Ministry to our children is one of our highest priorities at St. Andrew’s. Indeed, it is an indispensable ministry of our parish. Our overall mission, simply stated, is to lead children to know and love God, to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and to understand God’s Word as truth, and as their ultimate authority and guide in their daily lives. Through our Sunday School program, we also teach our children about the 1928 Prayer Book, about out liturgical year, and about our Episcopal/Anglican heritage and traditions. We also focus on love and concern for others through several important outreach projects through the year, and strive for good team work between church and home through volunteer opportunities and good communication. Children’s Sunday School is just one component of the Children’s Ministries Program.
Nursery
Very young children, age infant to 3, are in the care of the nursery staff, under the direction of Melissa Pelton. Toddlers have simple Sunday School lessons with arts and crafts, and there is always time allotted for play. The nursery is a safe and secure area, and all the members of the nursery staff are CPR-trained. The nursery is open on Sunday mornings, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., and at all other times when parish events have need of a nursery. During times when Children’s Sunday School is not in session, children through age 8 (and sometimes older) may use the nursery, through coordination with Melissa Pelton.
Preschool Bridge Program
From age 3 to 4, children enter the “Bridge Program,” where several members of the nursery staff assist the children in making a smooth transition to the preschool Sunday School program by helping to staff their class and introducing them to Children’s Chapel and the other components of the Sunday morning preschool program. This takes place from 9:00 to 11:05 a.m. on Sunday mornings during the September through May school year. In the summer months, the schedule is sometimes different..
Pre-K and K Sunday School
Pre-K and K children have Sunday School each week from 9:00 to 11:05 a.m. in the preschool area. They gather in their classrooms each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Their mornings includes weekly chapel services in the Children’s Chapel (each Sunday at 10:30 a.m.), and time for Bible stories, arts and crafts, music, and other things such as puppet presentations, skits, and the visit of special guests. Children’s Chapel is conducted by the clergy and by several of our dedicated laymen.
Grades 1-5 Sunday School
Grades 1-5 attend the first portion of the 9:00 a.m. service each Sunday, leaving (on most Sundays) during the sermon hymn to attend Sunday School, from 9:40 to 11:05 a.m.. The elementary grades’ program consists of a variety of different components: opening assembly time each week, presented by our clergy and lay leaders and teachers of our parish, followed by class time and a number of different enrichment activities, such as Bible Olympics, arts and crafts, music, skits, special presentations, outreach projects, and activities geared to the liturgical year. The program from preschool through 5th grade is under the direction of Judy Mayo.
Bible Olympics Memory Work Program
This program involves memory work and various written exercises and assignments, games, puzzles, and challenges from the Bible, Prayer Book, and Hymnal. The program is a popular and worthwhile complement to the overall Sunday School program. Participation is our main goal in this program, and the efforts of ALL children are recognized and applauded.
Vacation Bible School
Each summer St. Andrew’s highlights VBS in a big way! Offered for our parish children and the community at large, this week is a great outreach endeavor. Our VBS curriculum is home-designed and written, and the men and ladies of our parish build and paint a huge set in the parish hall, to go with our chosen theme each year. VBS emphasizes Scripture studies, games, skits, crafts and music, all in a lively and fun way, and all toward the goal of making young disciples for Jesus Christ.
Nativity Pageant, Festivals, Outreach Projects
Other highlights of the children’s program are the annual Nativity Pageant (a large undertaking of our children held in the church), the Fall Festival of Saints, the Mardi Gras-Shrove Tuesday Carnival/Festival, and various outreach endeavors such as children’s caroling, Operation Christmas Child, the Lenten mite box project, the Easter egg hunt and picnic, and missions projects here at home and in other countries. In all of these we emphasize the necessity of taking the Good News of Christ to others.
Children's Calendar of Upcoming Events