Children (Birth - Grade 5)

The parish's nurturing of our children begins at their Baptism, continues in the Nursery, and deepens through Sunday School classes. Helping our children participate in worship services from a very early age is another crucial part of their faith formation.

Baptism

Baptism is the sacrament by which a person is adopted as a child of God; made a member of Christ's Body, the Church; and a member of the kingdom of God. To arrange for the Sacrament of Baptism for your child or yourself, contact Father Nick.

Nursery

Calvary offers nursery care for infants and toddlers during Sunday worship and education hours. Those hours are 8:50 a.m. to noon Sunday during the school year, and 9:50 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. during the summer. Children are welcome in the nursery up to their fourth birthdays.

Our new nursery is located on the main floor in the northwest corner, next to the new entrance off Fourth Avenue SW. The nursery is staffed by adult and youth volunteers. Please complete a registration card when you bring your child to the nursery for the first time, and pick up a copy of our nursery policies.

Worship

The nursery is available if younger children are too fussy for parents to feel comfortable in worship. But children of any age are welcome to attend services at Calvary. Indeed, as a parish family we believe regular attendance at and participation in worship is very important for children's faith formation.

Pew activity packets are available for children to use during worship. They contain crayons, coloring books and activity sheets; and can be found in bright fabric bags on a rack near the church's rear door.

For children who are old enough to begin following the service, parents may wish to pick up one of the illustrated "Holy Communion for Children" booklets from the ushers. The booklets have the main elements of the service in large type with child-friendly drawings.

Any baptized child may receive Communion during worship. Parents are the best judge of when a child is ready to receive Communion regularly. Any child is welcome to come to the altar rail and receive a blessing from the officiant.

Worship-education classes, designed to help children understand the meaning of the service and Communion, are offered each year in the early elementary Sunday School classes. They are accompanied by workshops to help parents teach their children at home and during the services.