Overview of Sunday School
“Then Jesus took a small child. Jesus stood the child before the followers. Jesus held the child in his arms and said, “If a person accepts children like these in my name, then that person is also accepting me. And if a person accepts me, then that person is also accepting the God that sent me.”
How we treat those from whom we can receive no status determines our heart. In Jesus’ day, children were not held to be overly important in the social pecking order. In many ways, that is still true today — notice how day-care workers and teachers are still among the lowest paid professional workers in many modern countries. So Jesus reminds his followers that the way they welcome, treat, and value children reveals a great deal about their hearts. What does it say about our own?
St. Andrew’s is pleased to offer a Sunday morning program for young children.
- at the present time we are building a program for our littlest friends, our toddlers, so that they can have their own group. This group will meet in room 201 if their family chooses to have their child(ren) join the Sunday School group.
- We have a program for children aged 3 – 10 as well. We meet in room 206 for a time following Family Time in church until the end of the service. We use the Children & Worship curriculum for this group.
We also have a Family space in the sanctuary where families can gather, if they choose. In this space there is a rocking chair for parents and babies to use, quiet toys, and space to move. St. Andrew’s is delighted to welcome families and young children to our service. We recognize that children like to make noise and move which is why this space is located near the entrance to the sanctuary. This space provides easy access to washrooms and to the Sunday School classes if your child(ren) needs any help downstairs.
About 10 – 15 minutes into the service we have a Family Time when children and young at heart people are invited to come and enjoy a story or participate in a small activity. After Family time families can choose to stay in church or have their children participate in Sunday School.
About the Children & Worship curriculum (taken from Presbyterian Church in Canada website):
Children & Worship is a program designed to immerse young children in the wonder of worship in an age-appropriate way. Influenced by the philosophy of Maria Montessori, the Children & Worship approach uses storytelling, multi-sensory materials, wondering questions, and creative response time to help children meet and learn about God.
Children & Worship follows the fourfold order of worship used in most Presbyterian churches:
- Gathering of God’s people: children are welcomed into the worship space by a greeter and a storyteller, who invite them to sit in a circle and quiet themselves in preparation for the story.
- Proclamation of the Word: children are encouraged to explore biblical stories through the use of textured materials, figurines, sand, candles and well-crafted storytelling. After storytelling, time is spent wondering about the feelings and experiences of the characters in the story.
- Response to the Word: storytellers create space for children to respond to the Word through art, storytelling, dancing and prayer.
- Sending of God’s people into the world: Each time of gathering ends with rituals to change the light and send the children into the world with a special blessing.
We have a YouTube channel as well. Here you will find recordings of bible stories; special, seasonal videos and videos of our bible readings. Click here to go to our YouTube channel.
All of our leaders & assistants have been screened through our Leading With Care policy.
