:: GO! Ministries :: kidsMinistries :: Immanuel Church of the Nazarene ::

Jesus said: 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'.
— Matthew 19:14

Want to know more about our kidsMinistries? You're at the right place. Learn about our various ministries and core values.

Our mission is to share the Good News with children while providing a safe, nurturing environment where they are loved and taught Biblical truth. kidsMinistries at Immanuel Church is centered around the Core Values of our church, and each ministry activity reflects one or several of these:

Our "Go!" Theme
Register Your Child
Worship & Sunday School
Relationships
Evangelism
Discipleship
Ministry
Infant/Child Dedication
Baptism & Communion for Children
Web Sites

You no doubt have noticed bits of lyrics with these little icons ( ) posted all around the web site. Well here is the entire song, Go!, which is a great inspiration to our Go! theme. So go ahead and join God on an incredible journey!

Go!
Words and Music by Troy & Genie Nilsson

Go!
And make disciples
Of every nation
Baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Go! and teach them to observe all I've commanded
And I'll be with you 'til the end of the age

You've got the green light
Go pedal's on the right
Step on the gas Go fast
Baptize and make disciples

Go on your skateboard
Or on your surfboard
Or in your big fat Ford
Baptize and make disciples

Matthew 28:19 and 20
That's the Great Commission
Matthew 28:19 and 20
Says to Go Soul-Fishin'
Matthew 28:19 and 20
That's the Great Commission
Matthew 28:19 and 20
Says to Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

You've got the green light
Go pedal's on the right
Step on the gas Go fast
Baptize and make disciples

Go on your skateboard
Go in your big fat ford
Burn rubber for the Lord
Baptize and make disciples

(Matthew 28:19 and 20...)

Registering your child is an important and helpful step in providing us with the ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for your children. If you have not already, whether ICN is your home or you are a visitor, please fill out the form on the Registration page. Your information will be kept safe and confidential.

Each Sunday morning, children K-5th grade have their own Worship Time during kidsWorship. Using the "252 Basics" curriculum which is based on Luke 2:52,

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man, the children learn and put into practice core virtures

so they can grow in wisdom, faith and friendship.

kidsWorship (K-6th grade) takes place after children are dismissed from the Family Worship Service.

Preschool Worship (ages 3-5) begins at 9:30 AM. Music, crafts and guided play are integrated with scripture verses and stories from the Bible.

Following kidsWorship, the children study God's Word in Sunday School classes enhanced through age-appropriate learning experiences. Games, crafts, and state if the art curriculum make learning fun. Even our Nursery & Toddlers praise and worship God as well as learn from a brief lesson and craft.

Mentors—Children benefit from relationships with Christian men and women who nurture and encourage them. At ICN Sunday School, teachers and adult volunteers are committed Christians who understand the importance of their role in the lives of their students. All children's staff members participate in our Journey Discipleship process to further their spiritual growth.

Friends—Friendships with peers are also important. Ministry life at ICN allows intentional times for children to be together, have fun and strengthen friendships with one another.

Through weekly ministries and outreach events such as Vacation Bible School, children hear about Christ and His message of salvation for all. The 4 Spiritual Laws and ABC's of Salvation are presented many times throughout the year. Some altar workers are specially trained in leading children to Christ.

Discipleship means to be like Christ. Small group Bible studies for children called Sunday School classes are held each Sunday morning at 11:15 AM. Children meet in age appropriate groups to study and apply God's Word.

Ministry is not just for adults. Children at ICN have lots of neat ministry service options during Wednesday Nite @ ICN, in Children's Worship, and on other occasions throughout the year. Here are just a few:

Children's Talent Café	Special Offerings
Preteens - Manna on Main St	kidsWorship Teams
Puppet Ministry	Snack Helpers
Missions Education & Projects	Media Helpers

Train up the child to choose the right path. When he is older he will remain on it.
— Prov. 22:6 (NLT)

What is Infant/Child Dedication?
At Immanuel Church, we believe it is important for parents to dedicate their children to God, as was practiced in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. Jesus himself was brought by his parents to God's house for dedication.

