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| | | | | | | | | ChildrenFamilies are the backbone of the church, and so the burden of caring for our children is one shared by the entire congregation. Fundamentally, children become worshipers of God through immersion in the life and worship of God’s people. Spiritually formative events include covenant baptism (Acts 16:14-15, 25-34; 1 Corinthians 1:16), children’s catechism (Psalm 78:5-6), talking about God’s Word throughout ordinary daily activities (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), and loving parental discipline (Hebrews 12:9-11). The most significant influence on a child’s faith, though, is a vital and humble faith in their parents, guardians and other adults around them—Christian adults who are building their identity on the gospel.
Community Groups
If you have children and are wondering what Community Group might be best for you, contact the church office at 314.721.0943.
Schooling
While city life offers unique opportunities for children to grow up experiencing the rich diversity of the urban core and inner ring suburbs, city life can also present some additional challenges. One of those challenges is the school question. Some parents choose public schools, some Christian schools, some private schools, while some others home school their children. Believing that each of these options has opportunities and challenges, our desire is to support parents in whatever decision they make.
Sunday Mornings: Children’s Sunday School at 9:30
We are committed to the safety, age-appropriate spiritual growth, and participation of our children at Memorial Presbyterian Church. Our security procedures for receiving and dismissing our children should help you to feel at ease as you worship. On taking your child to his or her classroom, please confirm any special concerns or needs with the teacher.
Nursery up to Age 2
We offer nursery care Saturdays from 4:45 - 6:15 PM and Sundays from 9:30 AM until the end of the worship service for children ages 0-24 months. If you have questions, please contact the Nursery Coordinator.
Ages 2 through 6th Grade
Continued Sunday School or Worship Service at 10:45 AM Sundays
While all Primary and Junior Department children join their families in the worship service after Sunday School, other departments continue to meet for those children whose parents choose to have them in their classrooms. You are free to go to your child’s classroom at 10:30 AM to bring them to worship with you, even though the class continues to meet. At Memorial, we entrust to parents the decision about when to bring children into the worship service. Some parents bring their children into the service from infancy. Others choose to wait until after third grade. Still others are somewhere in between, or may even vary from week to week.
Children Worshiping in the Service
Scripture invites children to worship God in the assembly: “Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast” (Joel 2:15-16). “They included all the little ones, the wives, and the sons and daughters of the whole community” (2 Chronicles 31:18). Children listened to Jesus’ preaching (Matthew 14:21), and children were directly addressed in New Testament sermons (Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20). Even very young children, despite not understanding, could receive objective blessing from Jesus in his benediction (Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17). Children are called to praise God in corporate worship (the context for the Psalms): “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise” (Psalm 8:2).
Should you have your child with you in the sanctuary, be aware that there is a nursing mothers’ room off the narthex (front lobby), next to the water fountain. Please knock before entering. Restrooms are located below the narthex, as well as in the main hallway behind the sanctuary.
Children's Church
Before the sermon at the Saturday and Sunday service, children ages 4 through 8 will be dismissed (if parents so desire) for children's church. Staff will meet your children, take them to children's church below the sanctuary, and then bring them back before communion.
Kids’ Quest!
All kids age 4 years through 5th grade are invited to join us for Kids’ Quest!! Kids will learn the basics of knowing and serving God through simple questions and answers from the First Catechism for children. We meet weekly during the school year 6:30pm - 7:45pm on Wednesdays. We begin as a group in the auditorium for songs and prayer before dividing into classes for Bible lessons and catechism memory work. Dinner is served beforehand for those who want it. For more information please contact the church office 314.721.0943.
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