Children's Ministry
Susan Starnes, Director

"Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?"

"We will."         Holy Baptism, BCP page 303

Taking this vow given at every Baptism by the entire congregation very seriously, the leadership of our Parish has examined our Children's Christian Education program and developed the following time and format for our Children's programs:

Church School

Curriculum: To accomplish this mission, certified adult volunteers from St. Margaret's utilize the Cook Communications Ministries program which offers curriculum for age-specific classes focusing on Bible lessons and stories. Cook's Sunday school materials deliver engaging, Biblically rich experiences for children and youth. Each lesson begins with a teacher devotional to prepare the presenter to share God's word, and continues with the following four-step approach:

1. Motivating by linking the student's life experiences to the lesson, thereby creating interest in the topic.
2. Learning the facts by studying God's word.
3. Practicing what student's have learned through a variety of activities and/or crafts.
4. Encouraging students to apply what they learned to their everyday experiences.

Sunday School is designed to coincide with the 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II service in the Church. Children (ages 3-14) assemble from 10:00 a.m.-10:35 a.m. in their respective classrooms (beside the Parish Hall). Students will be escorted to the Church to join their families for Communion.

Classroom Organization/Location:


Children's Chapel is a special Sunday service for children from Pre-K through 5th grade that provides an opportunity for the children to worship and praise God in a fun way with crafts, stories, music, and prayer, while learning some of the traditions of our church services. Children will assemble in the Parish Hall a little before 10:00 am on the first Sunday of each month and will be escorted to the Church at 10:30 am for Communion with their families.

Note: Supervised activities will be provided from 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. for children of parents who wish to participate in adult classes or activities on Sunday.

5th Sundays: In months which have a 5th Sunday, St. Margaret's hosts a special family breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall, after which children attend the 10:00 service in the Church with their families (there will be no Sunday School or Children's Chapel).


We are honored that you have entrusted us with the care of your children while you participate in St. Margaret's adult education and church services. Please take a moment and review our procedures to make sure that your child's experience is the safest and most rewarding possible.

Sign In and Out

A sign-in/out sheet is located at the entrance to the nursery and the classrooms. Please take a moment to complete this important information.

Special Needs

Please note on the sign-in/out sheet any allergies, medical concerns, or  special needs and print the name of the person to contact in the event of an emergency.



Newcomers

If this is your child's first visit, please take time to complete a short information card with emergency contact information and any pertinent special needs. We welcome you and your family to St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. If you should have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.

ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS:

All teachers, school helpers, and volunteers who are assisting with our children now or planning to in the future here at St. Margaret's are required to take the "Safeguarding God's Children" class. This is a precaution to benefit our children and their safety. If you are planning to volunteer at Vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer, you are required to take this class. If you are planning on volunteering and have not taken the class, please contact the Church Office. Thank you for all your cooperation and willingness to continue blessing the children of St. Margaret's Church.