Sunday mornings at Oak Grove are full of life for children of all ages.
From the moment you arrive, there is a place for your child to belong and a community of caring adults ready to welcome them.
Nursery
Safe, loving care is available for children newborn through age 4 from 8:20 AM to 12:15 PM. The nursery opens 10 minutes before the start of worship service or any event with nursery coverage.
Sunday School
Sunday School meets weekly from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Children explore faith through Bible-story, age-appropriate play and activities, spiritual practices, mission projects, and time for questions.
Children’s Church
During the 8:30, 10:45, and 11:00 AM worship services (August through May), Pre-K through 1st graders worship with the congregation and then are escorted by adult leaders to Children’s Church.
Children in Worship
Children of all ages are always welcome in worship. We offer worship bags (labeled “Older” and “Younger”) for children in all services, and Family Tables in Modern Worship where families can worship together.
- Children 2nd–5th grade serve Holy Communion at 10:45 AM and 11 AM worship.
- Children’s Choirs often sing and play handbells in worship. Learn more
- Children 3rd–5th grade read Scripture in worship. Children 3rd–5th grade with parent support collect the offering in Modern Worship.
Sunday Morning at a Glance
| Age Range | Available Programs |
| Infants: Birth to Walking | Nursery Room 134 Nursery is available 8:20 AM – 12:15 PM, throughout all worship services and the Sunday School hour. |
| Toddlers: Walking to Age 2 | Nursery Room 132 Nursery is available 8:20 AM – 12:15 PM, throughout all worship services and the Sunday School hour. |
| Preschool: Ages 2 – 3 (ages 2 & 3 by Sept 1, 2026) These children will likely turn 3 & 4 during the school year. | Nursery (includes Sunday School lesson) Room 129 Nursery is available during worship services, 8:20 AM – 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM – 12:15 PM. The Sunday School lesson for this age group is taught in the Preschool Nursery space from 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Drop off your child in a single location for both programs on Sunday mornings. |
| Pre-K (ages 4 by Sept 1, 2026) | Sunday School + Children’s Church Room 233 Sunday School is 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Children’s Church is offered during all worship services (Aug–May), except for Communion Sundays, Easter Sunday, School Recognition Sunday, and the Sunday after Christmas. On Sundays without Children’s Church and during the summer, children ages 4 – 5 are welcome in the Nursery. |
| Kindergarten (ages 5 by Sept 1, 2026) | Sunday School + Children’s Church Room 233 Sunday School is 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Children’s Church is offered during all worship services (Aug–May), except for Communion Sundays, Easter Sunday, School Recognition Sunday, and the Sunday after Christmas. On Sundays without Children’s Church and during the summer, children ages 4 – 5 are welcome in the Nursery. |
| 1st Grade | Sunday School + Children’s Church Room 234 Sunday School is 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Children’s Church is offered during all worship services (Aug–May), except for Communion Sundays, Easter Sunday, School Recognition Sunday, and the Sunday after Christmas. On Sundays without Children’s Church and during the summer, children ages 4 – 5 are welcome in the Nursery. |
| 2nd Grade | Sunday School Room 234 9:30 – 10:30 AM |
| 3rd Grade | Sunday School Room 237 9:30 – 10:30 AM |
| 4th Grade | Sunday School Room 236 9:30 – 10:30 AM |
| 5th Grade | Sunday School Room 236 9:30 – 10:30 AM |
| All Ages | Children in Worship Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall All children are welcome in all services (8:00, 10:45, and 11:00 AM), year-round |
View campus maps here.
Before Sunday
First time with us? Register your child so they’re in our check-in system before your first Sunday. Alternatively, you may register in person with a Child Information Card, located at the check-in kiosks (locations listed below).
- For events and off-campus activities, also complete the One & Done Medical Release Form
On Sunday: Check in your child
All children attending nursery, Sunday School, or Children’s Church must be checked in by an adult each Sunday. Check-in is quick and required for your child’s safety.
Check-in station locations:
- First Floor: Inside Room 125 (Nursery Hallway)
- Second Floor: in the Children’s Wing of the 200 hallway
- Portico: on the right after you enter the building
- Fellowship Hall: in the hallway outside of the Fellowship Hall (hallway closest to the Portico parking area)
Check-in stations are to be used by adults only. New to our system? Complete a Child Information Card at any station, or register online before your first visit.
More detail for first-time visitors can be found here.
Nursery
Our nursery provides safe, loving care for young children. The nursery opens 10 minutes before each worship service and is also available for designated classes, meetings, and events throughout the week.
Need assistance? Contact Julia Phelps, Nursery Coordinator: nursery@ogumc.org
Nursery FAQs
Who is the Nursery for?
