Children’s Church
Join St. Michael’s & St. Mary Magdalen’s Children’s Church
Please note: Children’s Church meets at St. Michael’s church.
St. Michael at the North Gate and St. Mary Magdalen churches usually run a joint Children’s Church which meets on Sundays from 10.30am to around 11.15am in the Parish Room at St. Michael’s church. Depending on numbers and leaders available, this is sometimes replaced by the option for families to stay in the service with their children, with activity bags provided, or to take some time out in the Parish Room with the resources available of Bible stories for children and colouring/craft materials.
The Children’s Church service is designed to be accessible for all pre-school and primary school age children. The environment is very relaxed and easy-going. We find our children enjoy it most when they are accompanied by a parent/carer who can share the experience with them. Babies enjoy the action too!
It is a simple service for children which includes prayers, songs, the readings of the day – explained and re-told in a child friendly way, and an activity based on these, run by parents and carers. Activities range across drawing, acting, sticking, cake making, biscuit decorating – chosen to make the message of the day engaging to children and adults alike. Bread and grapes are shared.
At around 11.10, Children’s Church says its blessing together and the families can join either St. Michael’s or St. Mary Magdalen churches for the remaining sections of their services.
Enter via St Michael’s Church or via the St Michael’s Courtyard (press the bell) – the latter option works well especially once the service has started in the main church. Buggies can be brought through to the Parish Room. There is a toilet and baby changing facilities next to the Parish Room.
Special Services
Traditionally we have special services for the major festivals, for example at Christmas we have the St. Michael’s Donkey Service and the Mary Mags Crib Service. On Maundy Thursday we normally bake unleavened bread and tell the story of the Last Supper with feet-washing and flower arranging. On Easter Sunday we usually create an Easter garden with flowers and plants brought by the families from their gardens.
We look forward to welcoming you
The St Mary Magdalen School of Theology have recently produced a book on Catechesis: an invitation to living faith. The final chapter, on catechesis of children, is by a parent of children who attend the St Mary Magdalen/St Michael at the North Gate joint children’s church. It describes how we aim to invite children to participate in this living faith in a way that is both accessible and respectful, acknowledging that both young and old are children of God.
You can find this book here: Catechesis, an invitation to living faith
Contact:
If you have any queries about Children’s Church, please contact our Office: church.administrator@smng.org.uk