God's Big Backyard
Sunday Morning Kids Church
Our Vision for Kids
Our vision is that the children and adults who belong to Vineyard will be shaped by God and they will treasure Christ forever.
- It is a vision of VCF that parents feeling well equipped, encouraged and well supported as they raise their children for Christ.
- It is a vision of parents take advantage of available opportunities for training, service, and support in their calling to "train up their child in the way s/he should go".
- It is a vision of weekly volunteers laboring side by side, investing their gifts in ways that give strength to the whole.
- It is a vision of Spirit-led caregivers praying continually and specifically against Satan establishing strongholds in the lives of our little ones.
- It is a vision of nursery caregivers persevering in the teaching and modeling of biblical truths.
- It is a vision of the Word of God dwelling richly in our children's hearts and not merely in their heads.
- It is a vision of our children stepping into adulthood secure in their convictions and grounded in the Word of God with an unshakeable faith.
- It is a vision of our children and our children's children living with the peace of Christ in their hearts so that whatever they do, whether in word or deed, they may do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father, bearing fruit in every good work and leading many to repentance.
Weekend Services:
At the Muskegon Vineyard, children stay in the sanctuary during worship.
All the children are prayed over before being released to God's Big Backyard and into the care of CPP approved teachers who desire to help your child grow in the love of Christ.
Teachers use prepared lessons that focus on teaching the kids how to use their bible, memory work, fun activities and our good friend -Nicky the puppet. Nicky may not always get everything right but has a willing heart and is eager to learn!
Kids are given take home papers each week to let you as the parent know what they learned, help them with any memory work and offers a suggested activity for you to do with your child that applies to the lesson.
Nursery: ( Infant - 3 Years ) Nursery Volunteers are available at 9:45 and we encourage you bring your child downstairs for the full time of the service.
Jr. Kids: (3 - 6 yr. olds ) These kids are learning Kingdom basics through play and prayer.
Kids Church (7- 12 yr olds ) The older kids are ready for learning how to live Naturally Supernatual!
Parents, please be sure to pick up your children in within ten minutes of the end of service. The older youth will be dismissed with the adults after worship.
Parents' Information
VCF has a team of trained and qualified adult members dedicated to the success of Kids Church. We believe that is takes a tribe to raise a child and so encourage everyone in the church to participate in helping disciple the next generation.
Parents should make sure to stop at the Check-In Table downstairs to get a tag for their child(ren), a number and fill out a child data form for our caregivers to refer to. This should include any allergies, special needs, likes, and dislikes in order to provide each child with the safest and most enjoyable time away from mom and dad. A black Box above the stage in the sancuary will blink with your family number if you are needed to attend to one of your children.
Only parents are allowed to give medicine to their child. Do not put medicine of any kind in bottles that will be given to your baby while he or she is in the nursery. Please feed your child a complete "meal" before bringing him or her to the nursery. It helps us to provide a peaceful, happy time for your child if he or she comes to church with a full stomach.
Be sure to pick up your child promptly after the service ends. Many of our caregivers are also involved with other activities but are not able to leave until all children have been picked up. We understand that there might be unusual circumstances which delay you. If you are praying for someone or being prayed for by our worship service prayer team, we certainly understand and will gladly care for your child until you are free.
Parents should also know that our kids' classrooms are in a state of constant growth. We are continuing to add children and therefore continuing to add new curriculum, adding new spaces, and new volunteers to keep pace with the change. We hope that you will be patient with us as we work through these growing pains and consider pitching in to help as we make changes to better teach our kids about Jesus.
Nursery-Age Children in the Sanctuary
Children are welcomed and encouraged to be part of worship service. For every family there are times when a child needs special attention. Please be considerate of those around you and remove your child from the sanctuary if their needs become a distraction. Parents are more than welcome to be in the nursery with their children.
Kids Church Discipline Policy
If any type of problem arrises during the time your child is in kids church, you will be notified immediately. The black box in the sactuary will flash you family number and you should respond immediately by coming downstairs into kids church.Volunteers and Teachers will not punish your child in any way.
Well Child Policy
If your child is exhibiting any of the following symptoms and it is impossible to keep him home, please keep him with you at church. Kids' Ministry volunteers are authorized to turn away ill children for the sake of other children and caregivers present.
The following symptoms can indicate a contagious illness:
- temperature over 99 degrees within the last 24 hours
- vomiting
- diarrhea or abnormally loose stools
- any undiagnosed rash other than mild heat rash or common diaper rash
- unusual tiredness, pale complexion, irritability or restlessness
- nasal discharge that is yellow or green in color
- a congested or wet cough - one that produces yellow or green discharge
- an eye infection (draining)
- a fresh cold or signs of coming down with one (colds are most contagious the first day)
If your child comes down with a contagious condition (such as chicken pox, measles, pin worms, lice, etc.) and was in the nursery just before or at the onset of the illness, please call the church and let us know. Parents will be notified if their children may have been exposed to a contagious illness. When a child is getting over an illness, please call the Kids Ministry Director for guidelines to determine when he/she is well enough to return to the nursery. To ensure cleanliness, we regularly disinfect all toys and furniture in the children's room. Teachers are also equipped with hand sanitizer, rubber gloves, and disinfectant wipes for properly addressing spills, messes, and other "mistakes".
How Parents Can Support the Kids' Ministry
- Pray for the Kids Ministry teachers and children.
- Volunteer as a teacher, helper, check in attendant, or room and toy cleaner.
- Share your outgrown, clean and durable toys. (Please speak to the Kids Ministry Director regarding all donations.)
- Share constructive suggestions for improving the nursery with the Kids Ministry Director (and be willing to be part of the improvements)!