Children's Ministry
We exist to equip and encourage parents in their discipleship of their children by integrating, nurturing, and commissioning their children in both the fear and grace of the Lord!
Sunday Mornings
Childcare is available during the entirety of the worship service for children aged birth – Kindergarten. Children ages 2-kindergarten will also have an age-appropriate Bible lesson each week.
Children in 1st-4th grades are welcome to participate in “Worshipers in Training” (WIT) which meets during the second half of our worship service (children are dismissed after the singing portion of worship). WIT is designed to teach children the elements of the worship service and what it means to worship God together as the church. Each week in WIT we will sing together, pray together, and read, study, and apply God’s Word together. Parents are encouraged to follow up with their children each week by using the provided “Walk It All Week” sheet and to use these years in WIT to prepare and encourage their children to participate in and eventually remain in the sanctuary worship service each Sunday. Please note that WIT does not mean on holiday weekends. Families are encouraged to worship together for the full service on those Sundays.
If you are new or visiting Grace, stop by our info desk in the main commons when you arrive and a children’s ministry team member would be happy to help you sign your kids in for these Sunday morning ministries and escort you and your family to their respective classrooms.

In the elementary years, one of the main goals we have for our Grace kids is that they sit in and participate with the church body in corporate worship. However, we understand that all children are ready for this at different ages and stages, and so beginning in first grade we encourage parents to begin this transition in some way, shape, or form. Some kids may be ready to sit in church for the duration at first grade. We provide follow-along clipboards at the info desk each week for kids to use to aid them in their focus and understanding during the worship service. Others may not be ready for this yet, and that’s okay. That is why we also offer “Worshipers in Training” during the school year for 1st-4th grade students.
Think of worship to be like riding a bike. All kids learn to ride a bike at different ages and stages, but if your middle schooler still doesn’t know how to ride a bike it becomes a little weird. So, as your child enters these elementary years we want to come alongside of you in helping your family and your child reach the goal of being a participatory member of the full corporate worship service sometime before they finish fourth grade. For some kids this will come easy and they can do it now. If that’s your kid – wonderful! Other kids are going to need some “training wheels” for awhile and that’s what our Worshipers in Training (WIT) ministry is for. If that’s your child – that’s great too! What we ask from you as parents is that you use these years to think intentionally and prayerfully about how best to get your child to reach this goal during this stage of their development.
Worshipers in Training, just like training wheels, is meant to train your child in worshiping together with other believers. Students in WIT attend the first part of the worship service with their family. Before the reading of the Word and the sermon, the WIT students are dismissed to their classroom where they will spend the duration of the service time singing, learning, studying, praying, as they explore the idea of worship and the components of a worship service in a way that is more directly tailored to their developmental stage. W.I.T. is offered most Sundays throughout the school year (Sunday after Labor Day to Sunday before Memorial Day) with the exception of certain holidays.
Again, we realize that all students are ready to make the transition to sitting in church for the full service at different times. What we want you as parents to continually do throughout these coming years is to assess and reassess how you can help your child reach this goal. WIT is a great tool for those who need it, but just like training wheels, it’s important that we use it to train and not as a “crutch” because going to the next step seems scary or difficult. We encourage you to try different things throughout the next four years. Don’t be afraid to fail. You might have your kid with you in church and it might be a disaster. That’s okay! Every one of us, regardless of age, is growing in how we worship and there is grace for all of us! You might have your kids in WIT for a season and then choose a season, such as Advent to try being in the service for a time. Throughout these next years we will be reminding you to be discussing, thinking through, and praying through guiding your child through this transition and pointing you to resources for help.
We see a biblical pattern for this. In Scripture it is assumed that children were a part of the gathered congregation and the teaching to it (Exodus 13:14; Joshua 8:35; Joel 2:15-16; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20)
- We want to train kids to be a part of the congregation, showing them, this is what we do as a family and as a church family. We do not want to effectively raise “unchurched” kids. It is good for them to see their parents and others worship the Lord. We want the full worship service experience to be something familiar and normal to them rather than strange. The statistics of the next generation walking away from the faith after leaving the house are discouraging and it’s conceivable that “sending kids to their rooms” rather than incorporating them into what they will experience as an adult could be a major cause of this trend. We encourage all of our adult congregation participants to teach by example in how we pray, sing, and listen – because we understand that much of the Christian faith is “caught” as much as it is taught.
