Family Ministry
Here at Christ Church, we believe that children and families are integral to the vibrancy and future of our parish. As such, we’re committed to not only welcoming families to our community but also supporting them in their journeys through our family and children’s programming. Christ Church offers a range of programs that help our families integrate and engage in parish life, from a rich children’s ministry to numerous outreach programs that meet the different needs of our community.
In our parish, we care passionately about introducing children to the love of God in Jesus Christ, and so we extend a warm welcome to any families interested in exploring our growing children’s ministry. We currently have a group of children ranging from kindergarten to grade 6 being served, with our youngest members (0-3) being administered to by our volunteer nursery staff.
Sunday Services with Children and Babies
Every Sunday during the 10 a.m. service, Children’s Ministry provides engaging programming that gives kids from kindergarten to grade 6 the opportunity to know, love and follow Jesus, while having fun and making friends. Children are invited to attend either Sunday School or the nursery after the Children’s Talk has concluded. The Sunday School gathers in the large classroom downstairs for a Bible story, games, a craft, prayers and play. After that, the kids will return to service – just in time to join their families for communion.
Babies and children are always welcome to stay with their guardians during service, and guardians are encouraged to join us in Sunday School to see what it’s all about.
Children’s Talk
Each Sunday our littlest members gather at the chancel steps with Rev. Sue for a story, game, song, or science experiment! Through halos, fish, balloons and even a visit from a moose, we endeavour to welcome children into our midst and share God’s love and learning with them each week.
Nursery
The wonderful Christ Church volunteers look after our infants and toddlers each Sunday morning so that moms and dads can ‘sit in peace for five minutes’! The nursery is a hive of activity as children play, sing and read books together. Please see the attached forms for registration and volunteering opportunities.
Sunday School
For many of us, our earliest church memories are of Sunday school – making new friends and learning about Jesus. Christ Church offers a nurturing Sunday school program for ages 3 to 12 with caring teachers and engaging interactive lessons. These amazing volunteers support our ministry and share the Christian faith through their teaching of our school-aged children. This year we’re using the Holy Moly curriculum, and our current classes are loving the crafts and stories that accompany each lesson.
Throughout the year Christ Church’s Sunday School features special events like an Advent Garden, Good Friday service, and Easter celebration. During the summer months, we continue the work of this ministry through special programming, such as the widely enjoyed Veggie Tales!
Please be assured that all of our teachers are volunteers who have met the security requirements of the Diocese including police and child welfare clearances.
Please see the attached forms for registration.
Messy Church
Started in the U.K., Messy Church is an international movement that creates church communities that are, well, messy! This can mean in the physical sense – as we get messy with paint, glue and other creative materials. But it also connects to our emotional messiness, allowing us to access our feelings and reveal our vulnerabilities to the people around us.
Messy Church can consist of many different sorts of activities, including art, games or even drama. Many of the activities are engaging ways for caregivers and children to interact while having lots of fun! But Messy Church isn’t just games, it’s also a time to worship God, to hear his voice, and to grow together as a community.
What we at Christ Church love about Messy Church (or Sunday church) is that you never have to be perfect! Our hair can be uncombed. We can make noise. We can show up in our pajamas. We can be sad, or anxious or lonely. Or, we can take the time to rejoice in God, exploring our miraculous creativity through Play-Doh, paint, and the expression of our feelings.
Ultimately, what’s amazing about Messy Church is that it offers a church experience for families outside of Sunday morning. The informal atmosphere makes it ideal for non-church families to come see what we’re about, while also appealing to our current parish members. It is our hope at Christ Church that Messy Church will nourish the faith of your family, and that the experience of worshipping and walking alongside each other will be a truly special one.