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.
Classic board games in the Mural Room and a movie in the “Great Hall Theater!” Join us for a fun night of play for Calvary families and friends.
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A time for creative, crafty fellowship as we learn about and make Advent wreaths. This time in the Great Hall is for all ages, and we’ll offer basic lessons from 9:15 - 10:15 and following the 10:30 service. Bring any extra greenery you might be able to clip, and we’ll provide the wreaths, candles, and other supplies.
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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 Cassandra Booker welcome children ages 0-5. The nursery is open from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.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, have COVID-like symptoms, or have been potentially exposed.
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.
Ages 3-2nd 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 a number of ways, such as setting the altar table, listening, responding to the story, singing, praying, collecting an offering, 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, which is held in the St. Francis Courtyard or the Great Hall. Children are escorted into the church at the time of the Peace to join their families for Communion.
In between our services we offer Sunday formation for all ages. Children ages 3 through 5th grade are invited to join us in the Children’s wing on the second floor. Our young people will be exploring their faith and scripture through Godly Play and Weaving God’s Promises – two curriculums based in storytelling designed to connect our young people deeper to their faith.
We are doing everything we can to keep our folks safe and healthy, and we ask you to help support us in this mission. Please keep children home when they are not feeling well, have COVID-like symptoms, or have been potentially exposed.
Children are welcome at all Calvary worship services. There also are some special options for children during worship.
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 have developed something for folks of all ages that might help. Praise packs 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 for our praise packs 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 praise pack station at the back wall of the nave on the right. All we ask is that you use them respectfully and empty and return them at the end of worship. Our hope is that these quiet praise packs will allow people of all ages to use to get their wiggles out and help them to 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.
Childcare for children ages 0-5 is available
EpiscoPALS is a fellowship group for our young people that meets to play games, work on arts and crafts, tell and live into stories, engage in acts of kindness and mission, and have fun together in a loving Christ-centered community. Led by formation guides.
Parents and children ages 0-5 meet at parishioner’s homes, playgrounds, and other fun places for little people once a quarter.
Calvary’s Pre-YC are students in grades 3, 4, and 5 that meet once a quarter. It’s 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.
Download Medical Release, Waiver Form, Media Release, And Parent Manual Guidelines
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.