​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  ​Ocober 2018

Many thanks to the adults who have offered to walk with our Sunday School Children on their Faith Journey this year:  Kathy, Jean, Carol, and Chris.

Children’s programs are off to a great start! Here’s what we have to look forward to in October:

Sunday, October 7th is our first Children’s Chapel experience for children age 3 – 5th grade.  Here we will sing, pray and read & respond to the Gospel.  Then we will join our families at the Peace.  We meet in the small chapel at 10:30, and there is no Sunday School on this day.  We have Children’s Chapel on the first Sunday of each month.
 
Saturday, October 27th – All Parish Hayride at 4pm at Bunker Hills Stables in Andover.  Sign up in the parish hall following Sunday Services or contact Marion.  Sign up and payment deadline is Sunday, October 14th .  You can sign up online at:  https://goo.gl/forms/Thj6vEJz9AVvtzYD3 or find Marion in the parish hall on Sundays.
 
Sunday, October 28th- Blessing of the Feet for Halloween during the 10:30 liturgy.

​Got Legos?  If you have any Legos taking up space in your home that you would be willing to part with, the Sunday School kids would love to have a supply of Legos (any size) to use as they ponder their response to our Bible stories.  Many things that we read about in the Bible can be built with Legos!  Please leave Legos outside Marion’s office.

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.