Faith Formation - Children

"Nothing you do for children is ever wasted."
Garrison Keillor

What is faith (spiritual) formation and how does it relate to children? Everyone has a spirit regardless of age - it is the hidden dimension to every person’s life and is the very core of each human being. During the course of one’s life, the spirit is continually being formed by many different things: upbringing, friends, school, after school activities activities, TV, church activities, reading the Bible, etc. At SMM we hope to provide faith (spiritual) formation opportunities for children that will help form their spirit in a way that is good, that is strong, that is life giving....that is the image of Christ.
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To parents of young children during the worship service, may we suggest......

• Relax! God put the wiggle in children - don't feel you must suppress it here.
• Sit toward the front - children will be more attentive when they can see what’s going on.
• Explain the parts of the service; help your child find the printed parts of the service and the hymns
• Sing, pray and respond; your child will learn by copying you.
• If your child needs to leave, do so, but please come back.
• If all else fails, parents may choose to walk infants in the hall at the back of the Church or to use the nursery provided.
   

And to all our members, please smile and be supportive of our young children and their parents - they are our future.
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At St. Mary Magdalene we hold a strong belief that children are a vital part of our community in celebrating and sharing God's love. We believe that children develop their own sense of who God is at a very early age. It is our responsibility as adults to help foster and support this growing belief. The key program in place to nurture them is Godly Play™, and it is designed for children in pre-school through elementary school.

Godly Play™ is a special time for children to worship and experience God in their own way. Worship centers are arranged so that the children can work with the stories, write, draw or to be with God. It is a time for children to: talk to God, listen to God and hear the stories of God.

Godly Play™ takes place during the Sunday 8:15 and 10 am worship services September through May. Children are dismissed from the service just before the Collect of the Day  to go to Godly Play™; they follow the Acolyte carrying the cross and are led by an adult to the Godly Play™ area.

The co-ministers of the Children's Ministry, along with the Clergy, provide ideas, direction and support as the St. Mary Magdalene's ministry to children continues to grow and evolve.