Kids
We welcome kids into the worship service every Sunday, especially on our Third Sundays, when our 10:00 service is shorter, more contemporary, and the sermon is tailored to younger ears. There’s always a children’s table available up front for busy fingers. We also have our “Children’s Corner,” which is especially designed for kids 4-8 years old.
We love it when children are ready to play a role in our worship, whether as an acolyte (carrying the cross, or a torch) or reading a Sunday lesson. “We believe what we pray, and we pray what we believe,” and strongly believe that Christian formation happens when kids absorb our liturgy, and come to understand in their bones that they are contributing members in our community.
Children’s Corner
Our Children’s Corner, staffed by SafeChurch-certified attendants, is open every Sunday (except summer) and welcomes all kids (best for 4-8 year-olds) for learning, making, and play. There might be a game, story, or crafts based on a Bible story, today’s lesson, or following Jesus.
Kids’ Eucharist
At least once a quarter, we welcome all kids to our downstairs chapel with Mama Lou (The Rev. LouAnn Pickering, our minister of children and families), where they’ll participate in a Kids’ Eucharist and listen to her wonderful stories.
Take-Home Activities
Depending on the season of the year, we make available take-home activities for families, such as walking together through Advent or Lent, or going on a family scavenger hunt to meditate on God’s creation.
After-Service Activities
At special feasts of the year, we host after-service activities like Stations of the Resurrection (our version of an Easter Egg hunt), making icons of St John the Baptist, or making pinwheels for Pentecost. And then there’s our Christmas Pageant! Kids of all ages participate: narrating, donning a costume, or dancing in our Angel-Dance video (which might just include an angel who is 80-years-old...a father and daughter angel dancing a waltz...maybe even a doggo with a halo!)
Your First Visit!
We love having children in church, and are big believers in having them absorb our tradition simply through attendance. Third Sunday of the month (we call it “Rite 3”) is a great day to visit, with a service especially geared for families: shorter, simpler music and a popular selection, and a family-friendly sermon. That said, whenever you come through our doors, you have options: Our ushers can direct you down the hall right across from the sanctuary to our Children’s Corner, which is open nearly every Sunday and our certified Safe-Church coordinators will get some quick info to make sure you’re reachable and they know anything important about your kiddo. Then they’ll lead an activity based in our lessons or a relevant Christian theme. It’s best for 4-8 year-olds, but siblings always do well and can help out. Or, you can keep your child with you in church; consider sitting near the kid’s table in front, where there will be activities to keep the kiddos engaged. On special days we often have something for kids to do in coffee hour in our Narthex (kind of like “the lobby.”) If you have any other child-related needs or concerns, be sure to ask our usher!!