​Our Children’s Ministries program serves children from birth to 5th grade and their families.  Our goal is to provide quality programming that encourages children to develop their relationship with God, the church community, and the world around them.

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Footprints

Monthly News From Children's Ministries  ​December 2018

  Sunday, December 2nd – Children’s Chapel!  For children age 3 and up as well as interested adults.   Meet in the Christ Child Chapel at 10:25am. We devote our time to three main components of the Liturgy of the Word: Singing. Scripture, and Prayer.  Today we will also discuss Advent as the “waiting time,” and do a special project.  We will join the congregation at the Peace.

​Thank you to everyone who participated in the annual Christmas Card Contest.  Ellery Bowman’s picture will appear on the front of St. Christopher’s Christmas card, which will be mailed soon. Our Christmas bulletins will be adorned with the artwork of Madeline Drake and Margy Zaro.
 
Suggested Advent prayers and activities for home - during this very busy season, I hope that families will be able to find some quite time to prepare their homes and hearts for the coming of Jesus.  Traditions that you begin when they are young can last a lifetime.  I have posted several advent resources on St. Christopher’s website under Resources/Family - please take a look.  Also, if you would like a set of purple and pink Advent candles (tapers) for your Advent wreath at home, please let me know – I have a limited number of these available.
 
Gifts of Hope – During this holiday season we are partnering with Roseville Area School District to provide items for a family in need.  The mother is recently single with 13 children ages 3 months – 20 years.  Our hope is to have the display in the Lower Narthex on December 2nd, but we are working on connecting with the mother to get specifics about her family’s needs.  Please watch your Christogram and parish emails for more details.
 
Lessons and Carols – All are welcome to this lovely service of music and scripture at 4pm on Sunday, December 16th.  It lasts about 1 hour, and there is a beautiful reception that follows the service. 
 
Family Christmas Eve Service:
In addition to our 5:00 Choral Eucharist, we have a special family service at 3:00pm.  This service will only be about 45 minutes long, and all are welcome.   Children will be asked to bring forward the elements of the crèche as the nativity story unfolds, and everyone will have a star to contribute.  
 
Holiday Sunday School Schedule
We will miss two weeks of Sunday School for the holidays this year:  December 23rd, and December 30th.  

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Click Here To Email Marion Hunner, Children's Ministries Director

Children in Liturgy

 We encourage families to sit near the front of the church so that they can see what is happening throughout the service.  We welcome children of all ages, and we understand that this means a little more noise and commotion.  We welcome families to sit on the left side of the church up front where we have a special family space.  Here the children can see what is happening at the altar.  You will find some quiet activities of children of  all ages, and there are also worship bags that you may pick up in the Narthex.  We do ask that families clean up the space before they leave.

​At the end of each service the Deacon invites all children to join her at the baptismal font for the dismissal.  In addition, we encourage children to sign up to be Gift Bearers and Acolytes

• Gift Bearers—Children in Kdg—8th grade are invited to bring forward food that has been donated to the food shelf when the ushers present the offering. 
• Acolytes – Children in fourth grade and older are invited to serve as acolytes.   They process with torches and help with the Liturgy of the Table.

Sunday Mornings
Our program year runs from mid-September through mid-May.

10:30am First Sunday of the month (Oct-May)
On the first Sunday of each month we offer Children’s Chapel for children Age 3-5th grade.  On that Sunday we will not have regular Sunday School Classes – instead, families will come to the 10:30 liturgy, and the children will meet in the small chapel for a Children’s Chapel experience.  They will then join their families in the pews at the peace.    This will offer families one Sunday per month where they are only at church for the one hour liturgy as well as provide a different presentation of the Liturgy of the Word for the children.  

9:30-10:15 a.m. Sunday School (K-5th)
NOT FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
We have a team of dedicated volunteers who bring the Stories of the Bible, Episcopal Traditions, and Love of God to life for our children.  We use the Godly Play Montessori model while also incorporating lessons from other resources.  The children work on projects to reinforce the stories and traditions as well as the importance of outreach.

10:20-11:40am  Nursery Care
Our nursery, for children age 0-4, is staffed by a team of volunteers during regular Sunday Services.  Volunteers are scheduled in pairs, and they arrive in the nursery 10 minutes prior to the service.  If there are no children in the nursery 10 minutes into the service, the volunteers will join the liturgy in the sanctuary.  

Special Events

We offer several special events throughout the year that encourage community building and outreach.  Some of our most popular are the Hayride, Epiphany Presentation, Putting Away Alleluias,   Outreach Bowling, and Pizza,  and Easter Activities.  Over the summer we offer Vacation Bible School and a Family Fun Movie Night.