CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Welcome to IHC’s Children Ministry! We are here to support you as you guide your children to know the God that created them and loves them as they grow into disciples of Jesus. We have many opportunities for you and your children to enjoy participating in the life of IHC. We would love to hear from you if you have any questions, suggestions, or need emotional and prayer support, or just want to make a personal connection before your first visit!
NURSERY CARE
Infants – 34 months old
Childcare 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM and 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM once a month when there is a Young Family Service.
The nursery area, located in room 10, provides the youngest church attendees with a positive, happy church experience. The church nursery is staffed by fully vaccinated staff and volunteers. The dedicated staff and excellent volunteer team strive to provide each child with a warm, nurturing environment.
EARLY CHILDHOOD SUNDAY SCHOOL
Ages 3 – 5 years old
Children will attend church with their families through the children’s moment. Worship bags filled with quiet activities for children are available at the front entry. After the children’s moment, children in preschool and kindergarten will go to Sunday School in room 5. Children should be checked into and out of Sunday School by a parent or caregiver. The early childhood Sunday School is center based. The children will have a circle time with a Bible story and music. They will have the opportunity to learn more about the Bible story in an art center, dramatic play center and sensory center.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Children will attend church with their families through the children’s moment. Worship bags filled with quiet activities for children are available at the front entry. After the children’s moment, children in kindergarten through fifth grade will be dismissed for a large group worship and learning experience in Guild Hall. The children break into small age-based groups in Guild Hall to continue their learning. Pickup is in Guild Hall.
Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade will attend church with their families.
CONFIRMATION
Students in eighth grade or high school are invited to be confirmation students. Confirmation begins in October and ends with confirmation in May. We begin the year with a retreat led by Camp Joy on the grounds of Indian Hill Church. After the first retreat, students meet weekly for class on Wednesday from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. We have a second retreat in the spring. At this retreat the students have time to work on their faith statements. Each student presents a faith statement before confirmation.
Our confirmation program will begin in October after fall break. We will have a parent meeting before the classes start to discuss the confirmation class and answer any questions you might have.
This year’s faith statement dinner is on Wednesday, April 12th, at 6:00 PM.
Presbyterian Confirmation this year is Sunday, April 16th, at 8:00 AM. Episcopal Confirmation will also be on April 16th at 10:00 AM.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
The Indian Hill Church Sunday School program uses the Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Curriculum. The curriculum invites children and their leaders to wonder, play, and connect with one another as they develop a better relationship with God. By exploring the stories in Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, children and their leaders learn more about who God is and what their relationship is with God. This curriculum has 35 units filled with 148 stories from the story Bible that dive deep into characters and themes in the Bible. Children and their leader will read the story together from the story Bible, pause to allow the story to resonate, and then engage with the story and wrestle with their place in that story.
Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible Curriculum is written for ages 4–12 and is intentionally multiage, meaning that children are all grouped together. Grouping children this way brings a relational focus to the sessions and fosters a collaborative spirit. In the summer and fall, Old Testament stories are taught. On the first week of Advent, we begin to learn stories from the New Testament.
Children’s Ministry Special Events:
Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday, there is an Easter Egg hunt on the front lawn for children.
Promotion Sunday in June
Children lead our promotion Sunday worship service on June 4th, 2023. All children are recognized for moving up to a new grade level. Children entering kindergarten receive an early reader Bible. Children entering sixth grade are welcomed to the youth group and receive a devotional book.
Vacation Bible School in August
Save the date for VBS: August 7th to August 10th, 2023. Children ages 4 – 5th grade are participants in VBS. Older students serve as volunteers.
Blessing of the Backpacks on August 27th
Blessings are offered for all learners and teachers during the outdoor family worship service. Children bring their backpacks for a blessing. Each child will receive a backpack tag to remind them that God is always with them.
Children’s Christmas Pageant
Annually, the children prepare a Christmas musical to share with the congregation during advent. Typically, the musical is live. 2022’s pageant was “Starry Night, Noisy Night”! Click the photo above to watch it.