St. Luke's UMC Nursery Packet
Welcome! This document covers specifics regarding the St. Luke's UMC Nursery. Please read this information before bringing your child to the nursery. Thanks!
God cares for you and your baby very much. Even the hairs of your head are all counted. (Luke 12:6)
Welcome to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church!
We are very pleased that you have chosen to join us in worship. This packet is designed to answer some frequently asked questions about our nursery program, and to help you feel confident in your decision to entrust your child in our nursery staff’s care. If at any time you have a question regarding our nursery program and ministry, please call Cheryl McDermott, Director of Children’s Ministry, at 452-6262 or Jeanette Nunis, Nursery Supervisor, at 490-3092.
Nursery Supervisor
Jeanette Nunis, St. Luke’s Nursery Supervisor, has worked with children for 33 years. She has worked in the nursery since 1992.
Nursery Staff
Kea Haynes
Melissa Pearce
Melanie Mahon
If the nursery finds itself short-handed, a volunteer list is in place, composed of church members (primarily parents of children currently in the nursery) who are willing to stay and help out. At St. Luke’s, all volunteers with children and youth are required to be members for at least six months and agree to a background check before beginning to work in children’s ministry. They are also required to attend a Safe Sanctuary training session, led by a St. Luke’s staff member or representative.
The nursery accepts babies who are at least two months old and have been to the pediatrician at least once. There is a separate room for infants, with five cribs, a playpen, and other age-appropriate equipment and toys. Nursing mothers are welcome at any time; two rocking chairs are available, and the infant room is arranged so that these chairs are out of view of the main nursery room.
Children under the age of two are in the main nursery room, which is equipped with lots of toys, a playhouse, books, blocks, bubbles, music….you get the idea! The nursery staff maintains a ratio of one adult to five toddlers.
On Sunday mornings, two year olds gather for Sunday school, and a handout of that lesson is placed in their bag/belongings to take home. At St. Luke’s, we feel our nursery ministry is an important first step in every child’s Christian education.
The nursery is provided on Sunday mornings for the 8:30 service, 9:30 Sunday school hour, and the 10:50 service. When a Tuesday morning Bible study is taking place, the nursery is offered to any participant with small children, up to age four. The nursery is open on Wednesday nights when programs are offered, from 5:30 to 7:30, and is offered during adult choir practice. For other programs, the nursery is offered on an as-requested basis. Scheduling for the nursery is arranged through Rorie Read (452-6262).
In order for your child to be in the nursery, YOU MUST BE IN ST. LUKE’S AS WELL. Please do not leave the church for personal errands; our beeper system does not extend beyond the church building.
What to bring with your child: diaper bag containing diapers, wipes, diaper ointments or powder, bottle or sealed cup, change of clothes, snacks. If your child is teething, you may want to include a teething gel product (baby Ambesol, Orajel, etc.). The staff will administer teething gel products if asked. We ask that you label your child’s belongings: bottles, cups, diaper bags, and especially any beloved blankets or stuffed animals.
What not to bring: because many children are allergic to peanuts and/or peanut butter, please do not bring any snack items containing peanuts or peanut butter.
On Sunday mornings, a snack is given until 11:15 (this cut-off time is to help encourage lunch appetites). During other nursery hours, snacks are given as well.
There is a sign-in table located outside the nursery door. This is where you will sign in your child and note where you will be (Sunday school, Bible study, choir practice, etc.). If this is your first time signing in to the nursery, you will be asked to fill out a short information sheet, including any allergies your child might have of which the staff needs to be aware.
You will be given a beeper when you drop your child off, to signal you if the staff feels that you are needed to return to the nursery. The beeper acts in a similar fashion as a restaurant pager: it will vibrate if you are being signaled. A red light blinks on the upper edge of the beeper; this is to let you know that it is in service. The beeper system only works in the St. Luke’s building, so we require that you be in the building as well.
With smaller children, we ask that you please hand your child over the Dutch door to a staff member. We keep that door closed to prevent a child from slipping out, and to safeguard against tiny fingers getting pinched. With older children, we encourage you to let them walk in on their own to a staff member, but again, please be mindful of children around the nursery door.
As a parent, you are always welcome to come in to the nursery, especially on your first visit to get to know the rooms and the staff. We have found that it works best during the dropping-off process for parents to simply give their child to a staff member and say good-bye; prolonged farewells often make small children more upset. Your child will be comforted and encouraged to play at his or her own pace.
The same procedures apply during pick-up time: give your beeper to a staff member, and they will give you your child and his/her belongings. Again, let the staff member hand your child over the Dutch door or open the door to walk out to you. We ask parents to please be prompt in picking up children; the nursery staff have obligations and places to be just like everyone, and they appreciate your consideration in picking up your children in a timely manner.
In the United Methodist faith, we believe that baptism is a sacrament, one of two that Jesus commanded his followers to continue (the other is Holy Communion).
Baptism is different from christening, which is a ceremony only for babies, recognizing that a baby is a gift of God. Baptism is a covenant entered into with God, claiming the child for a life of grace in Christ. The entire congregation is entering into this covenant, promising to “surround [the child] with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God and be found faithful in their service to others” (United Methodist Hymnal, p. 35).
Do we initiate the conversation about baptism or does our pastor?
Either one. Some pastors may come to you, while some may wait for you to indicate a readiness to talk about baptism. Don’t hesitate to call on the pastor. At St. Luke’s, you can talk to Pastor Mark Matheny about scheduling your child’s baptism. The church phone number is 452-6262.
At what age should we have our child baptized?
This is a decision that is up to you. The United Methodist church does not have an “official” age for baptism. Many parents wait until the child is over 2 months old, as a very young infant is more susceptible to illness and to being startled by the service. Another factor to be weighed is the availability of family members to attend.
In our church nursery, we strive to maintain a healthy, clean, and safe environment at all times. We ask that you, as responsible parents, keep your child at home if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea (in the past 24 hours)
- Vomiting (in the past 24 hours)
- Temperature above normal
- Sore throat
- Rash of unknown origin
- Skin infections (example: head lice, ringworms until completely cleared
- Pinkeye
- Green-colored nasal discharge
If a child is brought to the nursery and appears to be sick, the Nursery Supervisor reserves the right to contact the parents and ask them to take the child home. In general, it is a good idea to make certain that your child is symptom-free for 24 hours before leaving them in the nursery.
The nursery staff and volunteers do not administer medicine to children. In the event of an emergency, nursery staff will administer allergy pens. Please be sure to fill out the information sheet found on the sign-in table outside the nursery, especially the allergy information. If your child is allergic to diaper wipes or latex gloves, please let the staff know when you drop off your child. Again, please remember not to bring any snack items containing peanuts or peanut butter, as many children are allergic to these foods.
Many children cry when dropped off in a new or unfamiliar setting. We make every effort to ensure that your child feels comfortable in our nursery. We also want you as a parent to know that your child is being cared for in a loving Christian manner. If your child cries when you leave, here is what we do: a staff member or volunteer will hold, rock, soothe, talk to, look out the window, distract with toys and books, until the child feels better and is ready to engage in play with the other children and adults. Your child will not be left to cry him or herself into an inconsolable state. If the staff feels that your child is inconsolable, you will be paged to the nursery.