- The Word of God is powerful! It will reach your child’s heart in ways that we, nor they, will even recognize. The cumulative effect of Christ-centered expository preaching and gospel-centered doctrinally-rich songs is incalculable. If your child sat in every worship service from the time he entered kindergarten until he graduated from high school he’d sit under roughly 650 messages! “Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). We expect more from your kids because we know how much they can absorb if they are exposed to it. As they are exposed to God’s Word, trust Him to do His work.
- In sitting through the complete service your child is able to better understand how the gospel is displayed in the ordinances of communion and baptism. (Though we’d caution having them fully participate in either of these symbols until they can clearly articulate their testimony and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit dwelling within them – just as we would with any teen or adult).
- In sitting through the service, they will be able to experience a sense of awe, in a way not as likely to happen in Sunday School, as they are exposed to hearing the whole counsel of God taught and learn with us through a book of the Bible – chapter by chapter.
- Family life today is hectic! In our age of family fragmentation, sitting together under the teaching of God’s Word provides togetherness and shared communication around the most important topic of all.
- We are a church family and we want all the generations to be able to interact together. By having your child sit in the service and interact with those of older (and younger possibly) ages, you help them better understand that the family of God does not have generational boundaries.
- They can teach us! You’ll be surprised what your child picks up from the sermons and may ask you about! Similarly, feel free to use the provided children’s worship guides to learn alongside your child. We have some fun ideas to incorporate our children into the service and welcome them as well as remind us all that we too are to come to Jesus like a child (Matthew 18:3).
- It eases the transition for children who will soon be sitting through the entire service for the whole year. For our 5th graders – this will be what is expected of them both in Blaze and in September when they “age out” of Sunday School. For the 3rd and 4th graders it allows them to practice and be trained in this experience for the future when they reach 6th grade.
Sunday morning worship begins on Saturday night. Have plans for breakfast and what clothes your child will be wearing communicated and prepared the night before.
- Fully engage in corporate worship. Sing. Read. Listen. Follow along in your Bible. Take Notes. You are modeling for your child what an active worship participant does.
- Feel free to quietly explain parts of the service to your children. Remember our worship guides and order of service is available online each Friday! Talk a look ahead and see what you might want to prepare your child for. Read through the passage ahead of time with them. Familiarize your family with the songs we will be singing so that your children can better follow along.
- Follow-up with the sermon at home. These 5 questions can be used each week as something for your child to listen for and then for you to discuss together at home. Help your child (and tune your own ears) to listen for the answers and then discuss them at home. The 5 questions are similar to those in your child’s Sunday School curriculum.
They are:
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- What does this passage say about God?
- What does this passage teach me about myself?
- How does this passage help you to know and love God/Jesus more?
- How would you sum up this passage in your own words? Who is one person you can share this passage with and what would you want them to learn about God from it?
- Understanding all of the above, what is one practical step I can take this week to grow in my trust, love, obedience to and/or glorifying of Jesus Christ? Who is one person I will ask to hold me accountable in doing this?
- Contrary to what might be your gut reaction – sit towards the front! This enables your child to easily see everything and eliminates things that might distract them during the service.
- Have them use the restroom and get a drink before the service so that they aren’t asking to do it during the service.
- Relax! We understand there will be wiggles. It will be an adjustment for all of us at first, but it will get easier with training and time. Remember, it is not an unrealistic expectation for the average 6-10 year old to sit for 90 minutes.
- Ask your own questions on the way home and encourage your kids to come up with questions to ask you about the sermon. This will keep both of you focused on what is being taught and will lead to some good discussions.
- Be sure to grab a children’s follow along sheet for your child on your way into the sanctuary. These are designed to help them better follow along with the service. You can find them at the information desk.
- Pray for your kids! Ask God to use the sermons to grab your children’s affections for Jesus and draw them to Him!
· Persevere! It’s not easy – but remember, nothing worth doing is.

IG-Nite (Intentional Growth Nite) is our midweek children’s ministry! Our goal for IG-Nite is that it will be a place where kids can intentionally focus on growing in knowing Christ and how they can make Him known to others! Specifically we want to see kids grow in three areas:
- Grow in their relationship with Jesus
- Grow in their confidence with skills like sharing the Gospel, using their Bible, and living the Christian life
- Grow in godly relationships with both their peers and mentoring adults
WHO is it for? IG-Nite is for kids aged 3 through those in 5th grade. Any child in the greater Racine community is welcome to attend. You do not need to be a regular attender of Grace Church to attend IG-Nite.
WHEN does it start? IG-Nite is on break now for the summer and will kick off Wednesday, September 13, 2023. It will meet from 6:15 p.m. – 8 p.m. on most Wednesdays throughout the school year. Children are welcome to join at any point during the school year!
WHAT do you do at IG-Nite? Learn engaging Bible lessons, play fun games, sing and dance with worship songs, and discuss and pray with your small group.
Check out our IG-Nite Playlist on Spotify.

In 2023-24, we will primarily be focusing on God’s general revelation of Himself through His creation. After an introduction to the creation story, each week our preschoolers will explore a different aspect of creation and what it tells us about God. As the year progresses into the spring, we will learn about how God’s perfect creation fell under the curse of sin and how it needed someone to rescue it. Preschoolers will learn about Jesus is the Rescuer of His creation and makes a way for us to be able to truly know and have a relationship with God!
In 2024-25, our preschool curriculum will primarily focus on God’s revelation through Scripture and how all of the Bible points us to Jesus!
Please note: In order to attend the preschool IG-Nite program children must be fully potty-trained, able to sit still and focus for at least 10 minutes, and be able to stay up and be alert past 8 pm. We recommend that children attend the program 1-2 years before starting kindergarten.
Here are some songs we will be learning this year: God Made Everything
God Made EverythingSeptember 20th
“A Picture from God”
- Big Idea: Even though God is INVISIBLE to us, we can know and
understand Him through the VISIBLE things He has made. - Memory Verse:
Romans 1:20 (NIV abbrev.)
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities...have
been clearly seen” - This Week Thank God For: Who He Is
- Take Home Page
September 27th
“In the Beginning God Created”
- Big Idea: God created all things and existed BEFORE all things
- Memory Verse:
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth” - This Week Thank God for: Creating Everything
October 4th
“Creation Reveals the Glory of God”
- Big Idea: God made His creation beautiful and special to show how beautiful and special God is!
- Memory Verse:
Psalm 19:1
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands”
This Week Thank God for: The detail and beauty in His creation
October 11th
Using our Senses to Worship God
- Big Idea: God made us able to see, feel, hear, smell, and taste so that we can know Him better!
- Memory Verse:
Romans 1:20 (longer)
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
This Week Thank God for: our five senses
October 18th
Day One - Light!
- Big Idea: God made light to show us His power!
- Memory Verse:
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”
This Week Thank God for: light!
October 25th
Day Two - Sky and Air!
- Big Idea: God created the sky and air to show how wise and great He is!
- Memory Verse:
Job 12:10 (NIV)
“In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

For 2023-24 we will be focusing on WHAT the Gospel is by using the Truth 78 Curriculum "Jesus, What a Savior". The curriculum uses selected Bible stories presented chronologically to present these key redemptive themes:
- The incomparable greatness and worth of God, who is to be desired and treasured above all things;
- The desperate condition of sinners, who have fallen short of the glory of God and are helpless to save themselves
- The all-sufficient work of Jesus on the cross to save sinners who put their trust in Him
In 2024-25 we will be doing a study on WHO is God using another Truth78 Curriculum called "The ABC’s of God"
(available at the Grace Church Bookstall - $15)
(available at the Grace Church Bookstall - $8)
September 13th - IG-Nite Begins!
Lesson 1: God is the Most Special Person of All
Memory Verse: Isaiah 46:9b “I am God, and there is no other: I am God, and there is none like me.”
September 20th
Lesson 2: God Created the World to Show How Special He Is
Memory Verse: Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
September 27th
Lesson 3: God Created People to Enjoy His Glory
Memory Verse: Psalm 16:11a “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;”
October 4th
Lesson: Adam and Eve Sin and are Alienated from God
Memory Verse: Romans 1:21a “For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him,”
October 11th
Lesson: All People are Born Sinners and are Alienated from God
Memory Verse: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
October 18th
Lesson: God Makes a Way for Sinners to Come to Him
Memory Verse: Hebrews 9:22b “..without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”
October 25th
Lesson: God Punishes a Sinful World
Memory Verse: Psalm 1:6 “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but they way of the wicked will perish.”
Overview:
As kids become more confident readers, we want to help them apply those skills to the most important book of all…the Bible! Our objective for the middle elementary level is to develop biblical literacy in our students by teaching them what the Bible is about, how to use and study the Bible, and why we can trust and treasure the Bible!
For 2023-24 we will be “Stick Figuring Through the Bible”. This is a Bible study method that encourages students to hone their observation skills through drawing out the passages they are studying. This year we will be working our way through the major events of the New Testament. In addition to the curriculum we also will be working on learning the books of the New Testament together. Because we are working on Bible literacy skills we highly encourage students to bring their own Bible to IG-Nite with them each week. If you would like recommendations on a Bible for your student, please contact us at [email protected].
This curriculum is a two-year rotation: For 2023-24, we are studying the New Testament. In 2024-25, we will be working our way through the Old Testament.
How to Follow Up with Your Child at Home Each Week:
- Read through a portion of the passage each night
- Ask your child to retell you in their own words what happened in those verses.
- Ask your child: What do these verses show us about God/Jesus?
- Choose a situation encountered in those verses and ask your child how they may have responded in that situation. Discuss the challenges of responding to such a situation and the role Jesus/God played in equipping His people through these verses.
September 13th - IG-Nite Begins!
- Timeline Event: The Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:1-25, 57-80)
- Memory Verse: Luke 1:80
September 20th
- Timeline Event: The Birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-45; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-39)
- Memory Verse: Galatians 4:4-5
September 27th
- Timeline Event: Herod and the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-23)
- Memory Verse: Matthew 2:11
October 4th
- Timeline Event: Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:40-52)
- Memory Verse: Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
October 11th
- Timeline Event: Jesus is Baptized (Matthew 3; Luke 3)
- Memory Verse: Matthew 3:17 “and behold a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”
October 18th
- Timeline Event: Jesus at the Temple (Matthew 4:1-11)
- Memory Verse: Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
October 25th
- Timeline Event: The 12 Disciples (various passages)
- Memory Verse: Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”

For 2023-24 we will be focusing on the Christian life as it pertains to God’s design for His Church.
In 2024-25 we will be doing a study on what it looks like to fight against sin in the Christian Life.
When most children hear the word “church” the first thing that usually comes to mind is a particular place—a building. Church is a place where they go for a weekly worship service, Sunday school classes, and more. However, as the Bible defines it, the church is something much more beautiful, wonderful, and profound.
According to the Bible, the church of Jesus Christ is the preeminent institution in all this world. The church is God’s gift to his children for provision, protection, and growth. The church is the vessel for the display of God’s glory, not only on earth but also in the heavenly realm. To love Christ is necessarily to love his church. To be saved is to leave the world and enter into the church. Indeed, John Calvin spoke with biblical warrant when he wrote, “He would have God for his Father must have the Church for his mother.”1 In other words, the church is a very special people—God’s chosen, blessed, redeemed, and holy people, who are called to a very special purpose to worship God, love and build up one another into Christlikeness, and proclaim the gospel to the lost. This is the three-fold purpose of the church that will be explored in this study.
