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.
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.
During COVID-19, this is a singing opportunity emphasizing vocal health and fellowship for children in Grade 3 and up, with unchanged voices. The Boys and Girls Choir meets safely distanced and sings masked for 30 minutes. For more information, contact Kristin Lensch, klensch@calvarymemphis.org
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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 her staff, Cassandra, Dori, and Margaret, welcome children ages 0-5. The nursery is open from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Sundays and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The nursery is located on the first floor in Calvary Place Childcare Center on Sunday mornings and in the first-floor Orgill Room on Wednesday evenings. 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 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 and up
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 a.m. worship service, children follow the children’s cross out of the church to Children’s Chapel, which is held in room 203 on the second-floor education wing. Children are escorted into the church at the time of the Peace to join their families for Communion. The liturgy is geared for children age three to seven. Parent participation is encouraged, especially during a child’s first time to attend Children’s Chapel.
Pre-K and Kindergarten
The Godly Play curriculum invites children to enter into our sacred stories through careful telling of the scripture stories, engaging story figures, and a variety of creative activities. Children are encouraged to wonder aloud about the Bible stories, themselves, God, and the world around them.
1st & 2nd Grades
Students continue with the Godly Play curriculum and build upon stories learned in Pre-K and Kindergarten, with focus on specific people, prophets, and the parables of Jesus.
3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades
Students continue with the second year of a three-year cycle in the curriculum, Weaving God’s Promises. The goal of this class is to teach children the way of Christ within the church and the world, to give them a solid preparation for entry into the youth program, and foster spiritual formation and growth.
Children are welcome at all Calvary worship services. There also are some special options for children during worship.
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 a.m. worship service, children follow the children’s cross out of the church to Children’s Chapel, which is held in room 203 on the second-floor education wing. Children are escorted into the church at the time of the Peace to join their families for Communion. Children age three and up are welcome to Children’s Chapel. The liturgy is geared for children age three to seven. Parent participation is encouraged, especially during a child’s first time to attend Children’s Chapel.
Worship Folders are available at both entrances to the church. They contain bulletins based on the day’s scripture that help children encounter and understand the scripture for the day. The activities are designed to be both entertaining and meaningful as they help facilitate each child’s participation in worship. Also, look for the “Episcodoodles” notepads located in the pews.
Calvary maintains an excellent nursery facility staffed by trained, professional caregivers. Nursery Manager Robbie Phillips and her staff, Cassandra, Dori, and Margaret, welcome children ages 0 – 5 each Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The nursery is located on the first floor in Calvary Place Childcare Center on Sunday mornings.
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 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.
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.
For additional information about children in worship, contact Hilary Chipley, director of children and family ministries.
Childcare for children ages 0-5 is available in the Orgill Room.
EpiscoPALS is a fellowship group for that meets to play games, work on arts and crafts, read and act out stories, and have fun together in a Christ-centered environment. Led by Hilary Chipley, Eric Milner, and Emily Smith.
Parents and children ages 0-5 meet at parishioner’s homes, playgrounds, and other fun places for little people once a quarter. If you would like to host a POLO play date or pot-luck, please contact Hilary Chipley.
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 with Hilary and Calvary’s Director of Youth, Gabbie Munn.
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.
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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.