Grace Church Smyrna is committed to reaching the next generation. We love seeing children enjoy coming to church and loving God. Everything we do in our children’s ministry is focused on bringing children to a real and active relationship with Jesus at an early age. Activities, lessons and curriculum are carefully selected and thoroughly planned to ensure that God’s truth is communicated to your child in a way that is relevant to whichever stage of life they are in. Whatever age your child is, we have a class suited for them.
****For your peace of mind all our volunteers have met background checks and training***
What do I do if it’s my first time?
Upon arrival you will sign in your child just outside of the nursery/preschool area. You will receive a security tag that you will hand back in when you come to pick up your child at the end of Bible Study and/or Worshi Service. We offer childcare during worship for children birth through 3 years old. No child will be released without the correct security tag. Our Children's Volunteers are easily identifiable by theirGrace Kids Volunteer Lanyard
How do you choose your Children's Leaders and Volunteers?
Even as a young church, we want to place a high priority on your child's safety. Every GraceKid Volunteer must undergo a background check and participate in regular training. In addition, all teachers and workers must be covenant members of Grace Church at this time.
Can I come to and stay with my child?
All parents are welcome to spend time with their children, but in order to volunteer in a classroom or teach, we require a complete background check and interview with us. The safety of your child is of the utmost importance. We are careful to only allow approved volunteers with the children. We would welcome you as a volunteer.
What will my child do?
Childcare during Worship
It is our desire to help children learn at an early age that worship is for everyone...including them. Worship is NOT just for "BIG" people, it's for the whole congregation. To aid in this, we provide several ways for parents to assist their children to engage during worship.
- Childcare for children age birth through 2 years-old is available during the Worship time. Children 3 Years and older will join their parents for the main worship time.
- Children's Bulletins & Crayons are provided for 3-6 year olds as well as 7-12 year olds at the Check In Kiosk. These guides are distributed during Sunday School for those in attendance or available at welcome table near Worship center. They are tailored to the text from the morning sermon and are challenging. They will keep your child occupied in a meaningful way during the sermon.
Grace Kid's (SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES)
During the Adult Bible Study (9:00 - 10 am) we offer 4 Bible study classes for children birth through 5th Grade. You can find out information about what we teach on our Sunday Class page.
Why we keep our children in the worship service?
Pastor Tom has written an article about our convictions here.
Since the gathering of the church is the primary place in which we see God’s city in our world, we intentionally worship as a family because we believe that it benefits both children and parents.
How?
We acknowledge that this can make our worship gatherings a difficult task for some children. Whether your children are squirming or crying, as a church family, we believe that they both belong with us and are being trained in life and godliness.
From here, we believe that it trains us as parents in teaching our children what the rhythms of the service mean (i.e. Why do we need to confess sin? What did the pastor mean when he said x in the sermon?, etc.). To help your kids, Grace provides age-appropriate worship notes and activity bags for children to use during the sermon [full of activity sheets, a craft item, a little snack. and books to choose from].
ENGAGING IN WORSHIP AS A FAMILY
Below are ideas to help your family prepare, participate and process what it looks like to worship as a family. We pray these ideas help make worshipping together not only doable, but wonderfully fruitful.
Practice and Pray.
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During the week, bring home a worship guide and practice going through the liturgy together.
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Discuss why we sit, stand, sing, and pray during different parts of the worship gathering. In painting this purpose, it gives opportunity to discuss expectations of personal participation.
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Pray for the worship gathering as a family on Saturday night or on your drive to church together.
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As an example to your children, pray vulnerably in relation to your own distractions, needs, and hopes.
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Engage & Teach.
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Discuss with your spouse who will coach which children during the service or split time overseeing them during different parts of the liturgy.
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Whisper things like, "We're praying so let's be still" or "Let's stand during this song".
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Exemplify, through patient words and your engagement with the liturgy, that the time your family spends at church is formative and important to you, them, and God.
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It's common to need to take children out of the service to pause and remind them of the expectations. Encourage them to enter back into the service with joy and obedience.
Recap & Remember.
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Following church, celebrate that you got to spend time together and encourage children in areas they obeyed or improved. Gently discuss an area they could improve in the following week.
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Take time after church to ask what song they enjoyed or which part stood out to them. Why did it stand out to them?
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Have a family discussion on the ride home or during lunch. Read the sermon text again and asking for one another’s answers to the application questions found in the worship guide.
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One weekly question to answer together might be, “How can we as a family grow in obedience to God this week?
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Helpful Resources:
Websites
- CHILDREN DESIRING GOD - www.childrendesiringgod.org
- GOSPEL STORYBOOK BIBLE - www.martymachowski.com
Family Discipleship/Worship Resources
- New City Catechism (Find a free copy at Resource Wall or Check out the App as well!)
- Truth and Grace Memory Books (Founder's Press)
- The Jesus Story Book Bible
- The Gospel Story Book Bible