Welcome Sister BJ!
Sister Barbara Jean Brown (Sister BJ) joined the staff of St. Thomas' Church as the Interim Children’s Ministries Coordinator on January 2, 2008 and will continue in that role through the end of May 2008. Read more about Sister BJ!
She can be reached via phone at 215-233-3970 or via email at sisterbj@stthomaswhitemarsh.org.
CHURCH SCHOOL: 10:45-11:30am (ends May 18) CHURCH NURSERY: 9:15–11:30am (ends May 18)
REGISTRATION for Church School
CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES 2007-2008 CALENDAR
Calendar 1: Dates Only Calendar 2: Dates and Times
CHILDREN AND WORSHIP
Check out the Children's Ministries PHOTO PAGES!
Life at St. Thomas’ begins with worship! We aspire to share our joy and faith with all, including the children. Knowing the gospel matters for people of all ages. St. Thomas’ offers worship services in which children will experience a worship place where they are loved, accepted and needed.
St. Thomas’ has two distinct Sunday services specially created for young families offering a unique way to worship together. These reverent and relaxed worship services make it easier for the moms, dads, parents, grandparents, and guardians to enjoy a shorter service as well as be nurtured by the Word and celebrate the Holy Eucharist with their children. These services are First Steps to Worship and Second Steps to Worship.
FIRST STEPS TO WORSHIP
First Steps to Worship is an exciting half hour service held each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. for families with children ages five and under. Held in the Parish House Living Room, this service with Holy Eucharist uses language small children can understand. It is a "come as you are, be as you are" service with total participation of the children. Children carry the cross, light the candles, pass the offering baskets and bring the bread and wine to the altar table for the family meal. The songs we sing are complete with actions. The story by Pastor Bill often uses puppets and other interesting surprises.
At the end of the service the children enjoy juice and pretzels and parents have the opportunity for fellowship with one another. Why not try this wonderful family worship experience?
SECOND STEPS TO WORSHIP
Second Steps to Worship is a forty-five minute service for families with elementary-aged children (6 to 12 year-olds), featuring highly “singable” music, a children’s sermon, simple Eucharist, and opportunities for children to actively experience and participate in the beauty and reverence of the Anglican liturgy. This service uses age-appropriate liturgy to help our school-aged children learn about the wonderful traditions of the Episcopal service and allows all to worship in a child-friendly atmosphere.
Although Second Steps to Worship service focuses on the spiritual needs of families with children, this service is neither a “family service” nor a “children’s service”, rather a service for adults and children to enjoy together.
Second Steps to Worship will be offered the first and third Sundays of each month, beginning September 16th through May 18th in MacColl Auditorium (Parish Hall).
CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
St. Thomas’ Children’s Ministries is responsible for the spiritual nurture of children from 6 months old through the sixth grade. We aspire to receive, nurture, and treasure each child as a gift from God and to proclaim the Gospel to children in ways that empower them to receive and respond to God's love.
The Children’s Ministries Commission, teachers, clergy and staff take the responsibilities of caring for the congregation’s children to heart! We work to uphold our commitments to continue the apostles’ teaching and proclaim the Good News of God in Christ. We rely and need parental involvement and responsibility along this important journey as well. This is our work, a ministry for all of us!
SUNDAY NURSERY
All families of St. Thomas’ with young children are welcome and encouraged to make use of the Sunday Nursery! The Nursery is open to all parishioners with children ages 6 months to 36 months. The Sunday Nursery is located downstairs in the Parish Hall (MacColl Auditorium). We believe it is possible to share the love of God with children of all ages. Our goal is to do so by caring for your child in a loving manner, giving them a happy and safe place to stay, and providing a place where they can begin to feel that they are a part of the church community. The Nursery enables parents to participate in worship, ministry, and fellowship by providing a clean, pleasant environment where they can be assured that their children are well cared for.
Nursery care is available on Sundays from September 16, 2007 through May 19, 2008 from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Nursery Staff: We take pride in giving each child personal attention and loving care. Every week, the staff consists of one paid nursery care-provider and one adult volunteer.
St. Thomas’ is blessed to have Mary Beth Macnamara, lay leader for the Sunday Nursery, who offers her exceptional talents running and coordinating the Sunday Nursery schedule as well as volunteers as a nursery care provider. Mary Beth has been so generous with her time and talent to ensure a welcoming place on Sundays for our wee little ones.
Our two extraordinary nursery care providers, Emilee Macnamara and Shannon Reilly are warm, loving, and trustworthy young ladies who demonstrate pride and attentiveness when caring for the children.
We are in great need of adult volunteers to assist in the Nursery. Your consideration and support of offering a few Sunday mornings throughout the year to help with this ministry is essential for its success. If you have any questions, would like to sign-up, or wish to register your child for the Sunday Nursery, please contact Brenda McVey at the Church Office. Thank you for your consideration!
CHURCH SCHOOL
The children of St. Thomas’ have fun learning about and experiencing God! Our ministry provides meaningful and fun activities for the children to interact with one another and grow in their relationship with each other.
