Purpose - At Saint James United Methodist Church we are a church who cares for children and their families. We are committed to providing a loving, nurturing atmosphere in our nurseries. It is our purpose for all children who enter to have the opportunity to know and experience, from an early age, the love of God.

Staff - We have a large paid nursery staff to care for your child. In accordance with Safe Sanctuaries policies, all nursery employees and volunteers are carefully screened prior to working in the nursery. We conduct National Criminal and Sexual Predator Registry background checks to insure the safety of your children. We have nursery training and written nursery procedures to ensure that our nurseries are efficient, safe, and sanitary.

Ratio - The SJUMC Nursery strives to maintain better than DHR standards of teacher to child ratio:

Birth-12 months 1:4
12-24 months 1:5
24-30 months 1:6
30-36 months 1:6
3-5 years 1:7

Parents may use the nursery when their child is 6 weeks old.  

Check In

Our nursery staff arrives early to prepare their classrooms. There is a table in the hallway outside of each room of our nursery. On that table, you will find a clipboard with a sign in sheet for that room. Please sign your child in every week. This form asks for your child's name, what activities you will be attending, parents' names, and Sunday School class (this enables us to find you if we need you while you are in Sunday School). Also, your child's security tag number should be listed next to your child's name. We ask that parents and/or siblings do not enter the room as it upsets the children.

 

Our nursery uses a numbered tag security system. When you check your child into a room, the staff person receiving your child should clip a numbered tag on your child's back and give you the coordinating numbered tag on a coil bracelet. You MUST return the parent's tag to the staff person BEFORE your child will be released to you.

 

Your child will only be released to you personally unless you specifically state that someone else will be retrieving them. In this case, they must present the matching parent tag to the staff person before the child is released. Children MAY NOT be picked up by siblings. This is for your child's safety. If we should need you any time during the worship hour, the three-digit number on the back of your tag will be displayed on the digital boards located on the walls on each side of the stage in the sanctuary. If you are needed while you are in your Sunday School class, a staff person will come get you. 

 

If your child experiences difficulty adjusting to the new situation of a Sunday School class, be patient. Tell your child to expect games, stories and a snack. Introduce your child to the teacher and emphasize that the teacher will be in the classroom at all times. Be prepared to remain in the class for a few minutes (or even an entire session) as your child builds confidence. Do not attempt to slip away. Tell your child in a kind, firm voice that you are going, but will return at the end of class. Let your child know where you will be and then leave immediately. If your child is inconsolable, the teacher will come for you, display your three-digit number on the digital boards in the sanctuary. Between Sunday School and Worship, please do not let your child see you check on them. It not only upsets them, but the other children around them. Pick up your child quickly after Worship or Sunday School so they do not have to wait long after all the others have gone. 

9:30 - Contemporary Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 - Contemporary Worship Service, Traditional Worship Service & Sunday School

Nursery Care is also available on Sunday evenings  and Wednesday evenings for Bible Studies.