Our nursery primarily serves infants through children in their final preschool year (ages 2 and 3 by Sept 1, 2026). On certain Sundays, the nursery also welcomes children up to age 5 when Children’s Church does not meet.
- Weekly nursery classrooms: Infants: Birth to Walking, Toddlers: Walking to Age 2, and Preschool: Ages 2 – 3 (ages 2 and 3 by Sept 1, 2026)
- On Sundays without Children’s Church and during the summer, children ages 4 – 5 are also welcome in the Nursery.
Is the nursery open during all worship services?
Yes, nursery care is available from 8:15 AM to 12:15 PM, which includes the 8:30 AM, 10:45 AM, and 11:00 AM worship services, as well as the Sunday School hour 9:30 – 10:30 AM.
What’s the difference between Nursery and Sunday School for my child aged 2 – 3?
Children aged 2 – 3 are in the Nursery on Sunday mornings. During worship services, Nursery activities are more informal with toys, puzzles, and art. During the Sunday School hour, children aged 2 – 3 are invited to participate in a planned Sunday School lesson while they remain in the Nursery space. Sunday School participation is not compulsory. If a child would prefer to play instead of participating in the Bible Story and engaging in a creative activity, they are welcome to do so.
Who staffs the nursery?
Our nursery is staffed by trained, paid caregivers. All nursery staff have completed background checks and Darkness to Light child safety training.
What are the nursery rooms like?
Our nursery rooms are outfitted specifically for the ages of the children who use them. Most of them are infant and toddler classrooms within the OGUMC Christian School. The infant room has gliders and bouncers to help settle fussy and sleepy babies.
What should I bring for my child in the Nursery?
Please bring a labeled bag with anything your child may need for the duration of their time in the nursery: diapers, a change of clothes, a bottle, a water bottle, snacks, a comfort item, etc. Label all items with your child’s name.
Is a snack served in the Nursery?
Yes, a snack is served to children during each worship service timeframe in the Nursery. You are welcome to send a nut-free snack of your child’s choice as well.
Can I check on my child during the service?
Yes. You’re always welcome to check in at the nursery, and our staff will contact you if your child needs you.
Can the nursery team give my baby a bottle?
Absolutely! The infant room has access to a dedicated refrigerator and bottle warmer.
Is there somewhere private I can nurse my baby?
Yes, you are welcome to nurse wherever you are comfortable, including in Worship and Sunday School. We can provide you with a private space as well.
Sunday School
Sunday School meets from 9:30 – 10:30 AM for children Ages 2 through 5th grade. Our curriculum is grounded in the rhythms of the church year and helps children make meaning through story, wonder, and play. Children engage in age-appropriate activities, spiritual practices, and opportunities to reflect and ask big questions in a safe, welcoming space.
We offer opportunities for families to grow friendships and faith in Sunday School and church nursery. Sunday School as a term has been around since the late 1700s when the United Methodist Church was beginning to be established. Today, another phrase that perhaps better captures what goes on is “small group.” Sunday School is a weekly time of small groups with similar people (whether by grade or stage, such as “parents of young children”) where friendships are formed and strengthened. As that happens, other learning is occurring.
- For very young children, they hear a Bible Story each week, use creative materials, and play.
- For Pre-K through 2nd grade, they are engaged in Godly Play, a Montessori-style curriculum, where volunteers use wooden figures and sensory props to tell a Bible story. Then children, themselves, can play with the toys, and retell the story for their peers.
- For older children, they are learning about how to navigate the Bible and are applying its teaching in real-life experiences, such as helping to prepare materials for It’s Spooky to Be Hungry, gift bags and origami for low-income senior adults; learning child-friendly Red Cross CPR; packing food for children who are food-insecure, and many other opportunities. We hope that older children begin to see God at work in the world and how they can join in this work to transform the world to a place that reflects God’s love, mercy, and justice.
Summer Sunday School
Starting in June each year, we shift to summer mode in Children’s Sunday School, which predominantly affects children in Pre-K – 5th grade. We meet all together in room 223, with each grade at its own table where we explore holy questions like “Who Is God?”, “Where is God When Bad Things Happen?” and “What Is the Kingdom/Kin-dom of God?” During the summer, we’ll always have snacks, and we’ll rotate games, activities, and crafts each week.
Nursery-age children continue to meet in the nursery during the summer. Rising Pre-K is welcome to move upstairs to room 223 for Summer Sunday School in July.
Sunday School FAQs
Who teaches Sunday School?
Sunday School classes are led by trained adult volunteers and supported by our Children’s Ministry staff. All Sunday School teachers have completed background checks and Darkness to Light child safety training.
What does your Sunday School curriculum look like?
- We use Godly Play for our curriculum. This program follows the liturgical calendar and creates hands-on experiences using simple objects that help children connect to biblical lessons and rhythms of the Christian faith.
