At Irving Park United Methodist Church, children have always been welcome — not merely tolerated, but genuinely treasured as full members of the community of faith. For generations, this congregation has believed that nurturing children in faith is among the most sacred responsibilities a church can hold, and it has built its life accordingly.
Welcome Everywhere
The guiding spirit of children's ministry here has been simple: children are welcome everywhere. Whether in the sanctuary during worship, in Sunday-school spaces, or among the wider church family, young people have always had a place. The presence of children has been understood not as a distraction from worship but as a sign of a living, growing congregation with a future as well as a past.
Sunday-School Formation
The congregation has a long tradition of Sunday-school formation for children, offering age-appropriate teaching that introduces the stories of faith in ways young hearts and minds can receive. During the school year, children's programming has gathered the younger members for lessons geared to their level — often for part of the worship hour — so that they might encounter Scripture, prayer, and song in a setting designed especially for them. Through stories, crafts, and conversation, children have been invited into the great narrative of God's love.
Nursery Care for the Youngest
For infants and toddlers, the congregation has provided nursery care, giving the youngest children a safe and loving environment and giving their parents the freedom to worship with peace of mind. This practical hospitality has reflected a deep conviction: that families should never have to choose between caring for their little ones and participating in the life of the church.
Faith That Grows With a Child
Children's ministry at Irving Park UMC has been understood as the first chapter in a lifelong journey. The faith planted in childhood is meant to grow — through children's formation, into youth ministry, and onward into a mature adult faith. Each stage builds on the last, and the congregation has sought to walk alongside young people at every step, trusting that what is nurtured early bears fruit for a lifetime.
A Whole Community Raising Children in Faith
In the United Methodist tradition, the whole congregation makes promises at a child's baptism to surround that child with a community of love and forgiveness. At Irving Park UMC, that promise has been lived out in countless ways — in teachers and volunteers, in welcoming worship, and in a church family that delights in its children. To learn more about how faith continues to grow through the teenage years, visit our youth ministry page, or read about the welcome that awaits first-time visitors and their families.