Children on Sundays
In recent years the greatest area of growth in our church has been among families with young children: on an average Sunday our main service includes more than sixty children – sometimes the number approaches one hundred! We have become widely known as a child- and family-friendly church and are delighted to offer a wide range of provision for children from babies to teenagers, and families with children in worship, education and activities.
Our main children’s provision is centred on the Sunday 9.30am SUNG EUCHARIST. On most Sundays the children – together with the parents of the youngest children – join in the Introit Procession and gather at the front of the church before being sent out to their age appropriate groups as follows:
Pre School Groups (Children are accompanied by a parent)
0-2yrs CATERPILLARS and
3-4yrs CHRYSALIS
After this, the groups are structured in terms of school years and, once they are settled, the children attend the sessions without their parents;
Reception & School Year 1 BUTTERFLIES
School Years 2-6 JUNIORS & SENIORS
In these groups the children share activities, worship, prayers and Christian teaching appropriate to their age and understanding and respond in livelier, noisier and messier - but more creative - ways than would be possible in Church! Each child is registered as a member of Children On Sundays (the form can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page) and the parents are kept informed about any other activities, events, and so on.
St Mary Abbots aims to give children an experience of the Church as a happy place to be where they can experience, as a reality, the gospel of love shown to us in the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. The children return to church at the time of the communion, and each child receives a personal blessing and is given a candle to light as a reminder of the baptismal injunction to shine as a light in the world.
We also want to encourage you as you nurture your children in the faith. Here is a link to the Church of England's Early Years Ministry page where you will find useful suggestions to use with your children.
Volunteering to help with Children on Sundays:
If you think that you might like to join the team of volunteers that run the Children on Sundays sessions then click here to find out more: COS Volunteer Information
Our main children’s provision is centred on the Sunday 9.30am SUNG EUCHARIST. On most Sundays the children – together with the parents of the youngest children – join in the Introit Procession and gather at the front of the church before being sent out to their age appropriate groups as follows:
Pre School Groups (Children are accompanied by a parent)
0-2yrs CATERPILLARS and
3-4yrs CHRYSALIS
After this, the groups are structured in terms of school years and, once they are settled, the children attend the sessions without their parents;
Reception & School Year 1 BUTTERFLIES
School Years 2-6 JUNIORS & SENIORS
In these groups the children share activities, worship, prayers and Christian teaching appropriate to their age and understanding and respond in livelier, noisier and messier - but more creative - ways than would be possible in Church! Each child is registered as a member of Children On Sundays (the form can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page) and the parents are kept informed about any other activities, events, and so on.
St Mary Abbots aims to give children an experience of the Church as a happy place to be where they can experience, as a reality, the gospel of love shown to us in the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. The children return to church at the time of the communion, and each child receives a personal blessing and is given a candle to light as a reminder of the baptismal injunction to shine as a light in the world.
We also want to encourage you as you nurture your children in the faith. Here is a link to the Church of England's Early Years Ministry page where you will find useful suggestions to use with your children.
Volunteering to help with Children on Sundays:
If you think that you might like to join the team of volunteers that run the Children on Sundays sessions then click here to find out more: COS Volunteer Information
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NB
If you bring your children to church on Sundays but don’t receive emails or notices then for some reason we haven’t got your contact details. Perhaps you’ve never filled in a registration form? Ask your child’s Group Leader for one, email our Children on Sundays coordinator , or download it here and hand it the next time you come. |
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