CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Each Sunday at 10:30 am year round

Church School for Children

We at St. Andrew’s-Wesley are excited about our young and thriving Church School. Under the leadership of Jen Cunnings, our Minister with Children and Families, and volunteers, the children are engaging in Godly Play©. We have two classrooms, one for children grade 3 and under in the “Upper Room” and one for children, grade 4 and up in “Marnie’s Room.” Children gather for worship with their families and the rest of the church family at 10:30am (10:20am for the hymn sing). Each Sunday morning a child lights the candle marking the beginning of our worship together. Children and families are invited to the front soon after the service begins. This time in the service is spent with Rev. Gary Paterson and is exciting for the children as well as the adults. Following the time with Gary, the children leave for church school. Once each child is welcomed to their classroom, the candle is lit, a song is sung and we hear the story. After a time of exploring the story with wondering, the children choose the way they want to respond and then spend some time responding to what they feel is most important to them in the story, using art materials, building materials, or working with the Godly Play story materials. After the response time, Children are invited to clean up their space and join us back in the circle for the prayer of thanksgiving and the feast. After sharing in the feast, we sing, offer a blessing, and say goodbye. During Church School, Parents are welcome to stay with their children but they are also welcome to return to worship.

We also have a Nursery at St. Andrew’s Wesley, “the Ark,” located by walking through the south door by the pulpit. Our wonderful Nursery Caregiver, Lauren Cryder, looks forward to welcoming children 2 and under and their parents to this cheery place with toys, books, an incredible mural and access to a washroom.

If you have any questions, please contact Jen Cunnings, our Minister with Children #604-683-4574 (local 226) or jen.staw@telus.net

Godly Play

On Sunday, September 14, St. Andrew’s-Wesley’s church school was introduced to “Godly Play.” Godly Play is a Montessori based approach to spiritual formation and religious education. It was developed by Dr. Jerome Berryman, an Episcopal church educator. Inspired by Maria Montessori and Sofia Cavaletti, Jerome Berryman founded and developed Godly Play that is now used in churches all over the world.

In a Godly Play worship centre, containing beautifully crafted story materials, young children and their teachers play with the sacred stories, the parables, and the stories of the liturgy and traditions of the church. Their goal: learn to use the language of the Christian tradition to encounter God and find direction in their lives. Through Godly Play, the children gain an ability to use the parables, sacred stories, liturgical events to discover and speak of God. Playing with the Bible stories gives them the tools they need to create existential meaning.

Why do we call this important work, “play?”

“Play is pleasurable, it is spontaneous and voluntary, play involves deep and active engagement on the part of the players and play is related to things that are not play – like creativity, problem solving, language learning, development of social roles. . . . In Godly Play, we are invited to play with “the language of God and God’s people . . . Through this powerful language, through our wondering, through the community of players gathered together, we hear the deepest invitation of all: an invitation to come and play with God.” Dr. Jerome Berryman, Guide to Godly Play, Volume 1

We are excited to introduce Godly Play to the children and the rest of our church family. Below we have an outline of the stories we will be focusing on in Godly Play in our church school. Our hope is that knowing the stories we will be focusing on, will help to continue the discussion begun in church school.... in the home. If you have any questions, please contact Jen at jen.staw@telus.net. · ·

June 20 the Story of Sarah
June 27 Holy Baptism
July 4 the Story of Jacob
July 11 the Story of Jacob
July 18 the Story of Joseph
July 25 the Story of Joseph
August 1 the Story of Moses
August 8 the Story of Moses
August 15 Sabbath!!
August 22 the Story of the Prophet Elijah

Did You Know??? < /H2>

we have special bulletins for children, available from our ushers with an activity page on the front and special descriptions inside - our hope is that the children will follow along in worship and feel included. ·
we have worship bags for children (simple books, crayons and colouring pages) on Sunday mornings. They can be found in the “narthex” (back of the church) or by the door nearest the baptismal font at the front of the church. ·
Jen is in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays. She has been hired to work 20 hours for the ministry with children and families. She looks forward to getting together with folks. Give her a call at the office 604-683-4574 (local 226) or via email at jen.staw@telus.net ·

Picnic Club for Children & their Families

Following worship children and their families are invited to join Jen and friends for a picnic in the salons for a time of sharing and fun with the purpose to build some community amongst our young families.

“Future Dates . . . Sunday, September 26, and in 2011 - January 30, March 27 and April 24

Come and join us!!!!

Children’s Choir

Darryl Nixon, our Minister of Music and Jen Cunnings, our Minister with Children and Families invite children to come, sing and have fun while developing a love and understanding of music! Practices happen following worship on Sundays from 12:30 to 1pm in “Marnie’s Room” (a room just outside the north west sanctuary door). For more information please contact Jen at jen.staw@telus.net

Free Parking

Parking under Wesley Place (entrance off the lane behind the church)is FREE from 9am to 2pm for those who are attending worship at St.Andrew's-Wesley on Sunday morning.