Parents who are believers in Christ take the spiritual aspect of their parental role seriously. A dedication ceremony signifies the commitment of the parent(s) to raise their child according to biblical directives by

Worshipping with child;
Reading God's Word together;
Encouraging the child to participate in Children's Ministry activities
Modeling Christ-like behavior

Can our child be baptized?
Yes. However, the Church of the Nazarene differentiates "infant baptism" from "believer's baptism."

Infant Baptism signifies God's work of love and grace in a child's life. It does not signify God's work of salvation. Infant baptism may be offered in context of child dedication at the request of the parents.

Believer's Baptism is for those who wish to identify with Christ after having personally experienced God's work of salvation. It is a public declaration of their decision to trust Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and an identification with His death, burial and resurrection. (See romans 6:3-5)

We're ready—what should we do?
Soon after your child is born, contact the Church Office (215-755-4446 or by email) to schedule an appointment to discuss your child's dedication. At this appointment, we'll review background information about your child and discuss the ceremony with you.

There are currently 4 Sundays each year during which infant/child dedications may be scheduled. Together with the Lead Pastor and Director of Children's Ministries, you may choose the date which would be best for you. Due to the increasing number of infants in our growing congregation, it may be necessary for more than one family to dedicate their child on a Sunday.

Believer's Baptism
We believe that the sacrament of Baptism symbolizes the acceptance of the benefits of salvation through belief in the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is to be practiced as an opportunity for believers to declare their faith to others. The word "baptism" comes from the Greek word "Baptizo" which means "to plunge, to wash." Before Jesus came to earth, the Jewish people used baptism to show that a non-Jewish person had decided to become a part of God's People.

When John the Baptist came, he preached that those who were sorry for their sins must repent and be baptized to show that they were ready for the coming Savoir.

Believer's Baptism is an outward symbol of what Christ has done within us. Baptism may be by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. In our church, we practice baptism by immersion.

Children are invited to attend a baptism preparation class. We meet with children and their parents to share the Biblical basis for, and the personal impact baptism has, on a believer.

At ICN, we believe that parents must also be in harmony with the child's decision to be baptized since both an acceptance of faith and a commitment to participate in Christian education are important.

Communion
We believe that Communion is a sacrament which focuses on Christ's sacrificial death, through which believers receive life and salvation. Communion, as demonstrated in the New Testament, is offered to only those whop are believers and are prepared for reverent appreciation of its significance.

Through our educational process, we specifically address the topic of communion for children in grades 1-6. This material is discussed in both Sunday School and Children's Church.

Since children have varied levels of spiritual development, it is vital that parents make the determination when it is best for the child to begin participating in the communion/Lord's Supper experience.

In talking with your child about the symbolism of Communion, there are few statements that you may want to use:
It's a reminder that Jesus is with us all the time. As we eat the bread and drink the grape juice, He seems closer to us.
It's a symbol that all Christians, no matter what church they belong to, are alike in one way—Jesus gave His life for all of us.
It's a sign that all people are equal in God's sight. Each one of us has sinned and Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. There is no one who is "good enough" on his own to be saved.

Another idea would be to point to examples in the Bible that show connections to the story of the Passover in Exodus 12:12-30. Then compare the Passover to the story found in Luke that covers the death and resurrection of Jesus (Luke 23:44-24:!2).

Communion is part of our Family Worship Service here at Immanuel. The ushers serve communion to believers, who are usually seated in the congregation.

It is appropriate for a parent to allow the tray to pass their child who they feel is not ready, based on already-mentioned criteria. It will minimize confusion or distress to the child if you have already discussed this at home and explained why he/she may not participate.

Please feel free to contact Candy Nixon with questions or if she can be assistance in any way.

Funny Excuses to Celebrate the Month
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Challenger Division
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Games
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