Junior Church
Our Sunday morning Youth & Children's Work
Our morning worship begins with all ages together in the main sanctuary. After a short time of worship together, the children and younger teenagers go out to our Junion Church groups for teaching and learning aimed at their different age groups.
We currently have three groups:
Bubbles
Welcome to Bubbles—here’s some stuff about us that you may be interested to know.
Bubbles is the name for our pre-school group on a Sunday morning. We welcome anyone who is too young to go to school, right from babies up—anyone who wants to join us. Parents are welcome to stay in our group but it is our aim to let parents enjoy the main service and hear the adult teaching.
Alternatively parents are always welcome to keep their child in the main service with them. If you are worried they are disturbing others you are welcome to sit at the back of the sanctuary area and watch the service through the glass wall.
About us
There is a team of adults who look after the group on a rota basis. Most of them are parents or grandparents and all are worshippers in our church. Presently there are always two adults to look after the group. (This will increase when necessary.) We have a child protection statement in this church and all leaders work under this.
Our aims
Young children are bubbling with enthusiasm to find things out. It is our aim to help them to find things out about God. We do this with stories, songs, prayers, craft work, and many other activities. We have toys to play with too.
It is surprising how early children can have enough of an understanding to want to be God’s friend. It is our aim to help them build a good foundation to be able to make an informed decision.
Your support
As in all things in life, a parent’s example is the greatest, God given, influence on young children, so when they are old enough please talk with your children about what they have done in the session. If you are not sure how to help them grow in this area may I suggest plenty of praise and enthusiasm on your part for the things they bring home. This will help them feel that they have done something worthwhile and will enjoy coming again.
We usually send home a leaflet. This may have an activity, a story or prayer you can do together.
Teaching material
The teaching material we use is published by Scripture Union (this link opens in a new window or tab of your browser). This is a large Christian organisation which specialises in working with children and is committed to providing high quality materials.
If there is anything else you want to know, or you have any concerns please speak to us.
Splash!
Splash! is the group children begin to attend when they are about five years old. We are flexible about the needs of the children and will not force a child to move up a group if they are not ready. Most children are keen to join Splash! when they feel they have out grown the Bubbles group. If this is a child’s first experience of church children’s groups they are equally welcome.
About the leaders
Splash is led by a pair of leaders who share the running of the small group. These leaders are part of our worshipping community. The group meets in the church hall at the rear of the building along with the next older group in a different part of the hall. There are suitable numbers of adults to supervise the work going on there. We have a child protection statement in this church and all leaders work under this.
Our aims
It is our aim that the children enjoy their time in Splash! Finding out about God is as much an adventure as any other great aspect of life and we aim to make this discovery enjoyable. We do this by providing an imaginative variety of activities appropriate to the age of the children. We aim that children in this age group will get to know what God has to say through the Bible passages they gather round and, as they get older, what God has to say to them personally.
Your part
Leading children into a life of faith is a God given responsibility to parents. We see our part as a supportive role to those ends. You can use the Splash! group as a means to stimulate discussion about matters of faith by asking your child what they have been looking at each Sunday. We want to support you as parents and to be other Christian adults who befriend your child and encourage them in the things of faith that you are showing them on a daily basis.
Teaching material
For the most part the group follows the Scripture Union teaching material (this link opens in a new window or tab of your browser) which is used in many churches. This longstanding and dedicated organisation strives to provide excellent resources for use in many areas of Christian children’s work. Sometimes leaders may chose to follow an alternative curriculum for a time.
If there are any other queries which we have not addressed here please contact the church for answers.
The Grid
We like to move young people up into our oldest group to settle in before they undergo the, sometimes traumatic, changes in schools. The Grid caters for young people from about the age of ten years to fifteen.
Our aims
The Grid group aims to provide a fun, safe and loving Christian environment for young people to explore some of the themes of their rapidly changing lives. We believe that God is the stability young people need in all the changes they experience in their teenage years. It is the aim of The Grid group to help young people to know the Bible for themselves, to hear what God has to say to them through it, and to understand that it holds an important message for the world around them which they are encouraged to speak out about in their daily lives.
About the leaders
The Grid is led on a shared basis by two church members who have many years experience at working with young people. Helpers are also available to the Splash! group and the Grid group who both meet in the church hall.
The role of parents
Parents are always encouraged to take the lead role in teaching their children about the Christian faith as we believe the Bible lays out. The Grid has a role in reinforcing the truths of Christ and encouraging the young people to explore any faith and knowledge they have in the light of what others believe in the group. We fully encourage parents to discuss with their children what they have been looking at in the Grid.
It would be great for you to encourage them to take an interest in what you have been learning in church too, as the time will come when they need to feel a part of the adult church and that they want to move on into that place of worship and learning and leave the Grid behind.
Teaching material
The Grid uses several different resources of teaching material according to what the leaders feel is appropriate to the interests of the group at any one time.
If there are any further questions we have not addressed here please feel free to contact the church.
