KIDS

At All Souls, we value the practices of living out life together as followers of Jesus with our children. One of the practical implications of this value, is that our kids join us for a significant portion of Sunday Worship. The rhythms of our Sunday Worship liturgy together, modeling ancient Christian practices,  loving our neighbors, the work of justice, all of these things are done alongside children.

Children hear and see, week after week, year after year, the rhythms of our liturgy and inhabiting the story of sacred time. They learn to pray alongside us and are invited to participate with us in the embodied movements of worship.  They have a place at the table. We know that children can be wiggly and noisy, we welcome them to come as they are! We offer hospitality to children by welcoming them fully to be with us.  It is good for us to be together. We hope that the children who are a part of our community will grow up to love the process of growing, being folded into the family of God and a love for imagination and curiosity— rather than the heavy burden of perfection and programs. 

During the summer:

• Nursery (children 2 years old and younger) — Children may be checked in and out at any time during the service. While in the Nursery, children are introduced to the love and acceptance of God and the body of Christ in the church, embodied by the care of loving adults.

• Primary Room (children 2 to 5 years old) — Children may be checked in and out at any time during the service. While in the Primary Room, children form and deepen friendships through play, and experience the love love and acceptance of God and the body of Christ in the church, embodied by the care of loving adults. There is also a brief Bible lesson, including a song, story, and prayer. Cheerios are provided for snack.

• Playground (children 5 to 12 years old) — During the summer months, we pause classes for our elementary school students, and make time for children to form and deepen friendships through play. Children are dismissed from the service to the playground following the Blessing Our Children prayer, and return to the service during the Passing of the Peace.

During the school year:

• Nursery (children 2 years old and younger) — Children may be checked in and out at any time during the service. While in the Nursery, children are introduced to the love and acceptance of God and the body of Christ in the church, embodied by the care of loving adults.

• Preschool Room (children 2 to 5 years old) — Children may be checked in and out at any time during the service. While in the Preschool Room, children form and deepen friendships through play, and experience the love love and acceptance of God and the body of Christ in the church, embodied by the care of loving adults. There is also a brief Bible lesson, including a song, story, and prayer. Cheerios are provided for snack.

• Younger Elementary (Kindergarten through 2nd Grade) — Children are dismissed from the service following the Blessing Our Children prayer, and return to the service during the Passing of the Peace. For our elementary school students, we seek to create a space where they can explore faith and spiritual practices while building relationships with their peers and teachers. During their time in the classroom, children will read and discuss stories from Scripture and participate in games and crafts. 

• Older Elementary (3rd through 5th Grade) — Children are dismissed before the scripture readings in our liturgy, and return to the Sanctuary during the Passing of the Peace. For our elementary school students, we seek to create a space where they can explore faith and spiritual practices while building relationships with their peers and teachers. During their time in the classroom, children will read and discuss stories from Scripture, learn about what the Bible is and how to read and use it and participate in games and crafts.