St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Sunday Morning Children’s Programs

St. Andrew’s is committed to help children discover their relationship with God and grow in faith, love, and knowledge of God. We have two Sunday morning formation (church school) programs for children at 9:15: Followers of Jesus for children 3 years old through 1^st grade; and Coolios for children in 2^nd-5^th grades. Children’s Chapel is offered during the 10:30 Liturgy of the Word.

Church school runs from mid-September until late May. All classes begin at 9:15 in the chancel for music with Ken Stancer, our music director. All classes close with a snack and end around 10:25 for children to attend the 10:30 worship service or Children’s Chapel.

Followers of Jesus is centered on proclaiming God’s overflowing love through exploring the foundational stories and parables of our faith by using wooden figures and other props. The focus of these rooms is process, not product. Children have the opportunity to respond to the story as they are moved to do so through drawing, journaling, working with the story materials, looking at a book, or other undirected activities. All material in these rooms is intended to help the child grow in their relationship with God and be nurtured by God’s love for them.

Coolios is the Sunday morning program for 2^nd-5^th graders. (The children have dubbed it “Coolios” because it is the cool Sunday school!) In this class children explore one theme over several weeks through a different workshop every Sunday. Types of workshops include drama, art, storytelling, movies, and kitchen. By covering the same theme over several Sundays, children have a chance to deeply engage with the material – but by experiencing the theme through a different medium every Sunday, there’s no room for boredom!

Children’s Chapel welcomes children 3-7 years old to their own Liturgy of the Word during the 10:30 Eucharist. Children take turns in the roles of altar guild, acolyte, crucifer, book-bearer, craft helper and song leader. The children engage the Gospel lesson through discussion with the leader and various activities intended to help them process the reading. Activities may include simple crafts, faith “object lessons”, storytelling, and drama. The chapel leader will bring the children to join their families in the sanctuary at the Peace.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Ruth Kearley, Children’s Ministries Coordinator: family@standrews-madison.org, 729-4050.