Why Do We Have A Nursery?
Not all churches have nurseries or the desire to care for children while parents gather for worship. Some churches hold to the belief that children should participate in all facets of church life with their parents. At Cornerstone, we too believe that children should participate in the life of the church with their parents as much as possible. However, we also believe that there are aspects of church life in which parents and children may be best served by participating separately.
For instance, children under a certain age may find it difficult to sit quietly through a thirty-five minute sermon or an hour-long Sunday School class. These children may be best served by having their own activities. Parents, also, may be best served by having their children cared for separately so as to be able to focus for a time on the teaching or activities at hand rather than the care of their children. Cornerstone's nursery exits to provide that separate care while parents are involved in aspects of worship and Christian education.
Above all, it must be remembered that the nursery exists to serve parents and children who desire such a service. The use of the care provided is never mandatory but is entirely optional. It is left to the discretion of parents to determine how much their children will participate in the aspects of church life or the nursery.
The Purpose of the Nursery
The Cornerstone Nursery exists to create an atmosphere of loving care through which young children and their parents can be called to realize the need for the gospel as central in their life.
Through the loving care of volunteers from within the Cornerstone community, children and their parents learn of the love which is present in Jesus Christ and of His atoning death on the cross.
The Cornerstone Nursery exists to serve parents by providing child care so that parents can hear God's call and respond to it with worship.
The nursery provides a separate atmosphere for children during those times when the care of their children may distract parents from hearing the Gospel or inhibit them from responding in worship.
The Cornerstone Nursery exists to provide an opportunity for those within the Cornerstone community to live out the life-changing message of the gospel through loving service.
As we understand that we must come to Christ as little children, the nursery provides opportunities for those in Christ to serve His body and reflect Him to others in the way they care for the children of the church.
Guidelines for Nursery Children
The Sunday morning nursery is designed for children under the age of 3. We ask that all children who are sick or have had a fever in the last 24 hours not be in the nursery.
The Nursery is located on the main level of Cornerstone Church, to the left of the sanctuary and down the hall. There are two nurseries labeled with ages appropriate for each.
When a child is dropped off at the nursery, parents are asked to fill out a provided sign-in sheet with all relevant information, such as the child's name, parents' names, parents' location during the Christian education hour and the Sunday morning worship service, and any special concerns (i.e. food allergies). In the event of an emergency or special need, parents will be sought in their indicated location by a nursery worker. Parents should pick up their children in a timely manner following the Sunday morning worship service.
