A nurturing, playful space for our youngest children.

Welcome to the Nursery

Our nursery is often the first place families experience Hilliard UMC’s commitment to caring for children. We know it is a big step to entrust your baby or toddler to someone else, and we treat that trust with deep respect.

In the nursery, infants and toddlers are welcomed by caring adults who show gentle attention, consistency, and warmth. We aim to create an environment where both children and caregivers feel supported.

Our Approach

Our nursery reflects HUMC’s values:

• Love in Action Matters
• You Matter
• Authentic Relationships Matter

Love in Action Matters

Babies and toddlers learn through presence, touch, tone, and play. We practice love through responsiveness, patience, and attentive care, helping each child feel held and valued.

You Matter

Your child’s needs, temperament, developmental stage, and unique ways of communicating matter to us. We honor different feeding, soothing, and sensory needs and work with families to understand what helps their child feel grounded and calm.

Authentic Relationships Matter

We work with a team of nursery caregivers who share a common approach grounded in gentleness, attentiveness, and respect. While the specific adults may vary from week to week, children can expect a familiar rhythm of care from people who are trained, supported, and committed to showing up with warmth and consistency.

Our goal is to build trust over time — through predictable routines, steady communication, and caregivers who genuinely see and value each child, even as the team rotates.

What to Expect

In the nursery, children will experience:

• gentle play with age-appropriate toys
• songs, stories, or simple sensory activities
• opportunities to explore and move
• space to rest if they need it
• caregivers who pay attention to cues, preferences, and emotions

We know that infants and toddlers communicate in many ways — through movement, sound, expression, and energy. We pay attention to these signals and adjust our care in real time.

Who the Nursery Serves

The HUMC Nursery is designed for:

• Infants through age 3
• Children of many developmental stages and sensory needs
• Children who may need extra time transitioning or warming up
• Families who may need a flexible, responsive environment

Children are always welcome to stay with their grownups in worship if that is what works best for your family. We love having children in worship!

Our Nursery Caregivers

Nursery caregivers — both staff and volunteers — are committed to creating a caring and attentive environment. They participate in:

• Safe Sanctuaries training
• Background checks
• Ongoing support and communication with families

Our goal is to support caregivers with what they need so they can offer consistent, thoughtful care to your children.

Communication With Families

We want you to feel connected and informed. Nursery caregivers will:

• greet you and your child warmly
• ask about feeding, soothing, and comfort routines
• notify you if your child is distressed beyond what feels appropriate
• communicate any needs, questions, or updates
• partner with you so your child’s experience is as positive as possible

We value your wisdom about your own child. You know them best, and we honor what works for your family.

When & Where

Nursery care is available during Sunday morning worship services, staffed by trained caregivers in both the Sanctuary and Warehouse 839 buildings.

The Sanctuary

Enter the Sanctuary building through the Social Hall door (under the portico). Walk through the Social Hall and turn left at the wall; the nursery is about halfway down the long hallway on the left. A Welcome Team member will be happy to show you the way.

Warehouse 839

Enter the Warehouse 839 building using the Main St door closest to McDonald’s. The nursery is through a door to the right of the stage and around to the right. A Welcome Team member will be happy to show you the way.

Our Hope for Your Child

We hope every child who enters the HUMC Nursery knows they are:

• cared for with gentleness and respect
• welcomed exactly as they are
• part of a loving community
• held in God’s love through the kindness of the caregivers around them

Staff Contacts