Children
Christ Church Children's Ministries
Children’s Ministries at Christ Church are thoughtfully planned to engage children in the mysteries of our faith, the rhythms of our worship, and the work of God in the world. The spiritual and developmental needs of Christ Church’s children are a priority here, and children are an essential part of our life together as a church. You’ll find children at most services at Christ Church, especially the 10:00 a.m. service (and playing in the churchyard afterwards, of course!)
Nursery Care
Each Sunday, our staffed nursery is open from 7:45 a.m. until about 11:30 a.m. for infants through preschoolers in the Parish House (enter through the double doors, turn right up the short flight of stairs, and proceed through one, then another door to access the nursery space). Our nursery caregivers are a dedicated, loving group of women who enjoy playing, reading books, drawing, singing songs, and more with the children in their care. Children are welcome in every service and by no means required to attend the nursery, but we are delighted to offer this option for families. Nursery caregivers are CPR certified, trained in misconduct prevention, and vaccinated against COVID-19.
In addition to the staffed nursery, Christ Church offers an infant caring room equipped with toys, rocking chairs, changing tables, and a live feed of the service. This is a great way to ensure your child’s needs are met while still engaging with worship.
Sunday School
Children are invited to attend Sunday School beginning at three years old. Sunday School meets almost every Sunday, September through May, at 9:00 a.m. in the Fowler House. This program includes a variety of curricula for children based on their age or grade level. Note that the start and end dates for Sunday School depend broadly on the academic calendars for local schools. Depending on enrollment, Sunday School classes may be combined with others or even split into two groups based on size. Families with children under three years old are invited to join One Sock On, our fellowship group for parents of infants and toddlers that meets during Sunday School. Explore the information below to learn more about each age group.
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Preschool
For preschoolers, a dedicated Godly Play classroom with a team of storytellers invites them to wonder about the stories from scripture that form the foundation of our faith, the liturgical actions that shape our worship, and their own spirituality. Click here to learn more about Godly Play.
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Kindergarten
Once children begin Kindergarten, they join the Kindergarten team to explore the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum, a thematic program tied to the seasons of the church year that was created by Virginia Theological Seminary. In this class, children listen to Bible stories, work on crafts, play games, learn prayers, and sometimes even study art! Click here to learn more about the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum
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1st - 4th Grade
As children grow, their spiritual and educational needs evolve. Spark Rotation, a dynamic and engaging curriculum from Augsburg Fortress, centers on a rotation model where children learn about the same Bible story or theme for a number of weeks through different “subject areas” like art, science, and games. This repetition allows children to really dig deep into the topic at hand and engages multiple intelligences and learning styles.
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5th Grade
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Children in Worship
Worshipping God in the beauty of holiness is at the heart of all we do, and children are an essential part of that worship. Engaging with the sights and sounds of worship in a loving, life-giving community sets the tone for how children will feel about God and church for much of their life, and it is our privilege and joy to offer many opportunities for kids to do just that. Explore the information below to learn more.
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Children's Chapel
During the 10:00 a.m. service, children ages three through third grade are invited to Children’s Chapel just before the Gospel reading and return in time for the Holy Eucharist. In Children’s Chapel, kids experience a child-friendly version of the liturgy happening in the “big church”. An age-appropriate Children’s Sermon on a lectionary reading and prayers of the people, where kids are invited to offer their own prayers for “happy things” and “sad or scary things” form the core of Children’s Chapel. Mindful breathing and ritual around lighting the altar candles help to set Children’s Chapel aside as a sacred time to come close to God. Children’s Chapel usually meets in the Infant of Bethlehem Chapel in the Parish House, or in the churchyard when the weather is favorable. Parents are encouraged to attend with very young children as they learn the rhythms and expectations for this service.
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Family Services for Holy Days
Several times throughout the year, family services are offered with the needs of families with small children in mind. These services are generally a bit shorter than traditional services, include child friendly language and music, and a sermon offered by the children’s minister. Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and Easter each include a family service among our other service times for those who choose to attend.
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Children as Worship Leaders
Children are welcome to become acolytes, lay readers, and intercessors after meeting with worship leaders to help find the best fit for their particular gifts. Participating in worship with a defined role is one of the best ways to help your child find meaning and joy in worship as they grow up and their skills develop.
Kids FAQ
Yes! Children of all ages are welcome to receive communion as soon as they are baptized and able to ingest solid food. When we baptize children, we welcome them into God’s family–and that means a seat at God’s holy table!
Yes! A children’s worship cart with coloring pages that correspond to lectionary readings, children’s bulletins, books about the bible and prayer, and worship notes for older kids is located in the portico.
Yes! We love babies and all the wiggles and sounds they come with. It is perfectly normal for children to make noise during worship as they take it all in. We do ask that if your child is experiencing difficulty being in church you take a moment to help them settle down in the churchyard or infant caring room. Forcing small children to be in church when they are inconsolable only teaches them that church is a sad, scary place. Help us help you make church a joyful experience for your whole family!
Yes! The friends we make at church are such an important aspect of being God’s people. Children are welcome to sit with your family, another family, up front, in the back, wherever they feel most comfortable. We do ask that children attend worship and sit with an adult who will be able to help them follow along with the service and stay engaged.
