Nursery Ministry

 

Empowering Other Ministries

The nursery ministry at Heritage is not a babysitting service.  It is a ministry.  The nursery workers are not babysitters, they are partners in ministry.  We understand the nursery to be a vital support ministry of the church.  Our volunteer nursery workers support the other ministries of the church by allowing parents to participate in the worship services, Awana, youth ministry, music, and many other such ministries.  We minister to the parents by providing them a much needed service, and we minister to the children by giving them gentle, loving, nurturing care. 
 

Safety

  We understand that if you don't feel comfortable with those that are caring for your children, you're not likely to come and worship with us.  We take the safety and security of your children very seriously, so we have installed a series of checks and measures that provide your children with protection.  Every children's worker in the church must pass a background check before they are allowed to serve.  Before children are dropped off at the nursery, they and their parents are assigned a matching number, so that only the parent or someone the parent has given permission to can pick up that child.  While in our care, each and every child is given careful attention to ensure that they are safe and have a good time with us.  All nurseries keep at least two adults on hand at all times for safety and accountability.  Our nursery director makes sure that the nursery is kept clean at all times.  We also have a fenced-in playground behind our Toddler Nursery that is locked and secured from the inside and only accessible from inside the building so that when the weather cooperates, your children can be outdoors in a fun and safe area.  Finally, our premises are constantly monitored by closed-circuit security cameras as well.  We want to make sure that parents are comfortable leaving their children in our nursery while they worship and serve.
 

How We Care For Your Children

There are two levels of care at Heritage for young children, as well as a preschool ministry:
Infants- The infant nursery is for all babies from birth until they are able to confidently walk and be around other walking children.  There are cribs available for babies that need to sleep as well.  There is a nursing room available for mothers of babies who are still nursing.  Video feed of all services is available in the nursing room.  We like to think of the infant nursery as a prayer room, where our workers care for babies, play with them, and pray for them and their families.  
Toddlers- The Toddler nursery is for all children who are walking comfortably but are not yet comfortably potty trained.  Typically, children will remain in the Toddler nursery until they are at least 3 and ready for the preschool class.  During your child's time in the Toddler nursery there are opportunities each week to play, hear Bible stories, and have a snack. We believe that by exposing toddlers to God's Word at an early age builds a foundation for later spiritual growth, and we are committed to helping parents lay that foundation.
Preschool- The preschool class is also attached to the nursery suite, but unlike the infant and toddler nurseries, it is primarily a place of learning.  The preschoolers come to their classroom on Sunday mornings only, but in other services preschool children are encouraged to participate in Awana (Cubbies) and Children's choir.
 
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Psalm 127:3 
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord...