“Whoever Welcomes A Child In My Name, Welcome Me”
Matthew 18:5

We have a newly renovated nursery and education facility with a child care and educational area specially designed for children, age newborn through the 6th grade.
A central goal of all our programs is to assure parents that their children are safe and well cared for by our staff and volunteers. Also, we desire and delight in the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with your children.

Our staff and volunteers have been thoroughly screened and trained so you can experience a meaningful and peaceful Sunday morning at MSPC. We are blessed and thank you for entrusting us with the care of your children, while you attend worship or participate in educational hour.

The “Little Lamb” Primary Care Givers…

Kecia Cupp – Nursery Coordinator
Kecia has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood from the College of Mt. St. Joe and she has worked in the field of early childhood for nineteen years.

During the week, she is lead teacher at Terry’s Montessori. She is certified in a Montessori infant and toddler program. Also, Kecia is certified in first aid and infant CPR, as well as recognition of communicable disease and child abuse.

Kecia is married and has one daughter, Shelby.

Aline Tabet – Special Needs Care Giver
Aline is a senior Early Childhood Special Education major at Xavier University. She has completed two (2) thirty-hour practicum’s in various schools and will be student teaching in the spring of 2012.

Aline volunteers at Mt. Washington Elementary as a tutor for second grade students. She enjoys reading and is on the Club Softball Team at Xavier University.

Aline likes to work with children and loves to help each child reach their full potential. Her motto… “Every child can learn, it just takes a patient and caring individual to make it happen”.

Sharon Boh
Sharon Boh is primarily involved with the Worship Explorer Sunday morning program.  Sharon is continuing her coursework toward a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood and  holds a Montessori credentialing in Early Childhood.

Sharon works at the Montessori Early Learning Academy in Northern Kentucky.

What Happens…

Infant s & Toddlers
When you bring your child to the infant and/or toddler room, please take a moment to complete an information sheet for your child, as this allows us to provide personalized care. Take a “Parent Tag” and place the matching “Diaper Tag” on your bag. Your child will be released to you upon the return of the matching “Parent Tag”. It is our policy to only care for “well” children, in order not to expose others to colds or illnesses.

Infants: Newborn to 15 Months
The nursery is well-equipped and staffed for infant care. All equipment and toys are sterilized after use and staff follows stringent guidelines recommended for the care of infants.

Toddlers: 15 Months to 3 Years
Our primary goal is to provide a consistent, trustworthy environment for the toddlers as they gain their independence. The toddler play area is specifically designed to accommodate children from the time they begin to walk until they are 3 years old. This room includes a housekeeping area, book and toy area.

Worship Explorers: 3 Years to 3rd Grade
This program provides an educational experience during the Sunday morning (first) worship service. Pre-school age children go directly to “Worship Explorers”. Children (1st – 3rd grade) attend the first portion of worship with their parents as part of their worship learning experience and growth. At a designated point during worship, children are released to go to Worship Explorers. The program consists of a Bible story along with other Christian activities.

Sunday School
During the 2nd worship service, preschool through 8th grade children attend Sunday School. The curriculum follows the 1st catechism and is specifically written and designed to nurture faith development.

Family Worship Area
This is a space for nursing mothers and for families whose children are reluctant to leave their parents. It is adjacent to the nursery and has a window in addition to a speaker system, allowing the parents to see and hear the worship services.

In The Know…

The Children’s Ministry program focuses on education, worship and outreach to the community. We make every effort to establish traditions by repeating, refining and expanding specific events and celebrations each year. We support parents in their role as the primary educators of their children in addition to engaging the entire congregation in nurturing children by keeping them informed and inviting them to participate in intergenerational activities. The ministry supports its teachers with age appropriate curriculum and supplies that help them teach and reach the children, as the mentor members of the congregation serve as teachers, assistants and volunteers.

Our primary goal and mission is “Faith Formation” – an awakening that has its beginning in early childhood and continues throughout the child’s life.

Shepherds and Lambs – Lenten Prayer Ministry
This prayer ministry during Lent pairs a child (lamb) with an adult (shepherd). The shepherd prays daily for the lamb. To acquaint the child and adult, a game day is planned for a Saturday morning, which includes a lunch of soup, bread and cookie. The adult “shepherds” are encouraged to write notes and greet their “lamb” during Lent.

Good News Easter Event
We sponsor a community outreach event on the Saturday before Easter. Families are invited to attend and participate in a wide variety of activities. The lamb may spend time with their shepherd, participate in games and activities and hear the Pastor share the Easter story. The event ends with a classic Easter egg hunt on the front lawn at the church.

Happy Birthday Church!
Children celebrate Pentecost by hosting a “Birthday Celebration” for the members during the fellowship time between services.

Vacation Bible School
This community wide event designed for children always provides them with an opportunity to experience God’s love. The themes are different each year; it may be exploring the parables, learning about prophets and disciples or perhaps the creation, but it is always filled with a time of songs, crafts and snacks with a primary focus on sharing the love of Christ with children in the church and community. Children from West Cincinnati Presbyterian are invited and transported to participate in this time of learning and love.

Halloween Outreach
Congregational members donate candy and volunteers “pick a corner” and distribute candy to the children in the neighborhood. This is a fun event for both children and volunteers.

Breakfast in Bethlehem
An alternative to “Breakfast with Santa”, this event (held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving), provides youth and volunteers an opportunity to serve breakfast and reenact the drama of the birth of Jesus. The children dress in costumes to reenact the Christmas story, and after the performance families participate in various activities, such as decorate the boxes which will be filled with food and delivered to those in need and make Christmas cards which will be included or sent and/or sent to our Senior members or shut-ins.

Christmas Eve Event
Normally, the children participate in the 5:00pm Family Worship Service on Christmas Eve. Our most recent presentation was “An Angel Remembers”. This is such a special time, as it involves adult volunteers and teachers, and includes every child.

Parent’s Night Out
The Children’s Ministry serves the parents once a month by providing the opportunity for the parents to have a special night out, by taking in a movie, going to dinner or just spending time together. We support the parents by providing child care at the church for their little ones.

We are committed to continuing the traditions that the children and congregation enjoy, with a continued focus of learning and sharing the love of Jesus. Our commitment is to enrich the activities to provide deepening spiritual experiences for the church within as well as the community. We are frequently adding and trying new and different things to accomplish this goal by increasing children’s participation in the opening of Sunday services, sending simple “We Celebrate You” birthday cards with balloons and making cards for others on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or other special events throughout the year.