At Plymouth Church we believe that God calls our children to faith and discipleship just as surely God calls us adults. We offer our children the stories and traditions of the Christian faith through worship and Faith Workshop, and when they bring back new ideas and hopes we listen and respond! We don’t do ministry for our children; we support our children in recognizing and fulfilling their own ministry!
Our Children’s Ministry programs are all about Faith Discovery! Our children aren’t empty vessels, waiting to be filled with grown-up ideas; they are explorers on a life-long adventure with God. From Sunday morning Faith Workshop, to summer camp at Pilgrim Lodge, we offer our children a breadth and depth of experiences that spark curiosity and facilitate encounters God through the stories and traditions of our faith.
Faith Workshop
Faith Workshop is what we call the learning time for children during Sunday morning worship. Together, children and adults do the messy work of figuring out how these stories apply to our lives today. Workshops are offered for children in Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade and visitors are always welcome.
If it’s your first Sunday with us…
…consider arriving a few minutes early to meet your child’s Faith Workshop leaders and see their classroom before worship. If it makes the transition easier, you are also welcome to join your child for the Time With the Children, walk with them downstairs, and then return to worship. Every child is different and you know best what they need; we will follow your lead! When is a child ready for Faith Workshop? We look for 3 things when helping parents make this decision. For a child to join the Pre-k Workshop, we ask that they:
Be at least 3 years old.
Be potty-trained and able to use the bathroom with minimal adult support.
Be participating in some kind of preschool or daycare program.
Christmas Pageant
The Christmas Pageant is a highlight of the year for our kids. With lines for everyone who wants them and more than enough costumes to go around, we gather together to tell the story of Christ’s birth. The kids sing, the congregation joins in the carols, and the Red Cow tells jokes. It’s different every year and always the same.
Prayer Ground
The Prayer Ground is a designated space for our children to worship. All the supplies we offer are meant to facilitate worship. A little more space to move. Some activities to keep our hands busy. A front row seat to better observe what’s happening on the Chancel.
We ask that parents be with their children on the Prayer Ground. When it’s time to sing a song, sing it together. When it’s time for the scripture passage, find the passage in the Spark Bible or the Pew Bible and follow along.
This is not a time for kids to play with their friends. This is a time to be worshipping, praying... in a space that’s more comfortable than the pews. You’ll notice that the things we’ve provided you are not toys to play with in a group. They are fidgets and things you can do on your own. This is all so you can be prayerful, respectful of others worshipping around you, and comfortable at church.
If you bring a toy to church - which is totally cool and something you can absolutely do - during worship is not the time to show your friends. And, when it’s time to go to Faith Workshop, we ask that you leave your toys with your parents. You can pick them up afterward for Coffee Hour.
And parents, after worship, we ask that you go find your kid in the classroom downstairs so you can come to Coffee Hour together!
Read our Q&A for more information.