On a very practical level, we want children to understand the basic workings of their own local church, such as why we gather for corporate worship, the preaching of the Word, baptism, communion, etc. We want them to see and be grateful for the God ordained leadership of their pastors, elders, and teachers. Also, we want to explore how believers are to relate to one another within the church in order to build up and encourage one another in love and how that love is intended to spill out into their neighborhoods, cities, and even the world. Our hope and prayer are that, through this study, the children will grow to love the church and want to be full participants within the church. For children who are already trusting in Christ for their salvation, we want to further their love for the church and encourage them to see themselves as an important part of the body of Christ in which they begin to discover the unique gifts and abilities given to them by the Holy Spirit. For unbelieving children, our prayer is that we present such a beautiful picture of the church that, by the presentation of the gospel and through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, they are drawn into the true community of believers.
If your family attends a church other than Grace, be assured that most of the content is likely to align with what your church teaches. On secondary doctrines, where Gospel-believing churches may vary in opinion (ex. baptism) - while a Baptist viewpoint will be emphasized, other viewpoints will also be shared. This is a great opportunity to follow up with your child at home about your family’s personal beliefs as well. Lessons are available for preview if you would like to see what is being taught - simply email us at [email protected].
During the year, your child will be encouraged to memorize the Apostles’ Creed. The version provided in this curriculum is as follows:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. The third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
It is important to note that the phrase “descended into hell,” which often follows “was crucified, dead and buried,” has not been included.
An explanation for this change from the traditional language can be found in the following resources:
Recommended Resources for Upper Elementary Students to Follow Up At Home
(available at the Grace Church Bookstall - $9)
(available at the Grace Church Bookstall - $8)
September 13th - IG-Nite Begins!
- Topic: Jesus is Building His Church
- Work on Memorizing this line of the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
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- Memory Verse: Matthew 16:18b “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”
September 20th
- Topic: The Church: God’s Plan from the Beginning
- Work on Memorizing this line of the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
- Memory Verse:
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”
September 27th
- Topic: The Cornerstone of the Church
- Work on Memorizing this line of the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary
- Memory Verse:
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”
October 4th
- Topic: The Foundation of the Church
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- Memory Verse:
Ephesians 2:19-20
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
- Memory Verse:
October 11th
- Topic: The Spirit-Filled Church
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- Memory Verse:
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”
- Memory Verse:
October 18th
- Topic: The Holy Spirit Dwells Within All Members of the Church
- Memory Verse:
1 Corinthians 3:16
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
October 25th
- Topic: Jesus Appoints Leaders to Equip His Church
- Memory Verse:
Ephesians 4:15b-16
“...we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body is joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
At Grace Church we believe children are a gift from God, and we are very excited that you are considering child dedication. Child dedication is a commitment you make before God, as parents, to give thanks to God and raise your children according to God’s purpose. It is our heart to partner with you as your child grows and develops their own personal relationship with God. To that end, we offer a dedication service designed to help you commit to raising your child to find and follow God!
Got questions? Visit the Child Dedication page to learn more.
The next Child Dedication date is Sunday, October 29, 2023 with a required class on Sunday, October 15 at 11:00am
Please note that in order to have your child dedicated at Grace, at least ONE of the parents dedicating the child must be a member of Grace Church.
Holy Week Bible Storybook
This Holy Week preview from the Good Book Company can be used to walk your family through the events of Holy Week. This pdf booklet is a preview of their new “God’s BIG Promises” Bible storybook which releases in September 2023.
Church Picture Schedule and Expectations
Great for use with younger children to help them follow along with the service and to set and remember expectations during the service. You may even want to offer an incentive for meeting the expectations. Print one off for your children to follow along with each Sunday.
Interested in serving in Children's ministry?
We are always looking for more volunteers to partner with us in sharing the love of Jesus with the next generation of the church! We are looking for faithful, cheerful, go-getter volunteers who love Christ and His Word and want to share it with others!
As a church, we are aware of the dangers to children in our culture, and we strive to make the church environment a positive, safe, and happy place for children to grow in their spiritual understanding. For this reason, we require that anyone working with minors in a ministry capacity at the church complete our volunteer application which includes a background check. Volunteers are then routinely screened again during the years of their service in an attempt to maintain an unhindered ministry to children.
If you would like more information about volunteering in children’s ministry at Grace Church or about our child protection policy, please click here.