Welcome!
At Church of the Good Shepherd, we believe that kids need the gospel too, and aim to love them through sound teaching, compassionate leadership, and consistent mentorship. While we adhere to the belief that the family is a child’s first place of ministry, the church strives to reinforce the nurture kids receive within their own families and to further support these children as they grow to know Jesus personally. We are committed to loving our littlest ones well while they are under our care. If you’d like to find out more about our Child Protection Policy, you can read it here. For more details about our programs, visit our calendar!
Sunday Mornings
Sunday School for ages 3 years – 5th grade is held during the 9:30 hour in assigned classrooms.
During the Worship Service, kids ages 3 years through 3rd grade can be dismissed during the announcements to attend Children’s Worship. Children’s Worship is split into three classes: 3 & 4-year-olds, Kindergarten-1st grade, and 2nd-3rd grade. Parents must drop children off at their classes and pick them up once service is over.
We also have Children’s Worship Bags for use during the service. Each Sunday, visit our Children’s Worship Bag Table, located at the back right side of the Sanctuary, to pick up an age-appropriate children’s worship bag prior to the service. Two sets are available: one for children 3-7 years old and one for children 7+ years old. Each week they will contain kid’s bulletins, crayons, and a Bible storybook (for the younger kiddos), and maybe even a fun surprise from time to time! So grab a bag each Sunday & don’t forget to return it at the end of the service!
Ages 12 weeks through 2 years are accommodated throughout the service in the nursery for the entirety of the service.
View CGS Kids+Nursery Map
CGS Kids + Nursery Sickness Policy
Check-In System
We use a digital check-in system that prints name badges for children including food allergies. To check in, simply visit the Check-in Desk in the Kid’s Concourse, located just outside the nursery.
Curriculum
Sunday School
Our kids’ Sunday School classes are 9:30-10:30 a.m. For our SMC hour, our CGS kids are engaged in a Gospel-rich, Jesus-centered curriculum, Gospel Story Kids, by Marty Machowski.
Children’s Worship
Each Sunday, during the sermon portion of the worship service, our young children (ages 3 years through 3rd grade) will be dismissed to learn more about God! Our preschool children are currently engaged in “My ABC Bible Verses” curriculum.
“These lessons put the memory verses in the context of the gospel story. Every lesson points to Jesus. Every lesson emphasizes our need for the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and to transform us into the likeness of Jesus.” -Susan Hunt
Our kindergarten through third graders are learning about attributes of God with “The ABCs of God,” a curriculum written by Truth 78.
Nursery
Sunday Mornings
Our nursery is available on Sunday mornings for all infants once they reach the age of 12 weeks. Care is provided during our 10:45am Worship Service, as well as during the 9:30 a.m. SMC hour. In August of each year, children who reach age 3 by August 31st will generally promote out of our nursery and into our age-graded Children’s Sunday School and Children’s Worship programs.
Our nursery rooms are divided by age. The staff at the nursery desk will help parents make sure children are in the correct nursery room.
Check-In System
We use a digital check-in system that prints name badges for children that include food allergies. To check in, simply visit one of our two check-in stations: one is located in the kids’ concourse area (look for the big yellow wall); the other station is located inside the nursery, which is just adjacent to the kids’ concourse.
If you are new to CGS, please visit our Nursery Hostess Table inside the nursery to check in manually & receive our CGS Kids+Nursery welcome packet.
Volunteer Staff Schedule
The nursery staff schedule runs mid-August through the following August, with various breaks throughout the year. If you would like to serve in the nursery, please click the link below.
Nursery Handbook
Parents and nursery volunteers: If you would like more information about the nursery, please access the current nursery handbook below.
Births + Baptisms
We love to celebrate the births that occur in our church family! Help us rejoice with you: contact our nursery director RiLee Robeson to have your child’s birth announced to our congregation in the Friday e-newsletter and Sunday bulletin.
If you are a member of The Church of the Good Shepherd, your infant is — by virtue of your covenant with us — a non-communing member of our church and entitled to baptism. We normally set aside a portion of the Worship Service on select Sundays to welcome infants into baptism, and you can arrange this for your child by contacting CGS Reception.
Questions?
Angie Heinrich (Director of Children’s Ministry)
RiLee Robeson (Nursery Director)