Inspiring children to follow Jesus & equipping parents to build spiritually strong families.
Good Shepherd provides a safe, fun, interactive space just for kids at all of our Sunday Worship Services and during our 9:00 am Community Hour.
Through worship, creative Bible teaching, and fun crafts and games, kids learn about God’s love and how to apply God's Word to their lives.
Ministry Contact
Stephanie McArthur
stephanie@gslcirvine.org
(949) 398-5180
Nursery
newborn through age 4
Sundays from 7:45 to 11:15 am
Infant Toddler Room
For our littles, the message is simple – we want them to know that God loves them, made them, and wants to be their friend. As you attend one of our church services on a Sunday morning, you are welcome to drop your child off for nursery care. Our time is spent singing songs, engaging in hands on activities, and exploring God’s creation through the Awana Puggles Curriculum.
FLOCK Sunday School
age 5 through 5th grade
Sundays from 9:00 to 9:50 am
& during the Sermon at our 8:00 & 10:00 am Services
Preschool Classrooms
FLOCK is a fun, high energy environment where kids come to know Jesus personally through worship and relevant creative Bible teaching. Each week we focus our efforts to see kids fall in love with Jesus and develop a deeper faith utilizing the Sparkhouse Whirl Curriculum.
Youth Ministry
6th through 12th Grade
Your First Sunday
When you arrive at Good Shepherd, walk towards the Preschool Courtyard and look for the colorful FLOCK tablecloth. Here you will be greeted and directed to one of our two environments. Save time on your first Sunday by Planning Your Visit.
We care about the safety of your children and require each of our volunteers to complete a comprehensive training and pass a Live Scan check.
Parent Resources
Family Life Groups
Sundays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
September 10 - November 26
Preschool Classrooms
Each Sunday Night, families with Pre-K through High School age kids join together for Family Life Groups! While our Jr High and High School students attend Youth Group, and our children gather for care, parents get to experience encouragement, prayer, and support while studying the Bible.
Childcare provided for those Pre-K to 5th grade.
6th to 12th grade students gather for Youth Group.
Parent Retreats
All parents are invited to our bi-yearly Parent Retreats on our church campus to grow, eat, and laugh together. The evening is packed with an inspirational message, time in small groups, delicious appetizers to snack on, and a comedy session.
RightNow Media
Access an extensive, video library of faith-based studies that you can access whenever and wherever you want—for FREE! Engage in a study on your own, gather your family, or put together a group to do it with you.
Email Sign Ups
Sign up for our email to stay in the loop of all that is happening with Good Shepherd Kids and Families. Hear what’s coming as well as being inspired, equipped and supported in your role as the primary nurturer of child’s faith.
Upcoming Family Events
Trunk or Treat
Church Campus 4800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA, United StatesHosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & Preschool Grab your decorations and stock up on candy, Trunk or Treat is back! From hot dogs to a cake walk to pumpkin bowling to a photo op, all ages will enjoy this…
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this just a babysitting service?
Definitely not! Our children’s program incorporates age appropriate teaching time to help build a foundation for understanding God’s love.
Children in the Nursery enjoy story time with a hands-on activity that helps strengthen that day’s lesson.
Our Pre-K through 5th grade FLOCK kids engage in a silly game, followed by a fun teaching time, and ends with age-appropriate small groups to pray, recite memory verses and learn to use the Bible.
We require all children to be checked in and picked up at their appropriate station – for birth through age 4 you will check-in at the Infant Toddler Room (just off the middle of the Church Patio) and our FLOCK kids will check-in at the Preschool Courtyard (just off the Church Parking Lot near the restrooms).
The only exception is our FLOCK program that takes place during our 8:00 and 10:00 am Worship Services. Just before the sermon, all Pre-K through 5th grade kids will be dismissed to head to their FLOCK leaders in the back of the Sanctuary to head to their programming. Just before communion, they will be brought back to the Sanctuary to meet up with their family.
First time guests will be asked to complete a registration form for each child. It is important that you indicate if your child has any allergies, special needs or custody issues so we can address your needs. To save time on your first day, complete the Plan Your Visit form.
The screening process for volunteers includes an application and interview. In addition, staff members and volunteers, age 18 and older, that work in Family Ministry have a Live Scan and criminal background check performed.
We are thankful that so many quality volunteers have stepped forward to help teach kids about the Bible and to encourage them in their walk with the Lord.
We encourage parents to take their children to the restroom before programming begins. However, if the need arises, children are escorted to and from nearby restroom facilities by two staff members or adult non-related volunteers.
For the safety and respect of the children in our classroom, if your child has a runny nose, cough, or fever, please do not bring them.
Contact our Family Ministries Director, Stephanie McArthur, at stephanie@gslcirvine.org or leave her a voicemail at (949) 398-5180.
