During the coronavirus pandemic, Advent’s Children’s Ministries transitioned all Sunday morning programming to a virtual context with occasional in-person events. Now that Advent is in the process of regathering back to in-person church life, we are introducing Sunday morning program options for children ages 4 and younger as described below. We hope to relaunch full Children’s Ministries programming for ages 6 months through 8th grade starting in September 2021.
Nursery
Nursery is available for ages 6 months through 2 years in the basement Cradle Room located at the opposite end of the building from the main entrance. Here’s what parents can expect:
We will schedule two paid childcare workers and one volunteer each week to staff our nursery.
The maximum capacity of our nursery is 12 children due to the needs of children at this age.
Parents are welcome to drop off their children starting at the beginning of the service. They should be picked up at the Passing of the Peace. For security, the same parent should pick up who dropped the child off.
Snacks are not currently provided in nursery.
Please leave children with a clean diaper or take them to the bathroom before drop-off.
If a child turns 3 over the summer, they are welcome to then transition to Preschool Worship & Play. And if parents need a private place to feed or soothe children, the cry room in the back of the sanctuary is also available.
Preschool Worship & Play
Preschool Worship & Play for children ages 3 and 4 takes place outside on the lawn between the church building and Carroll Ave (weather permitting) during the readings, sermon, and prayers in the main worship service. The goal of Preschool Worship & Play is to provide an opportunity for preschoolers to worship God and be (re)introduced to Sundays at church in an interactive, age-appropriate setting.
Here’s what parents can expect:
Parents should check their children in with the Children's Ministries volunteer in the lobby when they arrive.
Children will be dismissed to process out of the service at the Collect for Children and return at the Passing of the Peace.
We will have 4-5 volunteers with this group. Parents can prepare their children by reminding them that volunteers are there to keep them safe and have fun worshipping and learning about God together.
If a child is having a difficult time complying with the directions, a volunteer will text the parent to come and bring them back to the service. Parents should monitor their phones closely.
If necessary, we will move to a classroom in the basement, in which case parents will need to have a mask handy to send with their child.
Snacks will not be regular part of this program, but parents can help their kids stay hydrated by sending them outside with a labeled water bottle.
Health & Safety
When children are in the care of Advent's Children's Ministries, the following will apply:
Childcare workers and volunteers will wear masks in the nursery.
For any indoor programming for children including our summer Preschool Worship & Play, both children and volunteers will be requested to wear masks. Parents should plan to have a mask handy for their children if we will be indoors. We will also have disposable masks on hand.
Per our Child Protection Policy, children with the following symptoms should not participate in Children's Ministries:
Fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
Ear infection, conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep throat etc. unless treated by antibiotics for at least 24 hours
Lice, pinworms, or other infection or parasite unless treated by appropriate medication
Green or yellow snot/runny nose
Church of the Advent's Child Protection Policy includes full details on all of our guidelines and safeguards for keeping children safe in our care. You can access this document here.