Our Church School works well because of a distinct and faithful group of volunteers…our Church School teachers! These remarkable individuals offer their time and energy throughout the year to nurture our children to be the best Christians they can be. Teaching is a challenging ministry that requires patience, dedication, confidence, energy, and – above all else – faith. We are forever grateful for their service!
Our children learn the heritage, liturgy and faith of the Episcopal Church as well as discover and interpret Bible stories and passages that will guide them in appropriate decision-making in their daily lives. St. Thomas’ uses the Episcopal Children’s Curriculum (ECC) as our primary resource. We supplement with other varied curriculum and activities to offer an excellent and diverse program incorporating scripture, music, movies, games, arts and crafts, labyrinth lessons, and church & bell tours.
Children’s Ministries are open to anyone attending St. Thomas’ Church. Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors are welcome to enroll in our Church School Program at any time during the year. We invite you and your child(ren) to become active participants in the spiritual life of our community!
Click here for the online registration.
St. Thomas’ Church School begins September 16, 2007 and continues weekly through May 19, 2008. We meet Sunday mornings from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the School House.
Lesson Plans for 2007-2008 School Year
WORSHIP
In this upcoming school year, all children are invited and encouraged to participate in Worship on the Children’s Sabbath, Christmas and Epiphany pageants and Second Steps to Worship.
The Children’s Sabbath is a annual service designed to promote awareness of children’s needs and our responsibility to meeting their needs as a church. Every October, St. Thomas’ stands together with other congregations around the world to pray for the health and healing of all children. Reading, singing, and ushering are lead by the children during this special service.
Christmas is an exciting time for all Christians and no one takes it to heart more than our children. To foster a deeper understanding of the story of Christmas and its meaning, the children of St. Thomas’ lead us in worship by presenting the Gospel in the Christmas & Epiphany Pageants each year.
OUTREACH
St. Thomas’ encourages our children to be aware of the needs of the community and to participate in ministering to the needs of others!
International outreach projects include Operation Kid-to-Kid, Mite Boxes for Our Little Roses Ministries, and Terrific T-Shirt Task for Honduras.
Community outreach projects include Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Kid Coat Collect, Harvest Festival Bags, Christmas Cards for Soldiers and Valentine’s for Vets, Christmas & Easter Crafts for St. Thomas’ Shut-Ins, and Earth Day Activities on St. Thomas’ grounds.
FELLOWSHIP
Children’s Ministries offers opportunities for the families of St. Thomas’ to come together as a Christian community for friendship, faith and fun!
Fellowship events for our children and their families include a Father & Son Retreat and Mother & Daughter Retreat, Christmas Pageant Reception Party, Easter Egg Hunt, Family Fun Night and our End-of-the-Year Celebration. New to Children’s Ministries this year is a bus trip to the Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster County to see The Miracle of Christmas and a visit from Sam Sandler, magician extraordinaire.
VACATION BIBLE CAMP
Under the enthusiastic and energetic direction of Heather Schreiber, our Vacation Bible Campers learn of God’s love through Bible adventures, fun crafts, delicious snacks, and team-building games. This extraordinary week is filled with smiles and laughter as our children grow in their faith and make friends. VBS is typically held the first week in August and is open to all children ages 3 through 10. Registration is held in the early spring.
SCHOOL HOUSE RESOURCE CENTER
A lending library for the teacher and parent community, the Resource Center houses curriculum materials as well as a large collection of contemporary children’s literature, both sacred and secular. Additional resources include audio-visual materials, a variety of age-appropriate versions of the Bible, encyclopedias, maps, games, and craft books. This center is open all day Sunday in the School House.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Whether you are interested in teaching one of the classes on an ongoing basis or wish to share a special talent on one Sunday morning, we welcome your involvement! Crafters, singers, cooks, planners, organizers…whatever your talent…all are welcome to show our young ones how all should honor our Lord by using our time and talents. Click here for specific volunteer opportunities and dates.
We rely and need parental involvement and responsibility along this important journey. This is our work, a ministry for all of us!
CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES STAFF
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!
The Rev. Marek P. Zabriskie, Rector
215-233-3970 x 120; mzabriskie@stthomaswhitemarsh.org
The Rev. Whitney Altopp, Associate Rector
215-233-3970 x 122; waltopp@stthomaswhitemarsh.org
CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES COMMISSION
Co-Chairs: Kathleen Schneer and Marggy Ells
Vestry Liaison: Pam McKernan
Mary Beth Macnamara, Sunday Nursery Coordinator
Maureen Lucak-Smith, Pageant & Children’s Sabbath Coord.
Jane Oehler, Special Events Coordinator
Brenda Sullivan, Teacher Representative/Liaison
Heather Shreiber, Vacation Bible Camp Coordinator
“…the God of love and peace be with you.”
-- II Corinthians 13:11
Bethlehem Pike and Camp Hill Road, P.O. Box 247, Fort Washington, PA 19034
Phone (215)233-3970 Fax (215)233-2893 Email info@stthomaswhitemarsh.org
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