Children's Activities
For our policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection see the Safeguarding Page
Baby and Toddler Time
We have our own Facebook Group.
Do ask to join if you are interested in attending. You can contact the Parish Office by e-mail or phone 01252 873030 to find out more. |
Baby and Toddler Time is a friendly group for babies, toddlers and their parents/carers. It is held in the Pastoral Centre on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month during school term time, from 9:00am to 11:00am.
For the first hour and half we have lots of toys for children to play with, toast and fruit (with coffee/tea for adults) and a craft activity. Breastfeeding support is also available (please ask at the welcome desk). In the last half-hour we have a Bible story and lots of singing of nursery rhymes etc. Booking is not necessary. |
Family Service (1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, including school holidays)
The Family Service is informal and child friendly, with action songs and an interactive talk, and is a place you really can come to with small children and not worry how they will behave! Refreshments are served in the church from 11.00 am; worship begins at 11.15 am and lasts about 45 minutes. Come and meet other families and make friends.
Children and the Parish Communion Service (9.30am)
During term time, including half-term breaks, there are age-related activities in the Pastoral Centre for children and young people every week, except on the 4th Sunday of the month when the Parish Communion is replaced by the inter-generational Church Together Service at 10.30. They should come to the Pastoral Centre by 9.25 am to be registered, except on the 2nd Sunday of the month, when we all meet in church to take part in the beginning of the service. The group leaders bring the children into the church for the last part of the service every week. We don’t currently have a crèche, but arrangements can usually be made at short notice to care for children under three years. Please ask one of the welcome team or a children’s group leader. There are also playbags at the back of church for children who stay in the service - please ask one of the welcome team.
During the main school holidays, children should come into the church with their parents at the beginning of the service, and will be invited to join a leader after a few minutes of the service to watch a Christian story-based DVD in the Pastoral Centre. The group leaders bring the children into the church for the last part of the service. For young children staying in the service there are play-bags for them to enjoy - please ask one of the welcome team.
During the main school holidays, children should come into the church with their parents at the beginning of the service, and will be invited to join a leader after a few minutes of the service to watch a Christian story-based DVD in the Pastoral Centre. The group leaders bring the children into the church for the last part of the service. For young children staying in the service there are play-bags for them to enjoy - please ask one of the welcome team.
Church Together at 10.30 am, 4th Sundays
This service takes place in St Michael's Pastoral Centre on the fourth Sunday of the month. The aim is to encourage everyone (young, old and all in-between) to take part, to learn in a way that suits them and to learn from each other, as part of being an inter-generational church.
Before the service, refreshments are served from 10:10am. The service starts with a period of worship including songs, bible reading and an introduction to the theme. Then people will choose from one of the following zones:
• Journaling/Colouring: An area where adults and children can reflect on the theme using art, word searches etc.
• Craft/Busy: An area for everyone to make something related to the theme.
• Quiet/Word: An area for people to sit, spend time with God in quiet and listen to what he has to say about the theme. There will be in different versions of the bible as well as a copy of a short sermon on the bible passage.
• Chat: An area to discuss with others the questions and topics that the themes raise. There are no ‘right’ answers and you don’t need to be an expert.
After spending some time in the different zones, we all come back together, to see and hear what has been going on in the zones. The service will close with another worship period containing prayers and song.
Before the service, refreshments are served from 10:10am. The service starts with a period of worship including songs, bible reading and an introduction to the theme. Then people will choose from one of the following zones:
• Journaling/Colouring: An area where adults and children can reflect on the theme using art, word searches etc.
• Craft/Busy: An area for everyone to make something related to the theme.
• Quiet/Word: An area for people to sit, spend time with God in quiet and listen to what he has to say about the theme. There will be in different versions of the bible as well as a copy of a short sermon on the bible passage.
• Chat: An area to discuss with others the questions and topics that the themes raise. There are no ‘right’ answers and you don’t need to be an expert.
After spending some time in the different zones, we all come back together, to see and hear what has been going on in the zones. The service will close with another worship period containing prayers and song.
Preparing Children to Receive Holy Communion
We are happy to welcome children to receive bread and wine at Holy Communion after suitable preparation. If you think your child is ready for this, please speak to the Rector or one of the children's leaders in the first instance. We run a short course from time to time to help children understand more about being a Christian and the meaning of Holy Communion. Any child who has already been admitted to Holy Communion in another church is automatically allowed to receive with us.
Keeping Children Safe Online
The following article by Rev John Castle appeared in the October 2019 edition of the Newsletter.
| keepingchildrensafeonline.pdf |