"Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6

The CPC Nursery is in operation every Sunday morning during Worship services, middle hour and the monthly Lord’s Supper worship service. The purpose of our volunteer-led Nursery Ministry is to provide our covenant children and friends with a godly, healthy, safe, and fun environment while their parents and caregivers focus on the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. To accomplish our purpose the nursery ministry is currently staffed by 105 CPC members and friends, 3 members who serve as substitutes, and a committee of 10 members who directly oversee the functioning of the nurseries.

The nursery continues to function as a cooperative, whereby parents are expected to participate in this vital ministry. A group made up of an elder and 9 members of the CPC family oversees the functioning of the nursery. This committee meets regularly and endeavors to achieve the following goals:

1. Provide a Christ-centered, safe, healthy, and fun Nursery.
2. Recruit and train a committed Nursery Staff who views their task as a calling from God and a privilege to perform.
3. Document and publicize Nursery policies and procedures.
4. Provide opportunities for feedback from, and communication with, the parents and caregivers of children cared for in the Nursery.

Since our last report we have published a manual titled, “Policies and Procedures of the Columbia Presbyterian Church Nursery.” In addition to this publication, we have conducted five training sessions and successfully trained 85% of our volunteer force on the policies and procedures set forth in the manual. We will continue to provide regular training sessions to include new volunteers or anyone that has not been trained thus far.

In addition, we will continue to assess ways in which we can improve the functioning of the nurseries. Currently, we are evaluating the promotion of children from the one’s and two’s nursery to the three’s nursery. We are also determining the need for a pager system that would allow us to reach parents very quickly should a need arise.

Perhaps our biggest needs are usually at the time when we prepare the next season’s schedule. In spite of our doubts, our Lord continues to faithfully provide the staff necessary to care for the children. Therefore, it has been a rare occasion, when we have had to turn away parents or close the nurseries for lack of staff. We have a very devoted group of volunteers in our ministry. Their commitment and dedication is evident Sunday after Sunday and it truly is a pleasure to serve alongside them.