Opportunities for Children

In Healy Hall, our fellowship hall, we have a children's corner with appropriate sized tables, chairs and bookcases. It is well stocked with books, games and stuffed animals large and small. 

Sunday School:  Our focus in Sunday school for children is on coming to know God's love and sharing that love with others.  We use a rotational curriculum called WorkshopCycles from Leader Resources in Sunday school which involves studying the same topic (for example, "The Miracles of Jesus") for about 4 to 6 weeks and approaching the topic from different directions.  For example, one week we may explore the miracles of Jesus through drama and the next week we will incorporate arts and crafts into our learning.  Using this approach provides an imaginative, exciting way that children can learn about God and uses multiple learning styles to appeal to many different children.  Some of the topics we hope to cover in the 2007-08 Sunday school year include:  When Jesus was a Kid; All About the Bible; The Miracles of Jesus; Twelve Who Changed the World and more!   

Also, each spring, the children of the church hold a Youth Sunday service during a regular 10:00 AM service which is entirely youth run.  This is a fun event in which all of the children participate in some way and is a favorite among the kids and parishioners alike!  Sunday school is held from the second Sunday in September until the Sunday before Memorial Day and is open to children from Preschool through Grade 5.        

We offer nursery as well for children from birth to age 3.   

Alleluia Amen, A Communion Conversation With Children: This program offers a time for parents and children at least in second grade, to engage and reflect upon holy baptism and communion.  There are there gatherings at which different topics are explored.  At one a tour of the church is given where the children can learn more about our worship and ask questions.  The children bake communion bread for our celebration Sunday. At that worship those who have participated join our priest around the Altar-table as the Eucharistic Prayer is offered.  This can serve as a first communion class or a class for those children already receiving communion.     

Vacation Bible School (VBS):
We offer some form of gathering and Bible school during the summer.  In August of 2006, we had an evening of Bible school for the entire family along with a picnic and registration for Fall Sunday school.  This was a great way to kick off our Sunday school year!  

P.R.A.Y.
Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) is a not-for-profit organization whose national board of directors includes representatives from Protestant and Independent Christian Churches and the national youth agencies.  It offers Boy and Girl Scouts Awards but is not limited to children in scouting. 

God and Me (Grades 1-3)
Children will become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of “God and Me” together. Children will make a game in each lesson and keep their games in a GAMEBOX (God And Me Exploring BOX). These games will reinforce the Bible lessons and provide opportunities for families to explore God’s love together. 

God and Family (Grades 4-5)
The God and Family program will help children understand the importance of family and God’s role in a healthy family.  Children will compare families and “pizza,” and they will make a pizza as they study how families can grow  together in God’s love. 

God and Church (Grades 6-8)
The God and Church program will be a journey to meet Jesus, worship God, and witness and minister for Christ. Participants will create a video or a photo album to share their faith journeys with others. 

Worship Ministry opportunities for children
We encourage our children, when they are ready, to become acolytes, servers and readers for worship.  We are not about perfection or precision in their (or our) ministry offering rather we see it as experiencing more fully the whole body of Christ through their participation and leadership. 

Outreach Ministry opportunities for children
We provide a variety of outreach events that the children select and plan (with some help from adults and teens).  Past events included Heifer Project where the children raised over $2000.  Each Sunday during the Heifer campaign, Noah visited church with a warning of the pending flood and a need to save the animals.  Each October, the children hold a bake sale at Brightonwoods Orchard with proceeds going to an outreach program of the children's choosing, such as Love, Inc. or the Transitional Living Center in Burlington. Our children also sponsored a sock & mitten drive and donated over 125 articles to Love, Inc. this past January.   

Our children and youth also support our ministry with Love, Inc. when they take responsibility for serving at one of our monthly meals at Love, Inc.  In addition, we encourage families to serve together at Love, Inc. throughout the year. 

Camp Webb our diocesan camp has shut down.  To learn more about that decision you can go to their website, Camp Webb  

Diocese of Chicago camp.  That does not mean there is no longer an opportunity for an Episcopal Church Camp.  The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago offers an extensive camp about 1 hour from Burlington.  For further information go to the Diocese of Chicago camp page.  There is some scholarship money available based upon need.