ABOUT ST. STEPHEN'S CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
 
Children's Sunday ~ October

SUNDAY MORNINGS
From early September through June 1st we have Sunday School for Preschool through fifth grade children. Our "family" service is held each Sunday at 10 AM. The children are in Sunday School from 10AM until about 10:45. They will come up and join their families for the Eucharist. We also have nursery care year round on Sunday for babies and children under 3. All children are welcome to attend our Sunday School and activities.

Please know that your children's worship experience is important to us. Children learn to worship by participating and we value their presence in church. We understand that they may not be quiet or sit still... but children will still be learning from watching their family pray.

Throughout the year, Nursery care is provided for children 3 years and younger from 9:45 am until the worship service is over. Also, we  have a 'Cry Room' for parents in our Brides Room at the right rear of the church has a restroom, comfortable seating, and a speaker connected to our sound system. Please know that we do not mind having babies in church, even crying ones, but this does provide one more option for parents.

ABOUT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School starts in September and it is always so nice to see so many children at church! This fall we have a wonderful program of lessons for children up through middle school.

Preschool This class is designed for our 3-year-olds and young 4-year-olds. We start in the fall with Old Testament stories about the people of God. We introduce a class prayer and enjoy music together.

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten and 1st/2nd Grade  We have two Godly Play classrooms set up to offer the Godly Play program. As we have been offering the program over the last few years we have been excited and encouraged about having this as our main curriculum for these classes. Godly Play is a method of Christian education and spiritual formation for children. In Godly Play we tell Bible stories to encourage them to enter into the stories and relate them to their personal experience. The storyteller uses handcrafted objects to focus the attention on central elements of the story. After the story the children are invited to “wonder” about the story and then are given a “response time” to work on creative projects.

3rd Grade  We will start the fall with their Bible Class. My Bible is a fun, energetic Bible survey class that will walk them thru the Bible.  We start on September 14^th and continue for 6 weeks.  The children received their own Bible in church on October 26^th.
 

4th & 5th Grades This class will be using a Lectionary based curriculum, Living the Good News.  The lessons each Sunday follow the readings in church and ‘help this age see their place in God’s wonderful and challenging world.’

Middle School and High School ~ please see the Youth page for details!

MILESTONES
In addition to our regular curriculum for our children we will be having each age level participate in a “milestone” and which will be celebrated in church.  The program will celebrate and highlight the children’s faith journey as they grow in age and knowledge.

1^st grade:  Our first graders will memorize the Lord’s Prayer and will be given a special copy of the prayer in church.

2^nd grade: Our second graders will learn about Holy Communion in a six week program in the spring.  They will then take part in our Celebration of Communion in early June. This class will take place in Sunday School except one additional day will be scheduled for the behind scenes visit in the church and sacristy with the clergy.

3^rd grade: Our third graders will learn about the Bible and will be presented with their own Bible in church.  This class will take place in early fall during Sunday School.

4^th and 5^th grades: Our fourth and fifth graders will support an outreach project during the year thru Club 45.

5th grades:  Our fifth graders will have an Acolyte training day in the Spring.  Fifth graders can also become lay readers at the 10 AM service.

6^th graders: Our sixth graders can start Acolyte ministry and become lay readers.

For our Jr. High and High School youth we have the Rite 13 Program, Confirmation Classes, and the Mission Trip.
See the Youth Page for more details.

Contact: Roxanne Rhoades 254-3770

ST. STEPHEN'S SONSHINE CAMP is our very popular vacation bible school day camp, and is scheduled for June each year.  Click to download PDF Registration form and health form.

It begins with Baptism

Church is a place to explore

To learn about our faith traditions

To celebrate & give thanks

To lead

To serve.