On Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. (during the school year), children in Pre-School (ages 3 and 4) through the fifth grade participate in Godly Play, a Montessori-based approach to Christian formation. Godly Play classes focus on our sacred stories in the Bible, the sacraments of the Episcopal Church, and the traditions of the Christian year.

Children's Liturgies

Children ages Pre-K through 5^th grade have their own Children’s Chapel Service on Sunday mornings during the Liturgy of the Word, the Gospel and the sermon.  During this time, the children gather together to hear their own lesson, based on the Gospel of the day.  They have their own bulletin, and they also sing and pray during this time.  They rejoin the parish family in the church during the Peace.  In addition, Spirit Bags are provided to children in the church to help them appreciate worship at their level.  The bags contain such items as coloring sheets related to the church season, puzzles related to the day’s gospel reading and crayons.   

During special seasons and saints day we include our children in special services just for them -- .

• Children’s Lenten Program - Wednesday evenings between Ash Wednesday and Holy Week. For children ages Pre-K through fifth grade. The Lenten program begins at 5:30 pm with chapel service and dinner. After, children enjoy their own program pertaining to Lent. Nursery care for infants and toddlers is provided.
• Children’s Way of the Cross – This service is held on Good Friday at 4:00 pm at the church. The children walk the Way of Cross with our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Vacation Bible School – VBS is August 4 - 8 from 9:30 to 12:00.  The children will enjoy a Habitat for Humanity program this year.
• St. Francis Day – This is a family event in the Columbarium where children take part in a service to bless their animals.
• Fall Mid-week Formation – On a series of Wednesday evenings in the fall, children attend a brief chapel service and dinner with their families.  A children’s program, which varies from year to year, is offered after dinner.
• St. Nicholas of Myra - This event begins in the church with the story of St. Nicholas and is followed by festive activities in Magill Hall. 
• Christmas Eve Pageant - Children in grades 1 and up are invited to take part in the Christmas Eve pageant at 4:00 pm on December 24.

Music

Our choirs for young people are part of the Royal School of Church Music program. Children begin by participating in a Training Choir, where they learn to sing as well as to develop skills necessary to participate in worship services. When they are ready the children become full members of the Treble Choir. Children in the Treble and Training choirs usually sing in church twice a month.

Other Education

Educational opportunities are provided in connection with sacramental ministries such as Baptismal preparation which is available several times per year.

We provide care for infants and toddlers each Sunday from 9:15 a.m. through the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. liturgy. There is an infant room with cribs and a room for toddlers. Childcare is provided by Marybeth Hillmer, our nursery attendant.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the opportunities which are available at St. John's. If you do not see what you are looking for, ask one of the clergy or the office staff. We might have it, or be ready to offer it if we know there is a need.

The Young Child in the Pew

Adults sometimes wonder why we bring small children into the church. Having them there is rather like having them eat at the supper table even though their manners are not elegant. They wiggle, poke and swing their legs simply because they are children; they also sing, pray and give with us. We do not want our children to be disruptive or hamper the church's worship; but on the other hand, we must remember that baptized children are members of the Body of Christ--the Church--and children should be among the worshiping people. They must participate in their own way, for they cannot participate as adults. They are growing in understanding and learning to take their place in the church family. Human beings, both large and small, attain meaning only after they have experiences to interpret.

We, as adults, can accept and perhaps even value the children's restlessness during worship, but they are learning:

• that it is important to come to this place on Sunday;
• that the sights, sounds and feelings of the church are good, though they aren't always understandable;
• that something is expected of them in this place; and
• that they respond with song and prayer and offering