Children are welcome to participate in all aspects of life at St. Joe’s. Through a variety of activities, children will deepen their relationship with God, explore stories about our faith, ask questions, try various prayer practices, learn about our liturgy, experience God’s love in community, and wonder how to respond to God’s abundant gifts.
A typical Sunday morning looks something like this:
Families gather around a table in the sanctuary, where children participate in creative activities that aim to make worship accessible. You might find them wandering closer to the altar to observe the clergy or dancing in the aisles. All movement and noise is welcome!
Children, ages 3 and up, leave the service for a 30-minute children’s chapel to experience lessons influenced by both the Godly Play curriculum and Catechisis of the Good Shepherd. They might learn about biblical parables with hands-on materials or practice preparing the chalice for the Eucharist or make finger labyrinths with beads or set up and lead our closing prayer service. The children’s minister and a volunteer shepherd the children to and from the service.
Children under 3 may go to the nursery, which shares the children’s chapel space in the Parish Hall. There, children will have access to age-appropriate stories, art, activities and nut-free snacks. The nursery is open from 10a.m. until the service concludes. Children under 3 must be signed in and out of the nursery by a caregiver.
Children are always welcome to attend the entire worship service if they prefer to remain in the sanctuary with their families.
The children’s spaces are staffed by a children’s minister and a nursery worker, both of whom have completed American Red Cross CPR training and the Episcopal Church’s Safe Church training.
The doors to the children’s chapel and nursery are open from 10 am until the conclusion of the service if you wish to observe, need a quiet space to care for your child or want to use supplies, such as the changing table stocked with diapers, wipes, bottles, and a first aid kit.
