Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

 Scroll down for information on:

• Children’s Church,
• & Nursery

CHILDREN’S CHURCH
(during the second half of the worship service)

Children participate in the beginning of the worship service and then are dismissed to Children’s Church for more worship and teaching geared to their ages.  At the conclusion of the worship service, parents can pick up younger children. Older children will be dismissed to the auditorium. Parents are responsible to care for their children during the fellowship time

Ages 3-5

During the 2009-2010 school year, children ages 3-5 are continuing to learn stories from the Old Testament. Based on the Children Desiring God curriculum,  the study “He Established A Testimony”  tells stories from a God-centered point of view. God is the hero, and the children come to appreciate the mighty works that our great God has accomplished in His love for His people.  By showing children the heart of God through Bible stories, we have the privilege of being part of God’s work in their hearts to set their hope in Him (Psalm 78:5-7).

Grades 1-5 (approximately ages 6-10)

Children’s church for school-age children includes worship set to age appropriate music and a short time of prayer.  Children are encouraged to bring a Bible to Children’s Church.  If your child needs a Bible, please let us know.

This year we are learning about the life of  Christ.  Pictures projected on a screen accompany the Bible lessons to help children who learn better through visual methods.   Since children retain information better when they are actively participating in the lesson,  our teachers are encouraged to use props, skits, and other creative means in their teaching.  Children are challenged to discover who Jesus is and make Him Savior and Lord of their lives. The curriculum is from www.biblelessons4kidz.com.

If your child does not speak English, please be sure to let the teacher know.  We will seek to accommodate your child as best we can.

The International Chapel of Vienna uses the curriculum published by Children Desiring God (www.childrendesiringgod.org).  (Children ages 3-5 are being taught from this curriculum during Children’s Church.)   Our choice is based on our desire to lead children into a deep and meaningful relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.   This curriculum’s stated goal is to exalt the greatness of God and lead children to know Jesus:

The greatest need of the next generations is to know and cherish the infinite value of God. Therefore, we want them to become so saturated with the Word of God that they treasure Jesus alone as the One who saves and satisfies the heart.  The goal of our curriculum is to fuel spiritual desire by exalting the greatness and worth of God and His glorious work through Christ.

 Primary—Grade 2 (approximately ages 5-7)

This year, this class is learning who God is using “The ABC’s of God: A Study for Children on the Greatness and Worth of God.”  Right thinking about God is essential for the life of faith. Using the alphabet as a framework for teaching the attributes of God, this study explores the delight that God has in Himself as the source, means, and purpose of all things. Each lesson asks and answers three key questions, "Who is God?" "What is He like?" and "How should I act toward Him?" as it presents a theology of God for children.

 Grades 3—5 (approximately ages 8-10)

Older elementary children are learning from the lessons, “To Be Like Jesus:  A Study for Children on Following Jesus.” What is salvation? How does someone become a Christian? What does it mean to become like Jesus? This curriculum helps answer these important questions by explaining elements of the Gospel message, its purpose, and promise. A major portion of this study focuses on the doctrine of sanctification—the process by which a Christian becomes more and more conformed to the likeness of Jesus.

 Parent Pages:

We believe that the primary responsibility of nurturing the faith of children rests on believing parents (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).    Therefore, each Sunday we will be sending home parent pages to provide you with the key theme, Scripture references and memory verse, as well as a lesson summary that explains the main biblical concepts that were presented in each lesson.   We suggest that you find a convenient place to post these sheets (for example, by your child’s bed, in the kitchen refrigerator) so that you are able to refer to them through the week.  This will help your child assimilate the truths learned each Sunday into their daily lives.  Be on the lookout for teaching opportunities!

 Language Requirements

Sunday School classes are not equipped to handle children who have very little or no working knowledge of English.  Children entering Sunday School classes must be proficient in English and able to hold a conversation with their teacher.  If your child is not proficient in English, please wait to enroll them in Sunday school until they have been in an English-speaking school classroom for at least three months.  This policy helps us to ensure that children who participate in Sunday School have a rewarding and fruitful experience.

 NURSERY CARE

Children ages 0-3 years are welcome in the nursery room.  Childcare is provided by volunteers during the worship service.  There is currently no childcare available in the nursery during the Sunday School hour.

Sign In

As you hand your child to a caregiver, you will need to sign your child in to the nursery using the clipboard near the door.  Please be sure to receive a numbered tag before you leave.  You will need to return this tag to the caregivers in order to collect your child.  Thank you for helping us ensure the safety of your child!

Please note that children are not allowed to bring small toys or objects into the nursery if they could be a choking hazard for younger children!  Please help us to enforce this rule for the safety of all the children.

Please inform the caregivers as to what language your child speaks.

Snacks & Supplies

If you bring a snack, we will offer that to your child.  Please let the caregivers know if your child has any allergies or if you do not wish for him or her to have a snack. 

Each family is expected to provide their own diapers; however, we do have extras on hand in case of emergencies.

Separation Anxiety

Given the age of the children, it is normal to expect that some children will have difficulty separating from their parents.  Please assist the caregivers by giving your child a warm reassurance that you will be back soon for them and then leave the nursery area quickly.  If your child cannot be distracted and continues to cry for more than 15 or 20 minutes, we will come and get you.  Long good-byes just make the separation more difficult for everyone involved!

For more information on our children's ministry contact Cheryl Warner at childrenicv@gmail.com.