Christ Church Children's Ministries
Children’s Ministries at Christ Church are thoughtfully planned to engage children in the mysteries of our faith, the rhythms of our worship, and the work of God in the world. The spiritual and developmental needs of Christ Church’s children are a priority here, and children are an essential part of our life together as a church. You’ll find children at most services at Christ Church, especially the 10:00 a.m. service (and playing in the churchyard afterwards, of course!)
Nursery Care
Each Sunday, our staffed nursery is open from 8:45 a.m. until about 11:30 a.m. for infants through preschoolers in the Parish House (enter through the double doors, turn right up the short flight of stairs, and proceed through one, then another door to access the nursery space). Our nursery caregivers are a dedicated, loving group of women who enjoy playing, reading books, drawing, singing songs, and more with the children in their care. Children are welcome in every service and by no means required to attend the nursery, but we are delighted to offer this option for families. Nursery caregivers are CPR certified, trained in misconduct prevention, and vaccinated against COVID-19.
In addition to the staffed nursery, Christ Church offers an infant caring room equipped with toys, rocking chairs, changing tables, and a live feed of the service. This is a great way to ensure your child’s needs are met while still engaging with worship.
Sunday School
Children are invited to attend Sunday School beginning at three years old. Sunday School meets almost every Sunday, September through May, at 9:00 a.m. in the Fowler House. This program includes a variety of curricula for children based on their age or grade level. Note that the start and end dates for Sunday School depend broadly on the academic calendars for local schools. Depending on enrollment, Sunday School classes may be combined with others or even split into two groups based on size. Families with children under three years old are invited to join One Sock On, our fellowship group for parents of infants and toddlers that meets during Sunday School. Explore the information below to learn more about each age group.
-
Preschool
For preschoolers, a dedicated Godly Play classroom with a team of storytellers invites them to wonder about the stories from scripture that form the foundation of our faith, the liturgical actions that shape our worship, and their own spirituality. Click here to learn more about Godly Play.
-
Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Once children begin Kindergarten, they join the Kindergarten team to explore the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum, a thematic program tied to the seasons of the church year that was created by Virginia Theological Seminary. In this class, children listen to Bible stories, work on crafts, play games, learn prayers, and sometimes even study art!For the 2022-2023 program year, Kindergarten and 1st grade classes will be combined. Click here to learn more about the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum
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2nd - 4th Grade
As children grow, their spiritual and educational needs evolve. New this year, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders will learn more about God and each other through "Weaving God's Promises", a curriculum developed for the Episcopal Church. Weaving God's Promises encompasses stories from Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament as well as units on seasons of the church year, famous saints, and the sacraments.
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5th Grade
By the time children reach fifth grade, they are ready to tackle some of the big questions that come with being a follower of Jesus. Re:form is a curriculum based on questions, with each lesson tackling a different theme like “Does God still create?” and “Why should I pray if God doesn’t answer all of my prayers?” This curriculum makes space for children to have complicated conversations around topics that will arise again and again as they move through life.
Children in Worship
Worshipping God in the beauty of holiness is at the heart of all we do, and children are an essential part of that worship. Engaging with the sights and sounds of worship in a loving, life-giving community sets the tone for how children will feel about God and church for much of their life, and it is our privilege and joy to offer many opportunities for kids to do just that. Explore the information below to learn more.
-
Children's Chapel
During the 10:00 a.m. service, children ages three through third grade are invited to Children’s Chapel just before the Gospel reading and return in time for the Holy Eucharist. In Children’s Chapel, kids experience a child-friendly version of the liturgy happening in the “big church”. An age-appropriate Children’s Sermon on a lectionary reading and prayers of the people, where kids are invited to offer their own prayers for “happy things” and “sad or scary things” form the core of Children’s Chapel. Mindful breathing and ritual around lighting the altar candles help to set Children’s Chapel aside as a sacred time to come close to God. Children’s Chapel usually meets in the Infant of Bethlehem Chapel in the Parish House, or in the churchyard when the weather is favorable. Parents are encouraged to attend with very young children as they learn the rhythms and expectations for this service.
-
Family Services for Holy Days
Several times throughout the year, family services are offered with the needs of families with small children in mind. These services are generally a bit shorter than traditional services, include child friendly language and music, and a sermon offered by the children’s minister. Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and Easter each include a family service among our other service times for those who choose to attend.
-
Children as Worship Leaders
Children are welcome to become acolytes, lay readers, and intercessors after meeting with worship leaders to help find the best fit for their particular gifts. Participating in worship with a defined role is one of the best ways to help your child find meaning and joy in worship as they grow up and their skills develop.
Kids FAQ
Yes! Children of all ages are welcome to receive communion as soon as they are baptized and able to ingest solid food. When we baptize children, we welcome them into God’s family–and that means a seat at God’s holy table!
Yes! A children’s worship cart with coloring pages that correspond to lectionary readings, children’s bulletins, books about the bible and prayer, and worship notes for older kids is located in the portico.
Yes! We love babies and all the wiggles and sounds they come with. It is perfectly normal for children to make noise during worship as they take it all in. We do ask that if your child is experiencing difficulty being in church you take a moment to help them settle down in the churchyard or infant caring room. Forcing small children to be in church when they are inconsolable only teaches them that church is a sad, scary place. Help us help you make church a joyful experience for your whole family!
Yes! The friends we make at church are such an important aspect of being God’s people. Children are welcome to sit with your family, another family, up front, in the back, wherever they feel most comfortable. We do ask that children attend worship and sit with an adult who will be able to help them follow along with the service and stay engaged.