What's it like to go to Emmanuel with little kids?
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Navigating a new church is hard for anyone, but when you've got kids, it can often be so overwhelming it can even stop you from trying... I know! When I visited Emmanuel for the first time, my daughter Indigo was less than a year old. Now, she's nearly 9 and her brother Kyber is just about to turn 2!
One of the things I love most about Emmanuel is how welcome my kids are, regardless of their mood (they don't call them the terrible twos for no reason!), and also how my kids needs are accommodated so well here, from high chairs in the Parish Hall where we share meals, to having multiple diaper changing stations in bathrooms for Moms & Dads!
I'm Erica; I grew up "unchurched," went to Oklahoma Baptist University, and have called Emmanuel Episcopal Church home for just about 8 years now. Three years ago, I joined our staff as Parish Administrator. I wanted to write this blog specifically about what someone with kids might need to know in order to feel comfortable coming to visit our church with their littles, so hopefully you can come check us out with as little headache as possible!
If you'd like, use these quick links to fast-forward
to the parts specifically about the age of your kids:
Babies & Toddlers (Nursery)
Our nursery is intended for children ages 0-5; littles are cared for by 2 paid, trained nursery staff and is available on:
Sundays from 9:30am - 12pm (during Sunday School and second service)
Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 during the school year (for dinner, class, & compline)
The nursery is located in the Formation wing, where you come in from the North entry (silver double-doors under covered porch). It overlooks the courtyard and is equipped with plenty of toys and books, along with 2 cribs, 2 diaper changing stations, and its own bathroom. To drop off your baby or toddler, just come to the nursery door and tell an adult in the room that you're dropping off for the first time.
Kindergarten - 5th grade (Children's Chapel)
Once your kiddo is going to school (whether that's 4 or 5 years), they're typically ready to graduate from nursery.
Here's what that looks like:
On Sundays
School-age kids begin in the Nave (main worship space) with their adults. After the opening songs and prayers, the children are instructed to meet Beth (our youth & family minister) in the back, and they walk as a group to the formation wing for Children's Chapel, where they learn a short lesson on the Gospel of the day, pray together, and often do a craft. The kids then rejoin "big church" during the offertory time so they can participate in the Eucharist and closing songs.
Inside the entry to the nave (sanctuary/worship space), there is a kids activity station, where your kiddo can pick out a book and/or busy bag to help them stay engaged during the combined parts of worship. Busy bags contain a sensory toy (wiki stix, playdough, squishies), a pen and crayons, along with a children's bulletin with coloring activities related to that week's gospel. If you're a grown-up who also needs assistance staying focused for service, you're welcome to take a busy bag too!
On Wednesday Nights
During the school year, on Wednesday nights at 7pm (following the shared meal), they'll head to the Formation Wing to one of the classrooms just past the nursery for a short lesson, song, craft, and snack time led by trained volunteers. Generally, class ends and the kids finish out the hour in the courtyard playground. Our gospel-centered curriculum is based on music and movement and can keep some of the toughest kiddo crowd engaged.
During the summer, we do not have our "regular" programming at the church facility. Instead, we gather most Wednesday evenings in the backyard of a parish member with a pool for "Pool Church"; a potluck with swimming and hangout time with (laminated) compline prayers to close. Members of all ages participate in Pool Church gatherings.
I hope that this information is helpful to you, and hope to see you in church with your littles soon!
