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Below you can find general information about our programs, but also see what is currently happening with our kids by visiting our KIDS KORNER!  Children of Redeemer - Growing in Gospel Freedom "Bringing the heart of the Gospel to the heart of the child." The Kingdom of God values children - those most vulnerable in our midst. God has chosen to work through the institution of families as a primary means by which the treasure of the Gospel is passed on. As a result Children’s Ministries at Redeemer is one of our highest priorities. We want to help your children learn about Christ, his redeeming love, and our great need for him in our lives as Savior and Lord. Redeemer Children’s Ministries Below is an outline of the things we do in the children’s ministry at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. After each “what” is a brief “how and why” we do each thing. Children in Worship We have decided to be a church that promotes family participation in worship – together. We recognize that we must be careful here not to mistake children’s physical presence in worship as inclusion. If we merely have them present, and have them “sit still, be quiet, and be a good boy.” We have done our children a disservice. We do NOT want to create a pattern of passivity in worship, or worse, instill the thought that children are not welcome in the Assembly of God’s People. We seek to help our “grown-ups” understand why we believe it is vital to have children in the service of worship. We continually are asking, "How are we encouraging loving responses to child-like movement, and whispered questions in the worship service? How are community members of different life stages serving / being served / blessing / being blessed by one another in this regard?" Warm smiles, kind greetings, grace and understanding go a long way here! May God bless our efforts to welcome our children in a way that honors Him! Children’s Choir One way of including children in worship is by providing opportunities for children to actively participate in some elements of worship. Children ages first grade - fifth grade are invited to be a part of our children's choir. It is our hope that as our children’s choir sings songs in worship, the sentiment is not so much “Oh, isn't that so cute!” as it is “Truly, out of the lips of children come the praises of our God.” This will speak volumes to the children involved as well as the children who watch. People of ALL AGES are called to worship our King! Nursery In our nurseries, we strive to communicate LOVE and CARE and WARMTH to our children and to their families. Children are prayed for, read to, cared for, diapers changed, music played, Bible stories read, creativity expressed (through “arts and crafts” time in the older rooms), snacks given… all in ways that we pray communicate the love of Jesus. There are Five nurseries for children up to the age of three years. Itty Bitty Babies - There are four nurseries for children up to the age of three. Infants I - 0-9 months Infants II - 10-18 months Toddlers I - 19-27 months Toddlers II - 28-36 months Training in the Pews It is our hope that children will learn to LISTEN to God's word as they mature through the ages of 3-5. Children falling into this age bracket are dismissed immediately before the sermon to “Training in the Pews.” Visuals are given during this teaching time when the same biblical text as what the adults hear in the sermon is presented to children in an age-appropriate manner. These visuals are helpful for this age’s developmental stage and need for a concrete object to connect an idea to. The Stories of our faith are told, which is in step with the child’s cognitive development, as most lessons include at least some form of Biblical narrative. Also, children are memorizing scripture and some catechism questions as they sing songs that are either Bible verses or first catechism questions and answers set to music. Dana Dirksen’s Songs for Saplings Communicants Seminar It is our hope that children will learn to LISTEN to God's word as they mature through the ages of 3-5. Children falling into this age bracket are dismissed immediately before the sermon to “Training in the Pews.” Visuals are given during this teaching time when the same biblical text as what the adults hear in the sermon is presented to children in an age-appropriate manner. These visuals are helpful for this age’s developmental stage and need for a concrete object to connect an idea to. The Stories of our faith are told, which is in step with the child’s cognitive development, as most lessons include at least some form of Biblical narrative. Helps children of the congregation to understand the essentials of the Christian faith and what it means to become a communicant member of the church. This course is offered one to two times a year. Check the calendar for dates. Christian Education (CE) Children's CE is offered for children from ages 2 years - fifth grade. In sixth grade, children become part of the youth CE classes. From ages 2-fourth grade, our children are using Great Commission's "Show me Jesus" Curriculum -- For ages 10 and 11, the children are going through the shorter catechism in a Socratic Method model. This addresses their changing needs to enter into more thoughtful dialogue with the truths the have been taught up to this time. We strive to have teachers and parents in communication, since we believe that believing parents of Covenant children are called to be the primary teachers of God’s truth to their children. That communication includes take-home pages, email lists for CE classes, teachers greeting parents at the doors of their classrooms, and being in relationship with parents. Teachers are informed of guidelines and procedures to help protect our children. VBS Vacation Bible School serves as an outreach to the community, as well as an experience for Redeemer’s children to be in community with one another and children in the community with whom they may not regularly have contact. We partner with a local community center, and we strive to teach the children of that center truths about God’s Word, the Person and Work of Jesus, and God’s world in which they live in ways that will impact them for life. We recognize that this happens best in the context of an ongoing relationship and that VBS is only PART of loving our neighbors in the name of Christ. Fall Festival Is a church-wide event that is geared toward children and their families, and is a great opportunity for Redeemer families to bring friends, regardless of their friends’ comfort level with “church” or religion. It is a time when adults serve the children of Redeemer by facilitating various activities meant to communicate that our children are important, and that we love to see them having fun! (Think moon bounces, cotton candy, pumpkin decorating, hayrides.) This event is a great community-builder in that children of all ages interact in a casual context – an opportunity for the older children to love the younger ones in the name of Christ, and for those relationships to begin to deepen and grow. This also happens between families and Adult – to – child, as we see youth painting children’s’ faces, single young women holding new babies to give young moms a break, and older moms chatting with younger ones. Organic discipleship! Check out what’s going on in Kids Korner! For more information, please call or email: Lizette Crosson Children’s Ministries Director, 210-930-4480 lizette@redeemersa.org 2009-2010 Children's Ministries (PDF) |
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