- One of our core practices in setting Sacred Space. You can access a starter guide here to learn how to do this at home.
- We are seeing how excited children are to live into the rhythm of the church year. This is a great start for discovering sacred patterns that will ground them in a lifetime of faith.
How are children grouped?
Children are primarily grouped by school year: Preschool Ages 2–3, Pre-K–Kindergarten, 1st grade–2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th–5th grade. Room assignments are posted at check-in kiosks each Sunday.
When do children move up into new Sunday School classrooms?
For the 2026-2027 school year, children will move to their new rooms on Sunday, August 9. Children will have the opportunity to visit their new rooms in the spring each year.
Does my child need to be a church member to attend?
No. All children are welcome, regardless of membership status or religious background.
Is there support for children with unique needs?
Yes, please contact Elizabeth Loughran at eloughran@ogumc.org to discuss accommodations, including our Sunday School Buddies program.
Are there resources for at-home learning, if my child cannot make it to Sunday School?
Yes, please contact Elizabeth Loughran at eloughran@ogumc.org to request a virtual or printable at-home lesson for your child.
Do I need to stay in the building during Sunday School?
Yes. There are many spaces for parents to gather, including Adult Sunday School classes, Grand Hall for coffee, the library, or in the Mezzanine.
Children’s Church
Children’s Church is available for children in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade during the 8:30, 10:45, and 11:00 AM worship services. Children begin the service worshipping alongside their families, then are escorted by adult leaders to Children’s Church 15 minutes into 10:45 Modern Service or about 5 minutes into the Traditional Worship Services.
- Children from the 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM Traditional Services rejoin their parents during the last hymn.
- Children from the 10:45 AM Modern Service should be picked up in Room 223 immediately after the service.
Children’s Church FAQs
Who teaches Children’s Church?
Children’s Church is taught by Children’s Ministry staff members. All staff have completed background checks and Darkness to Light child safety training.
Does Children’s Church meet every week?
Children’s Church runs during the school year from August 9, 2026, through May 30, 2027. However, it does not meet on Communion Sundays, Easter Sunday, School Recognition Sunday, or the Sunday after Christmas. Check our weekly e-newsletter or the church calendar for these exceptions.
What do children do during Children’s Church?
Children experience age-appropriate worship, storytelling, music, and activities designed for their developmental stage. It is where we explore monthly themes like why there are so many different prayers or what the different liturgical colors mean. The goal of Children’s Church is to have meaningful interaction with the sensory parts of worship, so that when they are ready to stay in the worship service, they can connect with God through the people there and the many different aspects of worship.
Can my child stay in the service with me instead of participating in Children’s Church?
Absolutely. Children are always welcome to stay with their family for the entire service.
Children in Worship
Families are always welcome to keep their children with them for the full worship service. A few things that can help make it a great experience:
- Sit near the front where all the action is; children engage more when they can see the choir, band, liturgists, and preachers.
- In Traditional Worship (8:30 and 11 AM), Worship Bags with age-appropriate activities are available, marked “Younger” and “Older.”
- In Modern Worship (10:45 AM), Family Tables offer a space where parents and children can worship together, wiggle, and create. Worship Bags with age-appropriate activities are available, marked “Younger” and “Older.” Noise-cancelling headphones are available in infant and child sizes.
- The book Parenting in the Pew is available in our church library as a resource for families.
Inclusion and Accommodations
Sunday School Buddies
The Sunday School Buddies program pairs children with unique needs with a trained youth or adult buddy, giving parents the opportunity to attend Adult Sunday School while their child is supported and engaged in their own class. This program is optional and available by request.
To learn more or enroll your child, contact Elizabeth Loughran at eloughran@ogumc.org.
Sensory Accommodations in Worship
Quiet worship bags are available in all services, and noise-cancelling headphones are available in Modern Worship (10:45 AM) . If your child has additional needs, please reach out. We’re happy to support you and your child to meet you where you are.
Pastoral Care for Children
Would your child benefit from pastoral care? It can be as simple as a card, a visit in the park, or a time of prayer about something important in the life of your child. Contact Elizabeth Loughran at eloughran@ogumc.org.
Discipleship at Home
Faith formation happens all week long. Our team is happy to share resources, ideas, and tools to help you nurture your child’s faith outside of Sunday mornings. Ask any staff member for recommendations, or request at-home lesson materials when you can’t be here in person.
Requesting Other Accommodations
A central principle of our church vision is inclusivity. If you are encountering a barrier to Worship, Sunday School, or any of our programs, please reach out to Director of Children’s Ministry, Elizabeth Loughran at Eloughran@ogumc.org, so that we can work together to provide support.
