Children
At St. Michael’s, children are not guests on the margins of parish life—they are full members of the Body of Christ. We welcome children of all ages into worship and formation because Jesus himself welcomed them and taught us that the Kingdom belongs to such as these.
Sunday Catechesis (9-10am)
During the school year, we offer Catechesis Hour for children from nursery through grade 5. Catechesis forms children in the faith by helping God’s story take root in their hearts, imaginations, and lives.
We use God’s Big Story, an Anglican curriculum for ages 0–11 that invites children into the sweeping narrative of Scripture from creation and the fall, to Christ’s victory on the cross, and the promise of new creation. Children learn through Scripture, song, prayer, story, wondering questions, and creative responses, all within the rhythms of the Church’s worship and liturgical year.
Worship with Children (10:15am)
During the main worship service, a nursery with screened and trained attendants is available for children birth through age five. Children are also always welcome to remain in worship with their families.
We believe that Christian formation is not only taught—it is caught. Children learn to love worship by participating in it: praying, singing, listening, serving, and receiving alongside the whole Church. We take children seriously as members of the Church, valuing their questions, ideas, and wonder, trusting that God can speak through them as surely as through adults.
Resources are available to help children engage in worship, including:
Children’s Bibles and other books related to the Liturgy
Age-appropriate sermon notes sheets and coloring pages
Please don’t worry if your children are a little noisy or wiggly. We believe their presence is worth it, and that God put the wiggle in children.
Helping Children Participate
We know worshiping with children can feel challenging at times. Some families find it helpful to:
Sit where children can see what’s happening
Help children follow along in the prayer book or Bible
Remember that learning to worship takes time—for all of us
We are grateful for a parish culture that welcomes children with patience, kindness, and grace.
We believe the flourishing of children is bound up with the flourishing of their parents. Alongside worship and catechesis, we offer a Young Mothers’ Group (every other Tuesday at 10am) and occasional Parent Night Out events with free childcare.
See the full calendar here.
Children and the Sacraments
BAPTISM
Baptism is the means by which we are joined to Jesus in the Church and receive the benefits of salvation (Rom 6:3-4; 1 Pet 3:21). We baptize infants in keeping with the Jewish understanding that babies are recipients of God’s promises and members of his covenant community (Acts 2:38-39; Col 2:11-12). We believe that faith and baptism work together to join us to Christ (Gal 3:26-27) and fully expect our baptized children to recommit to their baptismal vows at the appropriate time during Confirmation.
Communion
Communion is the “family meal” of the covenant community by which God makes Himself available to us, so all baptized children are welcome at the table. As the primary spiritual disciplers of their children, parents decide at what age their baptized children are prepared to receive communion. If children are not baptized or are not prepared to receive communion, they are welcome to cross their arms over their chest so that the priest will know to pray a blessing over them.
We realize that we come from a variety of faith backgrounds where these are debated practices. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our staff if you have questions or would like to know more.
Youth
Our youth Sunday School hour consists of 6th-12th graders communing over donuts, bagels, the Bible, and a game of four square weather permitting. Youth curriculum covers the entire Bible over 4 years in addition to thoughtfully exploring The Book of Common Prayer, a beloved addition to our Anglican faith. Our directors encourage thoughtful discussion and participation with hopes of our youth entering adulthood with understanding and confidence in their relationship with Christ.
Participation of our youth spans beyond the classroom as most youth voluntarily engage in serving as readers, acolytes, musicians, and in the community through our local mission partners.
As our youth population grows our directors are excited to include seasonal fellowship opportunities outside of the church building.
Our child and youth leaders and volunteers go through a thorough child protection process, including background checks and safeguarding training. There are always two approved adults in every classroom. Contact us for a copy of our Safety Policies.