Children

Infants to 5^th graders

One of the primary missions of St. Peter’s is Christian Formation. It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. St. Peter’s hopes to be that village where children are taught, encouraged, loved, and cared for. From the moment a child is born, we begin the process of helping form them into faithful Christians.

Blessings -- At the earliest convenient time, a newborn is blessed by one of the parish clergy and welcomed into the world in the name of Christ and on behalf of the church.

Baptism -- In the Episcopal Church, we baptize infants. At that time parents, godparents, and the entire congregation promise to raise the child in the faith community, to be sure they know themselves to be children of God, beloved by Jesus, and empowered and protected by the Holy Spirit. In preparation for baptism, we require a few sessions with the clergy in order to equip the parents and godparents in what they are promising to God and to the child as the primary teachers of the faith.

Worship --    

Children are welcome in all our worship services. As you enter the sanctuary, there are notebooks with crayons,  a children’s bulletin,

and a host of other books to keep your child engaged in the service.

We also suggest that you sit close to the front of the church, as

children are usually very interested in the details of the service.  If

your child becomes restless and needs to move around, please feel

free to take him or her into the narthex (in the back of the church) or

into the hallway. There are many other ways to engage children in worship.  At St. Peter’s, we encourage children to take communion

if they are able. If you would like instruction on teaching your child

about communion, please contact any of the clergy.

 St. Peter’s provides a nursery for infants and  toddlers up the age of 4, but children are never required to attend nursery instead of coming to worship.  On-staff nursery attendants, Samantha Buice and Erin Valentine, provide a clean, fun, and inviting atmosphere for children to play, sleep, learn, or read. It is never too early for children to feel loved and valued. This is the primary mission of the nursery. The nursery is available during the 10 o'clock service and the Sunday School hour from 9:30am to 12:30pm and at various evening programs and dinners as needed. Our nursery is overseen by volunteers chaired by Maria Sayers (Maria’s e-mail – MariaDSayers@gmail.com)

Fisher Folk is our name for "children's church." Children ages 4 to 7 gather in the Fisher Folk room, where they participate in their own form of worship, which takes place during the first 30 minutes of the 10 o'clock service. This is a time of singing, sharing, and storytelling, after which the leaders guide the children to the sanctuary for Holy Communion. Beyond that age, children are encouraged to attend the regular service, and  to be trained to serve as acolytes.  Fisher Folk is organized by Betsey Bass  (Betsey's email  - thebasses@bellsouth.net).

                  

Sunday School – Sunday School takes place at 9:00 Sunday mornings.  Children in grades pre-k through 5 gather in the green Sunday School room to engage in Godly Play lessons.  Created by Episcopal minister Jerome Berryman, Godly Play is a Montessori-based approach to Christian education, one that uses

a child’s natural creativity and sense of

wonder to build a personal relationship with God.  In each Godly Play session, a storyteller presents a lesson for the day – either a sacred story, a parable, or a liturgical practice of the church.  After the group wonders together about the lesson, each child chooses a medium through which he or she will respond to the

story; for instance, one child might choose to paint, while another might want

to act out the story.  The class concludes with a shared Feast before children head to church or children’s church. 

 Vacation Bible School – One of the most exciting weeks of the year for St. Peter’s is Vacation Bible School (VBS). The entire Parish Hall transforms into a space where kids learn stories, play games, sing songs, and eat yummy snacks. In past years we have been on a Serengeti Trek, danced at a Fiesta, and played on an Avalanche Ranch. VBS is one of the best intergenerational events we do, where older adults, parents, teenagers, and children laugh, play, and learn with one another. The week always ends with a Wet ‘N Wild day, with water games and a giant water slide. Children ages 3 to 10 are invited to be participants, while all people 11 and up are invited to be on the VBS team. In the spring, be on the lookout for ways that you can help!

Special Events – We have a variety of other events that kids can participate in:

Christmas Pageant – Around Christmas, the children of the congregation suit up in their best donkey, angel, sheep, shepherd, or wise men costumes to present the timeless story of the Nativity. This is always a special time and the whole parish loves seeing the children perform. Most importantly, it teaches children the real purpose of Christmas. Be on the lookout for when preparations for the Christmas Pageant takes place.

Easter Egg Hunt – To celebrate the Resurrection, before the 10 o’clock service, we invite the children to process into the church as a group with Easter flowers to decorate the Easter cross.  After the 10 o’clock service, we gather the children for a story about Easter, then we get a visit from the Easter Bunny who lets the kids loose to hunt for Easter eggs. We have areas for toddlers as well as for big kids.

 

Once your child reaches 6^th grade, they are considered a part of the Youth program.