CHILDREN IN CHURCH

Parents with young children sometimes feel self conscious in church and worry that their children are annoying others. We love to have children at St John’s and understand that children can sometimes be noisy! Parents should be assured that the experience of regularly being in the church, worshipping with God’s people, is an invaluable gift to help children feel “at home’’ and loved in the worshipping environment. There are also special areas set aside for the needs of young children, including crawlers and toddlers, a comfortable area where the service can be heard but where children and parents can be private, and a staffed crèche during the 10.oo am service .

The Godly Play programme, in conjunction with the 10.00 am Sung Eucharist (complemented by the children’s talk on alternate Sundays) is an excellent way to encourage the development of faith and spirituality in young children. This is very different from most Sunday School programmes and actually gives the children the tools they need to think about spiritual truths and questions in a Christian way and become spiritually aware as they mature.

As children get older they are encouraged to participate more in Sunday worship and children particularly contribute to and enrich the traditional worship at St John’s as Altar Servers.

Preparation for the Sacraments of the church is a vital part of the spiritual development of children.
In accordance with the tradition of the church Baptism is administered to infants of Christian parents, but may be administered to children of any age (or adults) who have not been previously baptised, after appropriate preparation.

There is an opportunity for children who have been baptised and who are attending regularly with their families to be prepared for the admission to Holy Communion. Children who have been admitted to Holy Communion are eligible in due course to be prepared for Confirmation. This is the normal sequence of admission to the sacraments for children and young people at St John’s.

Children, young people and families are a vital part of our St John’s parish family and its ministry.

.......................Activity Packs are always available for children to use in the church
...............................(including drawing, colouring, puzzles, stories and gifts)