Zion welcomes children! Faith formation for children and youth is one of the most important ways we live into our mission as a church. We seek to provide a variety of ways for our children, youth and their families to grow in their faith and make a difference in the world.

• Vibrant Sunday School program with three different age-groups
• A worship service designed especially for those aged 0-6 on Sundays at 9am called This Little Light
• Family Sundays once a month with children participating in leading worship
• Youth-led service projects
• A delightful Christmas pageant

Your children are always welcome to worship with you in church. Children are an important, valued, and welcomed part of our worshiping community. Even children attending Sunday School during the service return to their parents or guardians before Communion, and parents of younger children are encouraged to pick up their infants and toddlers to receive Communion as a family.

Tips for Worshiping with Children

• Express your gladness at having children in worship. During the Peace, be sure to greet the children near you. Include them in conversations before and after worship to let them know they belong.
• We have a basket at the back of the church with children’s activity pages to help them engage with the service.
• If your child needs to move around, we understand! Near the church entrance is a good place to to get the wiggles out for a moment.
• Encourage children who can read to follow the service in the bulletin or Prayer Book and find hymns in the hymnal.
• Enjoy the special moment of togetherness in the pew that may not be possible during the week.

Children & Communion

Parents who have grown up in other traditions often wonder why young children take Communion at Zion. In keeping with the practices of the ancient church, the Episcopal Church places emphasis on Baptism. Once an individual is baptized, they are viewed as full members of the Body of Christ with access to the sacraments. Nothing “completes” Baptism – neither First Communion, nor Confirmation, nor reaching a certain age. This is why children are welcome to receive Holy Communion. This doesn’t mean that children are fully formed as Christians; none of us are. We spend our entire lives living into our Baptismal vows and entering into the mystery of Christ’s “real presence” in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.

That said, we offer a special training session in the spring for young children to teach them about Holy Communion, culminating in a special celebration during the Sunday service to honor their learning. Please see the Rector if you would like your child to participate.

If you would prefer for your child to wait to receive the Eucharist until after they’ve had instruction, please have them fold their arms across their chest at the altar rail so that the priest knows to give them a blessing.