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CHILDREN & YOUTH
St. George's offers many excellent opportunities for children and youth to become involved in the life of the parish!
The Nursery, next to the church office, is available during the 10:30 am Sunday service. Thoughtful and responsible adult supervision is always provided in a clean, spacious and child-friendly environment.
The 10:30 a.m. Church School provides an opportunity for youth and children, aged 2+ to experience worship, biblically-based learning and fun every Sunday. Children and youth gather with their families in the church at the beginning of the service to sing the first hymn together. There is a Children’s Focus at the front of the church, after which the children go to the main Church School room with the teachers. The teaching team is made up of a co-ordinator, parents, youth (who receive High School Volunteer Hours Credits), and other interested volunteers. Volunteers are asked to commit to a four-week session. The children (about 20 in number) are generally divided into three groups: Preschoolers (up to about age 4), Youth (from about age 12 upward), and the largest group consisting of children between ages 5-11. All come together as a large group for the beginning of the Church School session for Welcome, Birthdays and the recognition of other special events, Collection of Offerings, Prayer, Singing, and Introduction to the day’s theme. The children then split off into their groups. The preschoolers have their own room that is set up with age-appropriate furnishings and activities. The youth meet in the youth lounge for more in-depth discussions on a variety of topics in an open forum setting. The rest of the children remain in the main Church School room. Each session includes a bible story, followed by discussion and idea-sharing time, an active game, a craft or other hands-on experience (science, cooking, etc.), and a snack. The children are encouraged to share ideas about life in Christ and their experiences in any setting. At the time of the offering, children bring the Church School offerings and the gifts of bread and wine to the front of the church. All children return to the church and their families in time to go to the altar rail with their families to receive Communion or a blessing. When we observe Morning Prayer, all remain in Church School until the end of the service. Every year the Church School children present a Christmas Pageant which is performed on the last Sunday before Christmas. The script for the pageant is usually written by the youth of the church. For the 2008-09 Church School sessions, we are using a modified Vacation Bible School Program (Rainforest Adventure [Augsburg Press]) as well as the Firelight Rotation Program [Augsburg Press].
Communion Classes: Special classes are held from time to time to help children and their parents take a new step in their exploration of the mystery of the Eucharist. For parents of small children, this can be an opportunity to explore their own faith issues and to learn some strategies for nurturing the faith of infants to pre-schoolers. Classes may be offered for children, with their parents, in age-specific groupings.
The clergy of St. George's are always informed and involved concerning the growth and well-being of the children in the parish. Volunteers, to help with the children's ministry programs as teachers or assistants or to help with special events, are always welcome and appreciated. St. George's offers ongoing teacher training and an excellent resources to support volunteers in the Church School and the development of the church's ministry with children and youth.
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THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Guelph ON 
