Children's Ministry
At St. Paul’s, our Children’s Ministries serve parish children from infancy through fifth grade by providing a safe, loving environment to nurture their spiritual growth and their knowledge and understanding of our faith.
Child Care
For newborns through four-year-olds, St. Paul’s offers child care during services on Sundays and during special services and programs throughout the year. Our goal is to create a safe and secure environment for little ones so that they love their experience of church from the very beginning. Ministry to this age group is foundational in building a child’s trust in a loving God.
Children’s Chapel
Age 3 ½ years through Third Grade
Children’s Chapel offers a worshipful experience in language children understand. Children participate in prayers, hear the Bible Story and hear a children’s sermon. They do prayers and learn a child’s creed. Children leave during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday worship service and rejoin their parents during the peace. The service is at 10:00 a.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Christian Formation Classes
10:15 a.m. Sunday mornings, September through May
Children ages 3 ½ years through First Grade attend a Montessori –based class. They hear a story using props and then choose a station to respond and reflect on the story. Stations include imagination play, art, crafts, community service, puzzles, reading, and more. The class allows children to use discovery learning as they learn the art of religious language to encounter God and find meaning in their lives.
Children in second grade through fifth grade use a lectionary-based curriculum where they explore the readings heard in church each Sunday and explore their meaning. The curriculum uses drama, art, games, discussion, puzzles, and other activities to develop and grow a relationship with God, their family, their community, and our world.
Other Programing
Christian Formation does not stop on Sunday mornings. At St. Paul’s we want to help children and families on their spiritual journey.
5th Grade Youth Group: Daring Disciples
Peers are becoming ever important during this developmental years. The Daring Disciples meet twice a month to grow the deep excitement and connection this group has to each other, their church family and God. Once a month, we explore issues facing this age group and then, once a month we are involved with community service.
We believe, it is important for young people to understand they can make a difference in the world and that no one is too young or too small to do something meaningful and make the world a better place. We meet September through May.
Children’s Events
We offer events designed for children of all ages to learn more about their faith, have fun, do crafts, explore their place in the world, do a community service activity, and more. Children will learn about friendship, Bible stories, and more.
Events include La Posada, St. Nicholas Festival, Christmas Pageant, Bethlehem Village, Wednesdays in Lent, A Child’s Walk through Holy Week and more.
Family and Intergenerational Events
These events give families a chance to learn and grow together in events that are designed for all to learn, grow closer to each other, and have fun. Adults without children (or children at home) are invited to enrich our children and family with their presence, learning, knowledge and friendship.
Events include Fall Festival, Pentecost Party, cook-outs, potlucks, Advent events, Rise Against Hunger food packaging events and more.
Music Ministry
St. Paul’s has a rich tradition of music. Children as young as three years can explore the gift of music in Musikgarten classes. Novice Choir program lets children beginning in first grade develop and sing in our choirs.
Choristers become full choir members as they grow in skill and knowledge. Music is also incorporated into our chapel programs.
Children Helping Children
Each month children with the help of their families, take on a leadership role in outreach ministries to help other children and their families. From collecting items to make Birthday bags for children who rely on a food pantry, collecting canned goods, collecting items for children’s camps, etc.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will be offered Monday, July 31 through Friday, August 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This year’s theme is, “Stellar: Shine Jesus' Light.” Registration is open to all children from three years old through rising sixth-graders. The space travel adventure will encourage voyagers to explore where God’s power can take them.
Along the way, children will discover new possibilities as they reach for the stars and encounter the limitless power and love of God! All are welcome to attend the closing program at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, August 4, in Colhoun A.
Learn more, including how to register, here >
St. Paul’s Preschool
Our preschool starts at 4 month olds and goes through Kindergarten Readiness. Starting at 2 years, children have a weekly chapel service with Deacon Lauren. Our school encourages children’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual development using a play-based curriculum.
Children’s Ministry Steering Committee
This committee meets every other month to plan the events under Children Ministries. We are always looking for those interested in serving on this committee. It is a three year commitment. We love to hear new ideas!
Guild of the Christ Child
Starting at pregnancy, our guild surrounds a family with prayer and love. Gifts, meals, cards, and more flow the first year of a child’s life including a big Baptism celebration.
Volunteering
Sharing your heart and hands with the children and their families is a rewarding and God-filled experience. We are always looking for people to help feed God’s children.
Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
Sundays 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services and formation, 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. from September to May, and 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. during the 10:00 service from May to September.
Rooms 107 and 114 off the first floor Preschool hallway
This area is accessible through the Goodheart Entrance at the rear of the church.
Children’s Chapel for children 3+
During the 9:00 a.m. service from the Sunday after Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend and the 10:00 a.m. service from Memorial Day weekend through Labor.
Children sit with their families in the nave at the start of the service and are led in a group to the chapel shortly after the service begins. They return to sit with their families during the Peace.
Nursery
There is a small nursery with a changing table, rocking chairs, crib and toys accessible from the nave through the doors next to the baptismal font. Parents of young children are free to use it as needed during services.
Formation classes meet on Sundays from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
• 3 and 4 year-olds meet in Room 232, second floor Preschool hallway
• 5 year-olds and kindergarteners meet in Room 236, second floor Preschool hallway
• First graders meet in Room 233, second floor Preschool hallway
• Second and third graders meet in Room 235, Second Floor Preschool Hallway
• Fourth and Fifth Graders meet in the second floor conference room
• Sixth and Seventh Graders meet in the parlor off the hallway between the chapel and the Colhoun Room
• Eighth Graders and High School Students meet in the Youth Room 126A, off the Goodheart Entrance
• Fellowship for 7th through 12th graders, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room
• Daring Disciples for fourth and fifth graders meets regularly in Room 124.
Contact the Rev. Lauren A. Villemuer-Drenth, Director of Children’s Ministries for the meeting schedule.
Visit the EYC page on the Youth Ministries web site.