years, their lives are changed from the inside out." (February 2021 update: 9:15-10:00 a.m., for kids Grade 4 and up; masks are required and social distancing guidelines are followed.)
Children’s Church
We desire to see our children become engaged worshippers. To that end, during the morning worship service, children ages 4 - 2nd grade are dismissed before the pastoral prayer for Children’s Church. During this time, we use the “Teach Me to Worship” curriculum. By presenting and explaining common elements of worship that the universal church has used throughout the ages, the curriculum aims to familiarize children with the worship service and prepare them to be a part of corporate worship.
Additionally, we want to help parents pew train their children, so we have worked to provide several resources. First, we have a children’s bulletin available for families. This bulletin contains the order of worship with interactive questions and activities to help children become active listeners and participants in the worship service. We also realize that children can struggle with sitting still and being quiet. We have “quiet bags” available in the children’s ministry hallway. These bags contain some quiet fidget busters and activities to help control the wiggles. (Covid Update: There is no Children's Church at present.)
Vacation Bible School
(In 2021: to be determined. Please check back for updates.)
- - -
New City Catechism Class
(Please check back for when the next catechism class will be offered.)
As a Presbyterian Church, we believe that it is important that the children of the church be baptized and given the sign of being part of the covenant people of God. More than simply being a ritual or merely symbolic, we believe that a child’s baptism is truly a means of grace and demonstrates that the parents are claiming for this child all the benefits of being part of the community of faith.
However, we also believe that the child must “improve” his or her baptism. We believe that it is important that a child be brought to a position in which they own the Christian faith and profess an active trust in Jesus. It is at the point of that profession that we welcome our children to join us at the Lord’s Table and as a member of His church. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 that anyone who comes to the Lord’s Table for communion must be able to understand what the bread and the cup represent and they must be able to articulate their faith in the substitutionary atonement of Christ.
As we think about bringing our children for membership, that is the profession that we are looking for. Now, we understand that for a child this will look and sound different than it will for an adult, but essentially, we are looking for a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
To get our children to that point, GIPC Children’s Discipleship partners with and equips parents. We offer a Sunday School class for children 3rd grade and up that reviews the New City Catechism over the course of one year. We also have take-home materials for parents that allow you to reinforce at home what your child learns during this time. Our hope is that at the end of the year, our covenant children will truly understand what a profession of faith means and that they will be ready to become communing members of the church.