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The groups at Cornerstone City
10 am in Riccarton
Little Pilgrims and Adventurers (1–3 years)
We believe that little ones absorb things even before they can articulate words, and it’s especially important that they are spiritually fed! Children in this age group get to explore toys, books, and crafts, and learn simple truths about God.
Little Pilgrims is our space especially for one-year-olds, while Adventurers is for children aged 2–3 years. Both classes are open 10 minutes before the church service starts.
We ask parents to bring clearly labelled water and morning tea in a lunchbox for their child(ren). Parents/caregivers are required to sign children in and out of their classroom.
Investigators (4–5 years)
Investigators is a bridging programme between Adventurers and the primary-school-aged programme. It’s a fun space for our four and five-year-olds to learn the Gospel in an environment tailored to their needs.
This class runs during term time; activity packs are provided during school holidays for children to enjoy in the main service.
We ask parents/caregivers to bring clearly labelled water and morning tea in a lunchbox for their child(ren). Kids get to explore toys, books, and crafts, and learn simple truths about God.
Children can either be dropped off at their class from 9.45 am (before the service) or begin with the adults in the church service and are taken by their leaders to their classroom after the kids' talk. They spend time playing, eating morning tea, hearing and discussing a story, and completing a related craft activity.
Parents/caregivers are asked to sign their children into the leader's care before church. Sign-in/out sheets are placed on a table in the hall foyer as you arrive at church. At the end of the service, parents/caregivers need to collect their children from the classroom and sign them out.
Explorers, Navigators and Rangers (Age 6 – school year 8)
Children start with the adults in the main auditorium for the first 20–30 minutes, heading out to their classroom after the kids' talk. During school terms, the children first spend time together as a large group — playing games, singing, memorising scripture, and hearing the Bible read and taught. The children then split into smaller groups with age-specific learning activities, crafts, and discussion about the lesson.
Parents/caregivers need to sign their children into our care before the service. Sign-in sheets are placed in the hall foyer as you enter the main auditorium. Leaders guide the children back to the main hall as the church service finishes, where they join the adults for morning tea.
Children are provided with activity packs to enjoy during the service in the school holidays.
The groups at Fields Church
3 pm in Rolleston
Field Mice (1–4 years)
We believe that little ones absorb ideas even before they can articulate them, and it’s especially important that they are spiritually fed! Children in this age group get to explore toys, books, and crafts, and learn simple truths about God.
Children begin their time with the adults in the church service; you can take them out to their class when the school-aged kids are released to their programme.
We ask parents to bring clearly labelled water and afternoon tea in a lunchbox for their child(ren). Parents/caregivers are required to sign children in and out of their classroom.
Harvesters & Labourers (School year 1–8)
Children start with the adults in the main service for the first 20–30 minutes, heading out to their classroom after the MC prays for the kids. During school terms, the children first spend time together as a large group — playing games, singing, memorising scripture, and hearing the Bible read and taught. The children then split into smaller groups with age-specific learning activities, crafts, and discussion about the lesson. Children are provided with activity packs during the school holidays and stay in the main service.
Parents/caregivers need to sign their children into our care before the service. Sign-in sheets are placed on the welcome table as you enter church. Leaders guide the children back to the main space as the church service finishes, where they join the adults for afternoon tea.
Teaching material
Our lessons are centred on the Bible and our activities aim to point to what God is saying to us through His word. A range of interactive games and activities are used to help the children learn important truths about God and His world.
Children are taught using the Kidswise curriculum and will follow along with the passages taught in the Sunday service and what is read in Growth Groups during the week.
Leaders
Dee Burnell coordinates the children's ministry and helps to ensure children, caregivers and leaders are well cared for and resourced. Our leaders receive comprehensive training.
Our leaders and helpers are carefully chosen members of Cornerstone, with the majority being from our Campus Church congregation. You can recognise the leaders each Sunday by their coloured lanyards and Kids’ Space t-shirts.
If you have any questions about our kids' ministry, please get in touch with Dee.
Child protection
Cornerstone prioritises the safety of the children who attend our programmes. All of our leaders are vetted through the New Zealand Police, and also sign Cornerstone's Child Protection Policy specific to the group they will be caring for. Regular leaders are committed to ongoing training in both teaching and child safety principles. You can download any of our children's ministry policies:
If anyone does have any concerns relating to child safety, they can report them to one of our Safe Ministry Supervisors (currently Lydia Oliver and Craig Marshall), who will make sure the matter is dealt with appropriately.
Cornerstone is a church with a vision to see lives transformed through Jesus Christ for the glory of God on our university campuses, in our city, and throughout the broader Christchurch area.
PO Box 31204, Christchurch 8444, New Zealand