Christian Formation for Children
Child Care
The nursery staff, supervised by Linda Becker, includes two paid workers and several
volunteers. At least two people are caring for the infants and toddlers each Sunday. Additional
volunteers are being recruited.
At least 16 HNC members attended Creating Safe Churches Training to be certified or recertified to
work with youth. One of those members also attended the “adult” training session. The church records of
who has completed training have been updated and continue to be updated as members receive training.
The nursery has doors into the sanctuary and narthex, allowing parents to come and go during the service. A one-way mirror allows parents to observe their children from the narthex. The nursery is equipped with a changing station, sink, first-aid kit, telephone, toys, games, and loving care givers.
One adult and one teen volunteer take care of the children in the nursery while their parents worship.
Children's Chapel
Though welcome at the adult service, children are invited to join three adult leaders for Children's Chapel in the narthex of the new chapel. The children leave the 9:00 Eucharist during the praise hymn, and rejoin the service at the Peace. In this way the children experience an age-appropriate Ministry of the Word, then complete our community of faith when we receive Holy Communion as one family in Christ.
Jean Hancock leading the Children's Chapel
Please note: Sunday School for children and adults are held during the school year, giving our devoted teachers a chance to rest during the summer.
Sunday School for Children
We use the Episcopal Children's Curriculum (ECC) and Godly Play. Classes are divided by grades: pre-school and kindergarten, mixed ages, and grades 3-5. Both curricula are biblically-based, honor Church traditions, and provoke thought. The overall goal is to help our young people develop a closer relationship with God. We would much rather have our young people get to know God, than merely to know about God.
Our younger children (pre-school through 2nd grade) use Godly Play
TM which is a method of Christian education and spiritual direction for children. The goal of Godly Play
TM is to teach children the art of using religious language - parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action - to help them become more fully aware of the mystery of God's presence in their lives. Godly Play
TM was developed and classroom tested for more than twenty years by author and teacher Jerome Berryman, Episcopal priest.
Children's Choir
The children's choir sang before the 2007 Christmas Pageant.
The Children's Choir rehearses once a week and sings once a month at the 9:00 a.m. service. Choir leader Terry Lensenmayer says, "our choir welcomes children between the ages of 6 and 12. We meet on Wednesday afternoons, from 4:30-5:30. Come sing!"
Vacation Bible School
The joint Episcopal Vacation Bible School for Hickory Neck, St. Martin’s, and Bruton Parish was held at St. Martin’s the week of August 6-10, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Approximately 75 children, ages 3-years-old through rising 5th graders, attended and over 60 youth and adults helped. Six adults, 6 youth, and 23 children participated from the HNC family and extended family.
The Western theme Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride through God’s Word was enjoyed by everyone. The
daily lessons included: God is real, God with us, God is strong, God is awesome, and God is in charge. Bible stories include: Rahab protects the Israelite spies (Joshua 2); Israelites cross the Jordan River(Joshua 3-4); Jericho’s walls fall (Joshua 6); Jesus dies and rises again (Mark 15-16); and God healsNaaman (2 Kings 5).
See the photos.
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