Children in Worship
Christ Church is blessed to offer many opportunities for children to enjoy and participate in worship
Children’s Sermon
Each week during our 10:30 worship service, all children are invited up to the chancel with Pastor Dave or Pastor Wendy to hear a special message that is just for them!
Activity Bags
For children who remain in worship, the Presbyterian Women have assembled bags filled with books, coloring pages, small toys, and activities. These bags can be found in baskets inside all of the entrances to the Sanctuary.
Communion
Children in the 3rd-5th grade Kid’s Church class remain in worship on communion Sundays. Children younger than 3rd grade can be picked up early from their class by a parent to return to service so that they can receive communion or to receive a special blessing from the Pastors.
Nursery
Our Nursery is located in the lower level and is caringly staffed by volunteers from 9am through the 10:30 service. Pagers are available so the parents can be contacted anywhere in the building if needed.
Kid's Church
Children age three through 5th grade are invited to join us for Kids’ Church in our lower level following the children’s message in the 10:30 service. Children in the 3yr-5yr class and the Kindergarten- 2nd grade class will hear stories, play games, sing songs, and make crafts that help teach and remind them of God’s love. Children in 3rd through 5th grade have a time of worship in the Chapel. There is time for sharing, a weekly message and for prayer. Following the worship time, they head to the lower level where we have fun activities such as crafts, bible trivia games, and singing songs.
On communion Sundays, children in the 3rd-5th grade class remain in worship so that they may hear the sermon and participate in communion if they wish. Families of children younger than 3rd grade that would like their child to participate in communion can pick up their children early from class, or have them remain in service.
Girl's Choir & BoyChoir
Dr. David J. Kienzle, director 
Children have the opportunity to involve the body, mind, spirit, and voice as they experience the vibrant life of the gathered faith community. At Christ Church we have found continued success with gender-specific choral training. Since singing is such a personal expression of one’s psyche, and since boys and girls learn differently and in diverse stages, our choir program for children blends the best of the ancient English Cathedral training methods with the modern education models of our blended society. On typical Wednesday evenings, the boys rehearse for an hour, joined then by the girls for a service of sung Evening Prayer (from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship), following which the girls have a 50-minute rehearsal. While this may require a conditioning process for newer choristers, our veteran youngsters find that we can achieve satisfying and rewarding results.
Boys and girls often sing together in worship (at the 10:30 service), approximately monthly, but sometimes as separate choirs as well. They wear traditional liturgical vestments and sit in the chancel in order to lead worship for the entire hour. Some anthems are sung from memory, and others with words or music in hand. Choristers also take turns as cantor for various liturgical responses and psalm settings.
Acolytes
Our Acolytes serve as volunteer worship leaders alongside the pastoral staff. These children and youth consist of grades three and up. Serving as Crucifers, Bible Bearers, Torch Bearers, and Flag Bearers, the Acolytes help everyone at church see something of the goodness and glory of God when they come to worship. Acolyte trainings occur three or four times a year.
