Children

CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN FORMATION AND EDUCATION

We seek at Grace to build Christian community in which children are not merely accepted but listened to and treasured as a vital part of God’s presence among us. Children of all dispositions—quiet and introspective, loud and joyful, and everything in between—are welcome here.

We hope children and their families will offer their presence, their open hearts, and their spiritual gifts to the church.

In doing so, they enrich our whole community.

lartcamp smallWORSHIP WITH CHILDREN

Families’ experience of worship with children are as diverse as children themselves. Some children like the ritual of the choral services; others like the informality of family-oriented worship. Some families are most comfortable sitting up front, where they can see and hear everything that happens; others like to be closer to the back, where they can move around more freely. We encourage you to find the way of worshipping that is the best fit for your family’s needs.

A Note About the Eucharist: In the Episcopal Church, all baptized members are welcome to receive communion. Many children take bread as soon as they are old enough to open their hands for it. We offer no rite of “first communion” and require no special preparation. Some parents and children, however, choose to wait to receive the sacrament. Any child who does not want to take either the bread or the wine can cross his or her arms over the chest and receive a blessing instead. Clergy are available to talk with families who have questions about the sacrament.

Children’s activities on Sunday Mornings: 

9:00-12:00 p.m. Nursery Care opens for kids ages 0-4
9:15-10:15 Grace Church Junior Choir, open to ages 5 and up 
location: Jr. Choir Room in the Parke House
-Learn to sing, read music, and play music games
-All ages are encouraged to learn and work together
-Choir will “perform” in the 10:30 service once a month and will occasionally
perform in small recitals or outside engagements
10:15-11:30/12:00p.m. Liturgical Arts, open to ages 5 and up 
Kids are invited to the Jr Choir room/Arts and crafts room to
engage in art projects each week
examples include: “stained glass” paper windows, cards, God’s eye crafts
11:30- Passing of the Peace and collection of the offering 
Kids participating in Liturgical Arts will occasionally come to the sanctuary at this time
to help with the offering/collection baskets during the service
Kids will then have the option following this to:
1. Join caregivers in the service in the sanctuary (including at the back of the sanctuary where we have art supplies, books and puzzles and seats for children)
2. return to Liturgical Arts with the Arts adults and get picked up at noon
3. Get picked up by a caregiver from the sanctuary, signing out with an Arts Adult.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Christmas Pageant: At the 4:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve, the Liturgy of the Word is a dramatic presentation by the children of the parish. For more information, contact us.

Liturgical events: Feasts and fasts in our church are marked with special services for young children, such as a Blessing of the Animals for St. Francis Day.

SAFETY

Grace Church follows the Safe Church policies of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, which can be found in full at www.diocesewma.org. All adults who work regularly with children have been checked for criminal records and trained Safe Church procedures. Parents are asked to ensure a safe environment at Grace by being aware of their children’s whereabouts during the liturgy and coffee hour.