Northwood Children’s Ministries

“Touching lives… Changing hearts”

Nursery
GOLF Program
Children’s Ministry Events

Nurturing young children in their faith development is a privilege and responsibility we undertake with joy at Northwood Christian Church.  We know that early faith development is a strong foundation for having life-long confidence in God’s promises, a life-affirming understanding of God’s Word, a life-changing relationship with Jesus, and a life-supporting reliance on God’s grace, love and forgiveness.

“You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing that God wants us to do.   2 Tim 3: 15-17

At Northwood, Children’s Ministries are driven by a conviction and vision that our efforts prepare children to develop a firm and unshakable faith that strengthens them when they encounter the first disappointments that everyone inevitably experiences, and a strong desire to share that faith through active church participation and service to others.

The reality is that most children experience the first significant challenge to their faith in the world’s goodness and justice at age 11 or 12.  Blessedly, we know that the foundation of moral judgment is in place by the time children reach age nine, about the same time Northwood’s kids are promoted to Student Ministries.

If parents and pastors do their work well, children will leave with a Christian understanding of God’s Word and His promises, and the values of truth, integrity, justice, morality and ethics. If we model these values, our children will have confidence that walking the Christian path is achievable and rewarding.

Children reared and taught in Christian environments have an advantage when they face hardship or heartache, having already been assured that God loves and comforts during adversity, that He has a good plan for each person’s life, and that He keeps His promises found in His Word.  

Northwood’s Children’s Ministries represent a proactive and positive approach to prepare our youngsters with the knowledge, skills, and values to weather these first challenges with a steadfast knowledge of a loving and faithful Father.  Based on this vision, the goals of Northwood’s Christian Ministry are to:

• Provide a nurturing environment with caring adults who model and teach God’s great love shown through His Word and the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, as well as other heroes of the faith.

• Celebrate each youngster’s uniqueness and honor their diversity in intellectual, social, emotional, physical, moral and spiritual development as they grow and learn.

• Offer age-appropriate and engaging activities to learn God’s Word, to praise and worship Him, to communicate with Him and fellow believers, and to serve others in ways that are relevant to children’s life experiences.

• Encourage families in all their diversity (e.g., two-parent, single-parent, blended, grandparent-headed households) to integrate faith and worship into family life, as well as form caring relationships with other members of the Northwood congregation.

Presently, Northwood’s Children’s Ministries include:

• Sunday programs, including nursery, Children’s Church and Sunday School

• Wednesday G.O.L.F. programs

• Small group activities and special events

• Week-day preschool

Sunday Programs

8:15 Service          

• Nursery for infants and toddlers

• “Soul Food” bags for children in worship 

• Children’s Moment: 3-5 minute lesson by worship leader.                               

• Children’s Church: Faith Friends ages 4-10 years are dismissed after Children’s Moment for an integrated Bible-based program related to the pastor’s message

9:45 Service          

• Nursery for infants and toddlers

• “Soul Food” bags for children in worship

• Sunday School for ages 2s, 3-4s, grade K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th

 11:00 Service       

• Nursery for infants and toddlers

• “Soul Food” bags for children in worship

• Children’s Church: Faith Friends teachers provide worship

Nursery  Christ, Care and Comfort is the theme in the nursery. For our youngest friends, newborn through 3 years, it is a safe place to play, sleep or interact.  Procedures for child check-in and -out, feeding, diapering and play insure a safe environment. Our loving caregivers all have a heart for Jesus. All paid staff on duty have cleared a criminal

Children’s Moment  Early in the 8:15 worship service, children are invited to the front of the sanctuary to share in a brief lesson related to the weekly theme of the pastor’s message.  They are then dismissed to Children’s Church, escorted by

Children’s Church (Faith Friends)  After Children’s Moment in the church’s first service, youngsters ages 4-10 enjoy praise (songs and hymns), age-appropriate Bible study (story), application (craft), worship (prayer), and snack (communion). This sequence replicates a typical congregational service, preparing children for attending family worship.  Content is  organized in 6-week sessions around an important Biblical principle or theme.  “Soul food” bags are also related to the content.  An ethic of Christian service is also cultivated as the older members of the multi-age group assist younger children in these activities.  The final week of each content series is devoted to expressing our new understanding through artistic expression.

Sunday School  A collaborative program between the Education and Children’s ministries, Sunday School for our youngest church members is offered for age 2s, 3-4s, and grades K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and
4th-5th during the 9:45 service.  It is helpful for parents of children with special needs to inform the Director of Education or Children’s Ministries about ways we can best accommodate them in Sunday School.

*Northwood’s Children Ministries external communications do not contain photographs of children currently enrolled in its programs and services, for their protection and safety.

Children’s Ministry Events

Small Group Activities and Special Events

Baptism  An important role of each Northwood Ministry involves preparing members who desire baptism.  In childhood, thoughtful preparation involves a 4-week course examining the child’s decision for baptism, writing and illustrating a story to celebrate the event, meeting with parents to assure their involvement in the child’s continuing faith development, and a conversation with the Senior Pastor prior to the sacrament.  Parents of youngsters in Children’s Ministry are asked to step forward during the service, and each baptism is celebrated in the Fellowship Hall afterward.

Vacation Bible School  Like Sunday School, VBS is an intergenerational experience for children and adults.  The Education, Music and Children’s Ministries collaborate on a week-long evening program that begins with dinner followed by classes for preschool, K-1s, 2-3s, 4-5s, youth, and adults.  Each evening begins and ends with praise and prayer, and the last day is a carnival of fun!  Nursery is provided for the wee ones.

Week-Day Preschool

“Learning to Love… Loving to Learn”

Since 2000, Northwood Christian Church has offered a high quality preschool program for 3- and 4-year-old children of the congregation and surrounding community.  The Preschool’s mission is to cultivate in our youngsters, through God’s love for them, a genuine love for their peers, family and teachers that makes being together a joy and delight.  In turn, as we spend time together, our intent is to nurture the children’s love of learning in an environment that encourages authenticity, exploration and self-expression