Offerings for Children
Together we are a family of God and together we worship and learn. At St. Paul’s, we constantly seek ways to integrate the worship and educational aspects of our life together. Children are encouraged to join their parents for worship at all services. Children benefit from worshipping with their parents and seeing their parents in prayer, and we all benefit from being together as a church family as we praise God.

The 9 a.m. Sunday worship service is designed to be brief (50 minutes), more interactive and participatory, and a bit less formal than our other services. We follow The Book of Common Prayer and members of the congregation have considerable involvement in the liturgy. Many prayers are written and led by children and youth. This allows even the youngest child to understand some of the “why” of our worship traditions. In addition, the scripture readings and hymns are directly connected with the Church School lessons of our curriculum, Seasons of the Spirit. This allows families to see the connections between education and liturgy and to experience biblical truths from several different approaches.

A children’s chapel is offered for elementary aged children during the 11 o’clock service. They leave at the Sermon Hymn and meet with a member of the staff and volunteers in the South Wing to explore the meaning of that day’s Gospel lesson, and share in prayer and singing. They return to the Nave at the Peace to receive communion with their families. This allows them to attend worship with their parents, but receive age-appropriate instruction during the more “adult” part of the liturgy.

Children, kindergarten-age and younger, are always welcome to attend worship with their parents for as long as they wish, or they may go directly to the Nursery or Preschool rooms for an age-appropriate lesson and a chance to play with their friends. Books and leaflets for young children are available on the Children’s Corner tables in both Narthexes (vestibules).

In addition, we have created a “soft space” in front of the first pews, for children younger than 8 years and their parents to worship together in a more comfortable space, where they can see the liturgical action and feel a part of the community. The soft space is intended to help our youngest worshippers feel more welcome and comfortable in our nave.

We ask that parents sit with their children, either in the soft space or in the pew, and engage in worship as fully as possible. Children learn best by doing, and by watching their parents. Parents who need to remove their children during the service (to calm them down, use the rest room, or attend to their other needs) may do so using the northwest door leading to the Old Narthex. Please ask an usher for any assistance you may need.