Christian Formation for Children

Child Care

The nursery staff, supervised by Linda Becker, includes one paid workers and several volunteers. At least two people are caring for the infants and toddlers each Sunday during the 9:00 a.m. service, Sunday school, and the 11:15 a.m. service.

A number of HNC members have attended Creating Safe Churches Training to be certified or recertified to work with youth. Some members have also attended the “adult” training session. The church records of who has completed training continues to be updated as members receive training.

The nursery has doors into the sanctuary and the 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.

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Children's Chapel

Though welcome at the adult service, children ages 3 through second grade are invited to join two adult leaders for Children's Chapel in the narthex of the new chapel. The children leave the 9:00 Eucharist during the Sequence 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.

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Sunday School for Children

Classes will begin on Sunday, September 12, 2010. The Christian Formation committee and the Sunday School teachers are looking forward to a great year. Attendance was on the rise this past year, and more growth is anticipated. Children, ages 3 through 2nd grade will use the Godly Play^TM curriculum. Third, fourth, and fifth graders will use the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum. Music will be a bigger part of all the classes, as Terri Lensenmayer leads the classes in song this year. May we all hear "a joyful noise unto the Lord" from the second floor of the Wilkinson Center on Sunday mornings.

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.

The goal of Godly Play^TM is to teach younger 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.

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Vacation Bible School

HNC hosts VBS every third year, alternating with Bruton Parish and St. Martin's. Bruton Parish is hosting in 2011.

Vacation Bible School is the week of August 1-5, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Taste and See, God is Good VBS will help children look at food differently, through the eyes of faith. As they participate in fun worship and activities and hear stories of manna in the wilderness, a woman who shares her last bit of food, or Jesus offering himself as bread and wine, kids will learn about gratitude, generosity, and "spiritual food"—and how food is a constant reminder of God’s active presence in our midst. Contact Paula Simmons with questions. Please print and fill out registration form See photos from 2007 VBS.

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