Calvary Episcopal Church Children and Family Ministry seeks to build meaningful spiritual formation opportunities through religious education, worship, service, events, and activities for Calvary parishioners. For more information about children and family ministries, contact Jocelyn Busby.
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Children are welcome at all Calvary worship services. Nursery care and Children’s Chapel are special options for children during worship.
Ages 0-5
Calvary maintains an excellent nursery facility staffed by trained, professional caregivers. Nursery Manager Robbie Phillips and Caregivers Cassandra and Dorrie Booker, and Kim Irby welcome children ages 0-5. The nursery is open from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. Nursery families will be asked to commit to supporting the health, wellness, and safety protocols and must agree to keep children home when they are not feeling well.
A loving atmosphere, personal attention, and age-appropriate toys and activities are all designed to make the nursery a safe, nurturing place for your child.
A child registration form should be on file for each child who attends the nursery. Child registration forms can be obtained by Miss Robbie and are kept in a secure location. Please remember to bring diapers/pull-ups and wipes with your child every time they attend the nursery. Please also bring a change of clothing with your child, even if your child is potty-trained.
JK-2nd Grade
Children’s Chapel is an opportunity for children to experience the “Liturgy of the Word” in an easy-to-understand story format. Children participate in various ways, such as setting the altar table, listening, responding to the story, singing, praying, and exchanging the sign of peace.
At the beginning of the 10:30 a.m. worship service, children follow the children’s cross out of the church to Children’s Chapel. At the time of the Peace, they are escorted back to the church to join their families for Communion.
In between our services, we offer Sunday formation for all ages. Children ages 5 through 5th grade are invited to join us in Grizzlies Prep Room 004. Our young people will explore their faith and scripture through Godly Play and Weaving God’s Promises, two Episcopal curricula based on storytelling and designed to connect our young people deeper to their faith.
Children are welcome at all Calvary worship services. There also are some special options for children during worship.
Coloring sheets depicting liturgical images and Bible stories are provided, along with baggies of crayons. These may be found near the entrance to the worship service.
Everyone gets the wiggles from time to time. And it can be hard to know what to do with that wiggle energy when it hits, especially when you’re in a space like church. We offer something for young people of all ages that might help. These activities are designed to allow people of all ages to channel that wiggle energy into something that will enhance their focus and deepen their worship experience. The fidget items we have available are quiet sensory activities and have been proven to improve concentration and attention by allowing the brain to filter out sensory overload. You can find our activity station at the back wall of the nave on the right. All we ask is that you use them respectfully, empty, and return them at the end of worship. Our hope is that these quiet activities will allow people of all ages to get their wiggles out and help them engage more with worship
When children become upset during church, parents may choose to help their children find peace in the church library on the second floor. Children’s books are available, and a speaker connected to the church audio system allows parents and children to continue listening to the service.
Nursery Care is available for children ages 0-5 between 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Join us in the Mural Room for food, fellowship, and fun!
Gathering is a new opportunity for children and adults to “sit and stay a while” after dinner for an hour of fellowship. Games, books, puzzles, and coloring materials will be provided. Mrs. Jocelyn and friends will supervise children ages five and up if parents wish to attend a formation class. Whether you’d like to play a game, chat with friends, read a book, or do your homework, this is the perfect place for you!
Children are invited to join Mrs. Jocelyn and friends in the Mural Room for breakfast on the third Sunday of each month from 8:45-9:15 a.m. They will be escorted to formation class afterward.
Parents, grandparents, and children are invited for a new family fellowship offering on select Saturdays! Come to enjoy some downtime with other adults while your children play. Let’s make new friends and grow in fellowship with old ones. Please contact Jocelyn Busby, director of children and family ministries, for more information by emailing jbusby@calvarymemphis.org.
Calvary’s Pre-YC is a group of students in grades 3, 4, and 5 who meet once a quarter. Its purpose is to prepare our “tweens” for youth group with fellowship activities and fun.
Calvary Episcopal Church’s mission is making God’s love visible in downtown Memphis. We encourage our children and youth to live into this mission as part of a safe and loving community. Contained within this manual, you will find information regarding the Children Ministry and the Youth Ministry’s guidelines, procedures, and code of conduct. The guidelines and procedures are in place to provide safety for all children and youth. Please take the time to read this manual and discuss it with your child. Expectations of parents/guardians, children, youth, and Calvary staff are outlined. Parents/guardians, children, youth, and Calvary staff are responsible for the information contained in this manual. Questions can be directed to the director of children and family ministries and/or the director of youth ministries, or a member of the clergy.
Parents/guardians should complete a Child Registration Form for each child at the beginning of the school year. The program director will distribute and maintain forms. If any information changes during the school year, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to inform the program director.