Children’s Formation
At St. Andrew’s, children are an integral part of our faith family. We begin our learning by processing down the aisle at the start of the service, carrying a hand carved cross made just for children. We continue to our classrooms where we light a candle to center ourselves and pray the Lord’s Prayer. Our lessons are taken from the Old Testament where we read and discuss the story then do interactive activities to enhance understanding of the lesson. Children return to church in time for the Great Thanksgiving where they rejoin their families. Our goal is to have a safe place for children to learn about God and Jesus as they become important members of our church family. Older children are encouraged to learn how to acolyte, operate the sound system for our livestreaming, and how to be an usher or greeter.
For our younger children, we have an area of the church called the Pray Ground where children may sit around a table to color while being supervised by their parents and caregivers during the service.
Our Nursery is open for toddlers and babies and is staffed by a qualified teacher and assistant.
Children, Youth and Outreach:
Throughout the year the children participate in various church mission projects like:
• Help with our church mission, ACTS Mum Sale
• Ingathering of food for the pantry at Bay Path University and for the Longmeadow Food Pantry
• Community Survival Center Food Collection
• CROP Walk
• Gathering gifts for the Adopt -A-Family Christmas program
• Lydia’s Closet - Families have an opportunity to donate clothing and equipment as their children grow out of it to help support this mission.
Children, Fellowship and Special Events:
Creative Arts Camp
Children sign up to attend a week of creating various types of art, learn songs and interact in Bible skits with Father Jim. This program is currently offered during Summer and Winter vacation.
Shrove Tuesday
On Shrove Tuesday we have a special Pancake supper with games for all ages.
Good Friday
We have a special interactive service for children called Journey through Holy Week with Jesus, which is a child-friendly Stations of the Cross.
Children explore the many aspects of Holy Week starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday with this interactive program.
Sundae Sunday
In June, we celebrate the end of the regular Church School year with a celebration to thank students, teachers, children and the congregation for their contributions to our program.
Pumpkins and Pets
In the Fall, various church groups work together for this community outreach event. We celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and have pet blessings along with crafts, a bake sale and picking out a pumpkin.
Christmas Pageant
During the 10 a.m. service on Advent 3 or 4, our children participate in a Christmas pageant. With our live streaming of the service, extended families have the opportunity to see their loved ones in action.