Highland Oaks Kids
Children Are the Church of Today
At Highland Oaks, children are at the heart of all that we do. We recognize that children are not the church of tomorrow but, in fact, are the church of today.
Because of that, we have multiple intergenerational facets of our church. Children are offered various areas to be active participants alongside teens and adults.
From greeting, praying in worship service, helping with contribution, to leading the communion thought with an adult, we want children to serve and lead where they are comfortable and we will work to foster that involvement.
Because of that, we have multiple intergenerational facets of our church. Children are offered various areas to be active participants alongside teens and adults.
From greeting, praying in worship service, helping with contribution, to leading the communion thought with an adult, we want children to serve and lead where they are comfortable and we will work to foster that involvement.
Family Ministry
Family Is The Cornerstone of Faith
Highland Oaks Church sees the family unit as the primary faith builder in each child’s life. We see Children’s Ministry and Student Ministry as one major entity that is vital to our community. Because of that, Family Ministry is our primary focus. Family can look a lot of different ways, but every way has value.
At Highland Oaks it is a regular occurrence that we do events as a whole church family so that everyone feels included and empowered no matter what their family situation is or where their family is on their faith journey.
This is a home for everyone where we build faith together, weather storms together, and celebrate victories together. Through Family Ministry children will have community not only modeled for them but readily available for them to participate in.
At Highland Oaks it is a regular occurrence that we do events as a whole church family so that everyone feels included and empowered no matter what their family situation is or where their family is on their faith journey.
This is a home for everyone where we build faith together, weather storms together, and celebrate victories together. Through Family Ministry children will have community not only modeled for them but readily available for them to participate in.
Bible Classes
Building Faith Through Learning
Our Bible Classes are designed to meet individual needs and learning styles, build a foundation of faith in God, and develop relationships with the church family. From nursery to 5th grade our chosen curriculum utilizes hands-on activities, songs, imagination and varying types of learning in order to create spaces where safe and fun learning takes place.
Beginning in nursery with repetitive songs and motions children learn what church is about, who Jesus is, and appropriate relationships with other adults in church.
In our preschool class children further explore the world God has created along understanding how God and Jesus are personal to them.
Our elementary class takes specific stories that have been learned and goes deeper into how those stories along with what we continue to learn about God shape who we are and what our purpose is in this world.
Beginning in nursery with repetitive songs and motions children learn what church is about, who Jesus is, and appropriate relationships with other adults in church.
In our preschool class children further explore the world God has created along understanding how God and Jesus are personal to them.
Our elementary class takes specific stories that have been learned and goes deeper into how those stories along with what we continue to learn about God shape who we are and what our purpose is in this world.
Kids Praise
Worship Designed for Kids
Three Sundays per month children 4 through 5th grade can attend Kids Praise during the sermon. Kids Praise is a time where children have the opportunity to engage in worship that closely mimics Sunday morning service on an age-appropriate level.
Adult and teen volunteers create a space for children to sing praise songs, read scripture, learn a bible story and what that story teaches us about God, and then participate in activities to help retell that story.
The fourth Sunday of the month and on holidays Highland Oaks has family worship. This is a time where everyone stays in Sunday morning service together and we have special activities to engage both children and adults.
Adult and teen volunteers create a space for children to sing praise songs, read scripture, learn a bible story and what that story teaches us about God, and then participate in activities to help retell that story.
The fourth Sunday of the month and on holidays Highland Oaks has family worship. This is a time where everyone stays in Sunday morning service together and we have special activities to engage both children and adults.
Nursery & Nursing Room
Comfort For Every Family
Highland Oaks has a Nursing Mothers Room located at the back of the Worship Center for any mother that requires that space.
The Nursery is located in the Education Building and is staffed with volunteers every Sunday during worship for any child birth through three years old.
The Nursery is located in the Education Building and is staffed with volunteers every Sunday during worship for any child birth through three years old.
Special Events
Grow In Faith Together
Highland Oaks Church has multiple events that families can participate in at various levels of involvement.
We eat together on a regular basis after worship service, host community events where children and adults can enjoy their time together with friends, attend camps in the summer, and go on one-night retreats for our upper elementary children.
All of our events are intended to be safe and fun while deepening relationships with God and others.
We eat together on a regular basis after worship service, host community events where children and adults can enjoy their time together with friends, attend camps in the summer, and go on one-night retreats for our upper elementary children.
All of our events are intended to be safe and fun while deepening relationships with God and others.
Volunteers - Young and Old
Teens and Adults Serving Together
Highland Oaks Kids would not be able to function without volunteers. Our volunteers are not expected to be formerly educated or experts in early childhood.
We are looking for teens and adults who care about children and their spiritual formation. Your willingness to love and build relationships is the trademark of a good volunteer.
We utilize at least two teens and/or adults as volunteers in every aspect of our Children’s Ministry. It is our desire for you to serve where your heart calls. Highland Oaks Kids volunteers are given specific areas of service for a determined amount of time, then screened and trained for that service.
We are looking for teens and adults who care about children and their spiritual formation. Your willingness to love and build relationships is the trademark of a good volunteer.
We utilize at least two teens and/or adults as volunteers in every aspect of our Children’s Ministry. It is our desire for you to serve where your heart calls. Highland Oaks Kids volunteers are given specific areas of service for a determined amount of time, then screened and trained for that service.
Meet Amber Norris
Family Minister of Children
Amber Norris is our Family Minister to Children with a lifelong passion for supporting kids and the families who love them. She also serves Highland Oaks Church as the Community Social Worker, where she assists our Outreach Minister and Hope 4 Lake Highlands in serving our community members in various ways.
Amber earned her degree in Social Work from Abilene Christian University in 2001, where she also met her husband, Zac. Together they have two children, Caleb and Rachel.
With a career dedicated to working with children, Amber has spent more than ten years serving in ministry. Her favorite part of the job is walking alongside parents as they raise their children and getting a front-row seat to the hilarious, thoughtful, and wildly imaginative things kids say and create every day. In her free time, Amber enjoys watching movies, reading, doing puzzles, and spending quality time with her family.
Amber earned her degree in Social Work from Abilene Christian University in 2001, where she also met her husband, Zac. Together they have two children, Caleb and Rachel.
With a career dedicated to working with children, Amber has spent more than ten years serving in ministry. Her favorite part of the job is walking alongside parents as they raise their children and getting a front-row seat to the hilarious, thoughtful, and wildly imaginative things kids say and create every day. In her free time, Amber enjoys watching movies, reading, doing puzzles, and spending quality time with her family.