Sunday Mornings for Young Children
...St. Mary's has a wide variety
of offerings on Sunday morning that will appeal to members and visitors
of all ages.
The Playroom…For
the youngest of our visitors and members, we offer a Playroom on the
first floor of the Education Building. The staff in the nursery
are loving and caring individuals ready to greet your child with open
arms. We provide many creative opportunities including art, music,
and a wide variety of toys and puzzles. All children up
through age 4 are welcome to stay for any or all parts of the Sunday
offerings.
A light
snack is provided; however, if your child has special dietary needs, you
are welcome to leave one for them.
Parents
are invited to bring their children into the Church during the Peace to
participate in the Eucharist with their families.
Children's Chapel...St.
Mary's is dedicated to the Christian formation of our children in both a
formative and informative way. On Sunday mornings at the beginning
of the 11:00 a.m. service (10:00 a.m. during the summer), children
beginning at age 4, are welcome to join in a service tailored to the way
they learn. During Children's Chapel, Gospel stories are shared
and then we quiet ourselves through meditation in order to experience
the story that has just been read. Prayers are offered; concerns
and joys are shared. Information about the liturgical church year
(i.e., what the colors mean and why we change them) are talked about and
explored. Children also learn of the different ‘jobs' they can do.
Each child is given an opportunity to actively participate in the
service as an acolyte by acting as a torch bearer or crucifer and to
collect the alms of the day. At the end of the service, the cross
and alms are carried to the Church and the children join their families
during the sharing of the Peace for Eucharist. The Children's
Chapel is located on the main floor of the education building.
During the regular church school year, Children's Chapel is held every
Sunday except when there is an Informal Worship. During the summer
schedule, Children's Chapel is conducted at the beginning of the
10:00 a.m. service.
Our
offerings for Sunday Church School are:
Godly Play:
St. Mary’s is privileged
to have two dedicated Godly Play classrooms. Based on the
Montessori model of teaching, these classrooms are built with children
in mind.
Godly Play teaches children the art of using religious language -
parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - helping them
become fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.
Godly Play
I
is for children who are in preschool (age 4) through 1st grade.
Children in this class are introduced to the methodology of ‘wondering’
about Bible stories and are invited to play with them afterwards as a
method of reflection.
Other options for reflection include reading as well as a wide variety
of art choices.
Godly Play
II
is for children in grades 2 - 4. In this classroom, the teachers
are able to go ‘deeper’ into the stories.
This involves exploring our lives as people of God
and how the stories share common threads.
Opportunities
to Volunteer: The on-going success of any church program can
be attributed to its volunteers. Volunteers are always needed for Sunday
Church School teachers, Children's Chapel, Playroom, and Vacation Bible
School. All volunteers receive valuable training that empowers them and
provides a level of comfort with the material prior to entering the
classroom. Volunteering is fun and a great way to meet others
within the church. You do not have to have children or youth in any of
these programs to volunteer. All are invited! If any of these areas are
of interest to you, please call the church office. We will be
happy to find a place for you to be involved with our church family.
Children and
youth
must be registered
to
attend church school.
Please
complete
our
registration
form
and return
it to
the Director
of
Children's
and Youth
Ministries.
Click
here for
our
Church
School
Registration
Form
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