Children & Families

We welcome Children & Families to Our Ministry

St Stephen’s provides play-based formation and developmentally appropriate formation and Christian education for children of all ages. Every Sunday of the year we offer Nursery care during our 10am service for our youngest members. Sundays from September to June are our 10am service we also offer Sunday School for children in grades K through 5.

Our goal is to nurture faith through playful experiences of prayer and worship, scripture learning, fellowship, and outreach so that each child may grow with all of us “to know, to love and to serve Christ.”

Family and Children: a Team Effort.

Our rector, Rev Dr Stephen Hassett, works with our Preschool Director Tracie Nelson and assorted staff and volunteers to produce a program that meets the needs of our community, and preserves and passes on the teachings and traditions of the Church. See below for our regular offerings, and stay in touch to learn about periodic seasonal events.

Children are Welcome in Worship

Our elementary children join us each week for the celebration of the Eucharist, and infants often stay with their parents for the whole service. Please know that the worship experience of your children 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. The presence of the whole family of God together enriches all of our worship. We are very glad to have children with us.  Please know that we do not mind having babies in church, even crying ones.

Spirituality of Parenting

Raising children is one of the most rewarding — and challenging — occupations of human life. It also happens to be the perfect arena in which to reflect on and learn from Christian tradition: What does it mean to be made in the image of God, to be given to one another in loving commitment, and to practice patience, forgiveness, and joyful companionship in mutual self-discovery? Join us as we offer a new program for parents of all ages.

Nursery/Toddler Room

Our Toddler Ministry focuses on welcoming young ones (and their parents) into a warm and loving community of faith. We provide a safe and familiar environment for toddlers as they begin to explore their world and their relationships. Through early loving experiences young children begin to know a loving God. Nursery care for infants and toddlers is provided every Sunday year-round.

Sunday School

St Stephen’s offers Sunday School every Sunday (with some exceptions for holidays) between early September and mid-June.  Sunday School exposes children to stories from scripture, helps them grasp the basic traditions of the church, and grounds them in spiritual practices that are the roots of a lifelong connection to God through Jesus and the Church. Children are always welcome to join their parents in church, and we offer Sunday School classes for children grades Pre-K through 5. Contact us to learn more, or to register your child for Sunday School.

Christmas Pageant

St Stephen’s tells the story of the birth of Jesus by inviting children and adults to participate in a live-action telling of the story: songs, costumes, narration, speaking and non-speaking parts all combine to remind us of the astonishing thing that God did: came to be one of us. Contact us to find out about participation.

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