St. Paul’s welcomes children of all ages (newborn to 115) to worship together during services. 

Even though the Episcopal tradition of worship is tuned for adult sensibilities, “all are welcome to the table”.  It’s scriptural and expected of all the Baptized to receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. As you enter the back of the church you will find children’s clipboards with crayons and paper as well as soft stuffed animals for kids to use during the service. Help yourself!

On this page:Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Worshipping With your Child in Church, Childcare for Infants and Toddlers, and Safeguarding God’s Children

Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Most Sundays at the 10am service, we expand our altar with Children’s Liturgy of the Word.  Designed to engage children ages 3 up to 8 years it presents the Episcopal traditions of worship in an age-appropriate manner through movement, voice, music and art.  Everyone begins worship together in church and then parents are encouraged to join their children as we process with the crucifer during the “Gloria” from the larger church to the children’s worship. We rejoin the larger community before passing the peace and all take Holy Eucharist together.

“Mentors” -- trained adults and teens -- are always present to guide, assist and create a safe space for this worship experience for children.

In Church
Worshipping with your child in church:

Since our worship tradition is more for the contemplative adult how can we have our members who are not at that stage experience worship as more than an hour of agony as their parents “shush” them and cringe at their behavior?

We have to remember that worship really isn’t like anything else we do all week, and even though we’re all sitting in pews facing forward, worship is not like going to a movie or concert. 

We worship to encounter God, so our goal for our children is not their silence, but their engagement.

For those of us who are contemplative adults, for those of us accustomed to the power of worship, we must remember children, like any newcomer need welcoming guidance to this unique experience.

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Here’s a few tips for being a “worship guide”:

1. Children are spiritual beings, their spirits need food to function and grow, just as their bodies do. But, worshipping in a formal faith tradition and in community is something to be learned just like sitting at the table for a family meal.

2. For children 3 and up, remind them we’re all here to listen for God.  So, that is why people are quiet and don’t really talk to each other.  Each person, including your child is here to encounter God. We’re quiet because we are listening with our hearts. Children younger than 3, talk to God with their spontaneous noises, which are welcome here!

3. Think of yourself as a spiritual teacher and model, help them understand what is happening in the service, whispering in their ears the meaning of the action. (If your not sure, ask a clergy person after the service!)

Make sure they can see the action! So sit up front or on the sides so their view is not obstructed. For children under three, feel free to move about during the service so they can see the sights of candle light, colors, singing, actions.

1. Children are “multi-taskers”. Drawing and writing with the clipboards or playing with stuffed animals provided while worship is happening doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged in worship.

2. Finally, talk about the service afterwards, what did you feel, did you hear God? What was your favorite part, what was difficult? What will you look for next week? What can we do at home to prepare for next time?

Childcare for Infants and Toddlers
Childcare is provided for infants and toddlers in the Nursery School during the 10am worship service, from 9:45am until 11:30am. Parents join our childcare providers on a rotating basis to ensure ample supervision.

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Safeguarding God’s Children
In 2004 the House of Bishops in the National Episcopal Church passed a resolution to provide for the active, nurturing, and safe participation of children in our communities. (Read the Resolutions: Pastoral Letter  Protection of Youth and Children). (If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free.  Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

The resolution called on each diocese to develop and adopt policies for the protection and children and youth.

Here at St. Paul’s we have actively embraced this resolution and have in place our St. Paul’s Policy For the Protection of Children & Youth, which has been tailored to our community based on the national church’s model policy.

Our goal is to provide a safe community for all people to live and worship together. The St. Paul’s policy ensures that all people – clergy, staff and lay – who regularly work with our children an d youth have appropriate guidelines, training and parameters for participating with children and youth.

More than 70 adults in our church have been trained.

Read General Conduct for the Protection of Children & Youth Here

Read Guidelines for Appropriate Affection Here

Read the Entire Policy Here

(If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free.  Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

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